If you lose teeth as a result of either an accident or dental disease, you can still have your smile back through the installation of dental implants at Cooper Family Dentistry. The implants are made of titanium and are attached to the jaw bone to hold the replacement tooth in place. Titanium was chosen because of its ability to completely fuse with the jaw bone through the process of osseointegration. After that process, the implants are able to hold the tooth permanently.

Types of implants

There are two types of dental implants available today: endosteal and the subperiosteal implants. Both of them are permanent implants but ideal for different jaw bone conditions. Endosteal implants are inserted directly into the jaw and left till the osseointegration process is complete. After that, posts are then attached before crowns are added on top. Since it is more affordable, Endosteal are more popular than the subperiosteal implants.

On the other hand, subperiosteal implants are ideal for people with significant levels of bone loss. This is because; the implant consists of a metal frame that aligns on the jaw bone just below the gums. With time, the jaws heal as the implant becomes permanently attached to the bone. However, subperiosteal implants will cost you more.

If you have multiple teeth that need to be replaced, a different type of implant known as the bridge is used. However, a bridge has a lower cost since it does not involve the installation of natural teeth. Also, it is important to note that a bridge is placed on top of jaw implants. However, this process has to wait for the osseointegration process to complete.

What if you miss all the teeth?

If you miss all your teeth, there are three procedures to help you out. The first procedure involves the process of installing 6 to 8 implants in the mouth and thereafter, Dr. Cooper attaches porcelain bridges and crowns.

Secondly, one can have removable dentures installed in the mouth. However, these are supported by one or two implants.

Last but not least, Dr. Cooper can install a fixed hybrid denture to stand in the place of natural teeth.  However, this method requires more implants to be placed on the jaw in order to offer adequate support.

The procedure

There are some procedures followed in the process of installing dental implants. The process starts with a surgery preparation procedure where Cooper Family Dentistry use CT scans and x-rays to examine the condition of the mouth. It is from this that they are able to estimate cost of the whole procedure.

On the next appointment, the implants are inserted. However, the patient leaves with temporary tooth.

During the third appointment, Dr. Cooper attaches the artificial crown on the implant. Although this procedure is quite fast and simple, a readjustment is necessary when the patient feels some discomfort.

Conclusion

Tooth implants are very important in cases where you have lost teeth. The implants can help you get back your natural looks even after suffering from gum disease or having a physical accident. In addition, the implants protect your mouth from infection as they fill the gap left by the missing tooth. The good news is that they can remain in your mouth for over a decade. However, if your mouth is sick, you need to get treatment first before undergoing implant installation procedure.  You can contact us to get started!