Dental implants are a permanent option for replacing missing teeth. Our in-house Implantologist has placed hundreds of dental Implants over the last 15years. We provide Single Implants, Implant retained bridges, and Implant retained dentures (Implant overdentures). Our dental implant procedures are quick and painless, with extremely high success rates. Our treatment and payment plans are personalized to fit your need and will surely restore your confident smile.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a titanium post (likened to a tooth root) that is surgically inserted into the jawbone beneath the gum. This allows the dentist to affix the artificial tooth/teeth or a bridge to replace the previously lost tooth/teeth. An implant is more permanent in nature and does not come loose like a full or partial denture can.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants fuse to your jawbone, thereby providing stable and permanent support for the artificial teeth which is affixed to the implant. Unlike dentures and bridges, implants will not slip or shift in your mouth, even while you are eating, speaking, or engaging in other normal activities with your teeth.
Dental implants also improve your oral health because they do not have to be anchored or attached to other teeth, like bridges and partial dentures.
Normal bridges and dentures can be uncomfortable, or even impossible, for some patients for a variety of reasons. It could be related to the presence of sore spots in the mouth, poor ridges, high gag reflex, amongst other reasons. Also non-implant supported bridges are typically attached to teeth on either side of the space left by the missing tooth. In the case of implants no adjacent teeth need to be prepared or ground down to support or hold the new replacement tooth/teeth in place.
If you are considering implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant(s). You must also commit to keeping them structures healthy. In cases where the bone cannot support an implant, you may require a bone graft. It is also possible that the bone height n your upper jaw is not sufficient, or your sinuses are too close to the jaw. For either of these you may require a sinus lift. Meticulous oral hygiene and regular dental visits are critical to the long-term success of dental implants.
Implant Supported Bridges
An implant-supported bridge is similar to a regular dental bridge, but is supported by implants and not by the natural teeth adjacent to where the bridge sits. In most cases for an implant-supported bridge, one implant is placed in the jawbone for each missing tooth. Then the crowns are connected to each other to form one piece.
An implant-supported bridge is used when more than one tooth is missing. It may also be used when your dentist is concerned that you might put too much pressure on individual implants that are not connected to each other. This could happen through clenching or grinding your teeth. An implant-supported bridge reduces the pressure on the individual implants in the bone, and spreads it across the entire bridge.
Taking Care of Your Dental Implants
Good oral hygiene – brush twice a day and floss once daily. Using interdental brushes, brushes that slide between teeth, can help clean the hard to reach areas around your implant.
Limited or no smoking – smoking can weaken the bone structure and can contribute to implant failure.
Frequent dentist visits – cleanings and exams every six months can help ensure your implant is in good condition, and that it stays that way.
Avoid chewing on very hard foods – don’t chew on hard items such as ice and hard candy because they can break the crown and your natural teeth.
Call our Norwalk Implant Center today and schedule you implant consult with our specialist! 203 939 1616