Dental Implants
Despite your best efforts to maintain good oral hygiene and dental care, tooth loss may occur throughout life due to gum disease, decay, injury, other types of diseases or oral health issues outside of your control.
Dental implants are a durable, permanent tooth replacement option for patients missing teeth that restore your smile to its natural beauty and promote healthy jawbone development in the absence of natural teeth roots.
Dr. Connie Lee, our Board Certified Periodontist in Implantology, offers both a single tooth implant and multiple tooth implant surgery depending on a patient’s needs. We also work with a wide network of oral health professionals to assist with the implant process, should your treatment require them.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are comprised of a variety of parts that work together to mimic a natural tooth and attaching roots to your jawbone. These parts include:
- The dental implant itself, which is a titanium metal post that attaches to the jawbone. Implants are designed to fuse to your bone and promote bone growth over time. Titanium is durable, bio-friendly and very common in surgeries like hip and knee replacements, making it the perfect fit.
- The abutment, or the screw that fits atop the post and sticks out from your gums. This part securely attaches your new prosthetic tooth to the prosthetic implant root.
- The crown, which is the ceramic replacement for your actual tooth. Crowns are uniquely designed to match the rest of your natural teeth and are the only visible part of your completed implant.
Like the components of an implant itself, the process is performed in multiple stages that build atop each other, allowing your mouth, bone and gums have adequate time to heal and support your crown.
What Happens During the Dental Implant Procedure?
Dental implant surgery is a process that requires intimate knowledge of your mouth, natural teeth, gum health and bone health. Implants are custom-designed to match and blend seamlessly in with your natural teeth and mouth, making them an excellent choice for physical and aesthetic restoration.
First, our team will determine the proper treatment plan for your oral health needs. This includes closely evaluating your bone structure and if you have enough bone to support your implants. A bone graft may be required if insufficient bone is noted.
From here, the implant itself will be attached to your jawbone. This requires a surgical process and time for your mouth to heal before your permanent crown is attached. A temporary restoration may be discussed and collaborated with your General Dentist.
Finally, your permanent crown will be securely screwed to your implant and abutment by your general dentist.
Following attachment of your crown, your implant procedure is now complete and should last for years to come with proper care and maintenance.
Dental implants require an investment of both time and money, and the total healing time may require four to six months.
How Do I Care For My New Dental Implants?
Since dental implants function similar to a natural tooth, you must care for them as you would for the rest of your mouth. While ceramic crowns can’t decay, they are subject to cracking, chipping, damage and wear and tear.
Make sure to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss, maintain regular hygiene appointments and wear an athletic mouthguard when playing contact sports or doing activities where your teeth could be damaged.
Learn More about Dental Implants in the Greater St. Paul and Twin Cities Area
At Minnesota Periodontal Associates, our expert team specializes in restorative dentistry solutions that repair your smile and mouth back to total oral health and well-being. Call our office at 651-429-2299 to schedule a consultation appointment and discuss our dental implant services with our Board Certified Clinician and the team.
