Las Vegas Dental Implants are an alternative to traditional (removable) complete dentures. They look and feel much more natural and help prevent bone loss.
When you lose a tooth, the surrounding teeth can migrate toward the gap, affecting your bite and chewing abilities. Implants fill the gap and help preserve your jawbone and facial structure.
Dental implants are widely considered as the best replacement for missing teeth. They look, feel, and function like natural teeth. However, many people are concerned about the discomfort associated with this treatment. The good news is that dental implant procedures are relatively painless, and most patients can take over-the-counter pain relievers to alleviate their discomfort.
Before the surgery begins, your dentist will perform a dental exam. One of the big advancements since the early days of dental implants is the use of 3D imaging, using a CT scan, to assess your tooth and bone health. This allows the dentist to avoid invasive drilling and to see if there is enough bone to support an implant.
If there isn’t, a bone graft may be required to build up the area. This can be done by taking bone from another part of your body or a synthetic bone product can be used. The dentist will also take a series of pictures to create a virtual model of the proposed restoration. This will allow them to determine the number of implants and their exact position within the jaw. The model can also be loaded into CAD/CAM software to help them create the new crowns for each tooth.
When the implant has healed and the new crown is placed on top, it will feel and function like a natural tooth. The new tooth will require the same care as your other teeth, including brushing, flossing and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash. Regular visits to the dentist are also important for maintaining dental implant health.
While dental implants are a long-term solution to replacing missing teeth, they do have some limitations. Those who smoke or have poor oral hygiene are at a higher risk of developing gum disease around the implant. This can lead to peri-implantitis, which is a destructive inflammatory process that affects both the soft and hard tissue. It is important to maintain a high level of daily brushing and flossing and to attend regular dental appointments to prevent bacteria from entering the tissue surrounding the implant.
When you lose a tooth, the bone surrounding it begins to deteriorate because the pressure and force that normally keeps the bones strong are gone. This leads to a vicious cycle in which the jaw bone continues to weaken, and eventually, other teeth may begin to break, causing further loss of bone density. Dental implants help to prevent this bone loss by replacing the root and stimulating natural bone growth around it. They also offer a more comfortable alternative to dentures, which can rub against the bone and cause it to further deteriorate.
The first step in the implant process is a thorough oral exam and X-rays. This helps your dentist to determine whether you have enough bone to support an implant.
During the implant process, a small titanium metal post is placed in the jaw bone where the original tooth root was. As the implant heals, it bonds with the bone, creating a strong foundation to hold a replacement tooth or set of teeth.
A new replacement tooth, called a crown, is then attached to the top of the implant. This new tooth is designed to blend in with the rest of your smile. Your new tooth will look, feel, and function just like a natural tooth.
While dental implants have an excellent track record, they can sometimes fail if the bone does not grow in strongly enough around them. This is a very rare event, but if it does occur, your dentist will fix the problem at no extra charge.
Some of the factors that can affect dental implant success are eating too hard or sweet foods, smoking, certain medications, and diseases that impact bone health, such as osteoporosis or diabetes. A healthy diet that includes plenty of calcium and vitamin D, regular exercise, and good lifestyle choices will all contribute to a stronger bone structure that is better able to support an implant.
Dental implants are a durable and long-lasting option for tooth replacement. They can help patients feel more confident in their smile and have a positive impact on their health and overall well-being. Implants can also help prevent bone loss in the area of the missing teeth.
Before any treatment, dentists will conduct a full exam of your mouth. They will use 3D imaging using a CT scan to better assess the condition of your gum tissue and the strength of the jaw bone. The CT scan will also allow them to design your bespoke restoration. This allows them to accurately plan the placement and type of replacement tooth that is needed.
Then, the actual surgery is relatively painless. Depending on the case, local anesthesia might be used. The titanium implant metal posts are placed into the jaw bones in a process called osseointegration. The site will then heal. This takes between three and six months. After the healing period, a dentist will place an abutment on the implant, which is the piece to which the replacement tooth will eventually attach.
Once the abutment is in place, your dentist will attach a dental crown to the post. The dental crown is custom-made based on the model that your dentist made of your bite. It will look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth. Dental implants can replace one or more teeth in the upper, lower, and mid-line of your mouth. They can even be used to support a bridge or denture that covers an entire arch of missing teeth.
Implants are also a great solution for older patients who have lost several or all of their teeth. Studies have shown that people with a complete and healthy set of teeth are perceived as smarter, healthier, and more successful than those who have lost their teeth. Moreover, they are twice as likely to be hired for a job.
Dental Implants can seem like a significant investment. However, they offer a more cost-effective alternative to dentures or bridges over the long term because they look and feel like natural teeth. Plus, they help to prevent bone loss and improve oral health. Dental implants also make it easier to chew, speak and smile freely. They also eliminate the need for dietary restrictions and messy adhesives that many people use with dentures.
A dental implant consists of two parts, the metal screw that goes into your jawbone and the crown that sits on top. The implant itself is made of titanium, which is very durable and designed to last a lifetime. The crown is the part that you can see, and it is custom-made to match your existing teeth. It is strong, stain-resistant and naturally beautiful.
The biggest difference between a tooth replacement option like dentures and dental implants is that an implant promotes bone growth to keep the jawbone healthy, something that other treatments can’t do. The other big difference is that an implant replaces more than one tooth, which opens up a wider range of treatment options. Implants can be used with a single dental crown to restore a single missing tooth, with a bridge to replace several teeth, or with a complete denture to replace all of your natural teeth.
Another advantage of implants is that they are more stable than other tooth replacement options, which may cause the neighboring teeth to shift and become crooked. This can affect your bite and the overall structure of your teeth, which can make it difficult to eat or speak properly. Dental implants will prevent this from happening by preserving the space for the other teeth and keeping the face from shifting shape, which can cause an aged appearance.
The cost of dental implants will depend on a number of factors, including the complexity of your case and your location. For example, larger metropolitan areas tend to have higher prices for implant services than smaller towns or rural locations. A consultation with your dentist will give you a clearer idea of the price of your individual treatment. Then, you can decide whether it is a good investment for you.