What are dental implants?
Dental implants replace the roots of teeth that had to be extracted due to disease or were lost because of an injury or oral health issue. Like screws, they’re embedded in your jawbone and made of biocompatible titanium in most cases.
A process called osseointegration allows your bone to fuse with the titanium, so it holds sturdy for the rest of your life. Once this process has happened, your implant or implants can hold onto a restoration you can use to bite, chew, and speak.
How does dental implant placement work?
The process of placing dental implants involves two surgeries that the dentists at Patrick Ryan, DMD, can plan and perform. Once these surgeries are complete, the implants stay in your jawbone permanently.
After a consultation, you can schedule your first surgery. Your dentist might need to perform an extraction first and, if your jawbone has deteriorated at all since the loss of the original tooth root, you might need a bone graft before your first implant surgery.
During the first surgery, your dentist makes an incision in your gums to get to the jawbone, where they place the implant. After a few months of healing and osseointegration, they latch a small connector piece called an abutment on the implant. The abutment will hold the restoration.
What is dental implant restoration?
Dental implant restoration, which also happens at the offices of Patrick Ryan, DMD, is the process of replacing missing teeth and using one or more dental implants to hold the restorative devices. Implants can hold custom, color-matched restorations like:
- Individual crowns
- Bridges
- Full dentures
While these restorations are often able to stay in place permanently without your ability to remove them at will, you should care for them in the same ways you care for your natural teeth, like brushing and flossing. At regular dental exams, your dentist and their team clean and examine the restorations.
In the case that a dental implant restoration breaks suddenly or wears down after years of use, you should contact Patrick Ryan, DMD, to get the necessary repair or a replacement. You can avoid damaging your dental implant restorations by trying your best not to grind your teeth and avoiding biting down on solid objects like seeds or hard candies.
Dental implant surgery and implant restoration are two processes that go hand in hand to get new permanent teeth that look stunning. To schedule a consultation for dental implants, call Patrick Ryan, DMD, or book one online today.
