Even though permanent teeth are supposed to be…permanent, a tooth may be lost to severe decay, injury, gum disease, or another issue. Obviously, this isn’t ideal, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your smile.
If you lose a tooth, Dr. James D. Powell may recommend a dental restoration like a dental bridge or a dental implant. We’ve found that dental implants are a better choice for many of our patients because they are longer lasting, mimic a natural tooth, and don’t negatively affect the surrounding teeth.
Dental implants become a permanent part of your smile in a way that dental bridges can’t. Also, dental implants aren’t supported by the surrounding teeth like dental bridges are. No healthy teeth are altered to place your implant!
Our dentist and team know how stressful losing a tooth can be. You worry about the future of your smile or the prospect of the unfamiliar dental treatments to come. To set you at ease, we are happy to go through the dental implant process with you and answer any questions that you may have.
What to Expect During Treatment for a Dental Implant
The first things Dr. James D. Powell will do is check the health of your gums and take necessary digital radiographs to make sure that you have enough jawbone structure to support the dental implant.
We’ll then use a CT scan to help us efficiently and precisely plan your implant placement. The dental implant post is put in the bone socket of your lost tooth.
While your jawbone is healing, it will fuse with the implant post. In case you don’t realize how awesome this is, we’ll tell you. The fusing of the bone and implant means that the implant post will be a permanent part of your smile!
Once the fusing process is finished, we’ll attach an abutment to the implant post. This abutment is a connector which allows the crown (a.k.a. the piece that looks like a tooth) to be attached to the implant post.
We want your implant crown to be your crowning glory, so we make it specifically for your smile. To do this, we’ll use CEREC® technology to take digital impressions of your teeth. Then we design and mill the crown all in a single visit.
Your new dental implant will be truly remarkable.
The custom crown will match the natural color of your teeth, and look as though you never lost a tooth. And because it will be a part of your smile, you’ll be able to confidently eat and speak properly.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Just like a natural tooth, the life of an implant depends on how well you take care of your teeth. Regular brushing, flossing, and preventative dental visits are key to making an implant last for a lifetime.
In general, the abutment and the crown are more susceptible to damage. Crowns typically last for 10-15 years, but excellent dental hygiene can extend the life of a crown well beyond that.
The location of the implant and the balance of your bite can also affect the longevity of a dental implant. The more strain that an implant receives can increase the chances of it failing.
People who smoke or suffer from medical conditions like diabetes, severe gum disease, and cancer may have a higher risk of implant failure.
However, we’ve found implants to have an incredibly high success rate and an indefinite sustainability when properly cared for.
Thinking About Getting a Dental Implant?
We welcome you to contact Exceptional Dentistry today to learn more about the possibilities you can achieve with dental implants. Dr. James D. Powell has over 30 year’s experience and uses high-quality materials in combination with the latest techniques and technology to give you the results you dream of. Visit us in Palmdale, California, and schedule a consultation today.
