It’s important for a person to replace missing teeth for both aesthetic and health reasons. People who have missing front teeth often become self-conscious about their appearance. They may stop speaking in groups or making new friends. Remaining teeth can shift and even become loose. The person could have difficulty eating and speaking clearly. Worst, their jaw becomes weaker and smaller in that area, because it has no tooth root to support. Dental implants in Haleiwa solve these problems.
A dental implant is a small titanium cylinder. After the patient is sedated, the dentist uses a dental drill to insert the dental implant into their jaw. Prior to performing this procedure, the dentist takes a detailed x-ray to locate nearby tooth roots and nerves. He also uses the x-ray to assess the jaw bone. If it’s been a long-times since the patient lost his tooth, his jaw may have already lost a great deal of it’s mass. It may be too small to support Dental Implants in Haleiwa. In this case, an oral surgeon can use a bone graft to augment the jawbone. It takes two to three months for a bone graft to heal.
Once the dental implant has been inserted into the jaw, it takes about six to eight weeks for the jaw to heal. When this process is complete, the dental implant is as strong as any natural tooth root. A dental crown is placed over it to replace the top portion of the tooth. Some titanium implants have a post and anchor already attached to them. Others require a second surgery to attach them. These appliances are used to attach the dental crown to the implant.
Dental implants are also used to anchor full and partial dentures. The process for inserting implants to support a denture is identical to replacing a single tooth. However, several implants are inserted into both the upper and lower jaw. Instead of being topped with a dental crown, small metal balls are placed on top. These are small and smooth and won’t irritate a person’s tongue or mouth. They fit into slots on the base of the denture. The patient no longer has to worry about them slipping or falling out. They can eat and speak with confidence throughout the day.
