People with only a single tooth missing used to be left with few options when it came time to replace it; historically, replacing a tooth required damaging some of the surrounding teeth. But these treatments were time-consuming, costly, and did unnecessary damage to healthy teeth. Fortunately, patients can now restore their missing teeth with a simple dental implant procedure in the comfort of Dr. Jirik’s office.
Located in Cabot AR, the practice of Samuel F. Jirik is dedicated to providing patients with a broad range of dental procedures that can address nearly all dental disorders. Contact us today for more information about our practice, or to schedule a consultation appointment.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are medical fixtures meant to replace the root of a tooth. These fixtures are mostly used by individuals that only have one or two missing teeth, but can also be implemented in conjunction with dental bridges to replace entire rows of teeth. Our all-on-four treatment uses this technique.
Dental implants are typically made out of titanium to ensure that they are durable and long lasting. Titanium is particularly well-suited for dental implants because it is lightweight, strong, and biocompatible. In fact, dental implants aren’t just merely accepted by the body; they actually fuse with the bone entirely in a process called osseointegration. Patients that do no have a large enough jaw bone can receive subperiosteal implants, or implants inserted within the gums, directly above the jaw.
What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Dental implants allow missing teeth to be restored back to optimum function and appearance. In the past, patients who were missing a single tooth would need to receive a fixed dental bridge to replace it. This required that teeth on either side of the missing tooth be fitted with crowns, suspending a replacement tooth between them. With this new technique, you can replace a missing tooth while leaving healthy teeth alone to continue to thrive.
By securing an artificial root in the jaw, dental implants can help maintain the structure, density, and integrity of the jaw and gum tissue. This procedure also comes with many of the benefits of other tooth replacement surgeries: it can make eating, chewing, smiling, and talking easier and more comfortable.
Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Nearly anyone who has missing teeth is a candidate for dental implants. However, only individuals in good health will be able to successfully undergo this procedure. Uncontrolled diabetes, alcoholism, periodontal gum disease, cancer, can affect how the extent that these implants are able to fuse to the bone.
Interested in dental implants, but would like more information? Contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment.
