Family Dentist in Nicholasville, KY, Discusses Dental Implants
Dental implants replace missing teeth. Dental implants are like artificial tooth roots that bond with your jawbone over time. These tooth roots work as a sturdy foundation to hold crowns that look and feel like your natural teeth.
There are three main parts to a dental implant – the dental implant itself, a connector and a crown. The dental implant is a titanium post that looks similar to a screw, a configuration that allows it to hold onto your jawbone securely. The connector, also known as an abutment, sits on top of the dental implant. The connector holds and supports the crown, which your dentist custom-makes to match your teeth and fit your mouth.
Dental implants provide a number of benefits. They replace missing teeth to improve the appearance of your smile, for example. Dental implants also prevent nearby teeth from drifting and rotating into the empty space left behind by the missing tooth. Unlike removable dentures, dental implants are fixed in the bone. Dental implants are also the only type of dental restoration to stimulate bone growth in the jaw, which preserves the jawbone.
Anyone considering dental implants must have healthy gums and enough jawbone to support the implant. Those who have thin or soft jawbones may require a bone graft to give the jawbone the strength it needs to support the post. Patients who do not have enough bone height in their upper jaw, or whose sinuses sit too close to their upper jaw, may require a sinus lift procedure.
Dental implants are becoming a popular choice – about 3 million people in the United States already have dental implants, and 500,000 more get them every year to replace one or more missing teeth and to restore their smile and function.
