Dental Implants

Dental implants are prosthetic teeth that are known to be the best replacement for natural teeth. Whenever you lose a tooth to certain causes such as external injury, jawbone deterioration, aging, cavities, etc. your oral functionality would diminish. To restore this, dental implants would be the best solution.

Implant structure

Implants are known mainly for their strength and sturdiness. This is because they are made from high-quality dental-grade materials such as ceramic and titanium. An implant would consist of three main components; a root, crown, and abutment. The root structure is a titanium stud that has screw-like grooves on its surface. The visible tooth-like structure is made from highly durable tooth-colored ceramic. The abutment is a connecting element that is used to fix the crown on to the metal stud.

Is it essential to replace a missing tooth?

Of course, it is. Missing teeth pose several disadvantages if left unrestored (gradually, if not immediately). Some of them are as follows:

• The removal of a tooth would make it difficult for the individual to bite or chew food. Moreover, excessive and unwanted stresses will be applied on the teeth right next to the gap.
• Since a gap is left in the jawbone, the other teeth tend to move from their orthodontically right positions. This could lead to a malocclusion.
• The way you pronounce words (phonetics) would alter massively when you lose a frontal tooth.
• The embarrassment caused due to a missing tooth can make you feel too conscious of your appearance. Over time, it would lead to a lack of confidence.

Implant surgery

Dental implantation is one of the major oral surgeries. During this, a prosthetic tooth would be fixed in place of the natural tooth. However, prior to starting the procedure, we would conduct a thorough screening to determine candidacy for the implant. X-rays and scans of the oral cavity will be taken. This allows us to determine certain factors such as spacing available for placing the implant, jawbone health, etc.

Since the surgery would involve the gums and jawbone, it would be painful without administering a sedative. Hence, we would use local anesthesia for the purpose. An incision would be made on the gums to expose the bone underneath. High precision dental instruments would be used to make a hole in the jawbone where the implant stud would be inserted. Over a healing period of a few weeks, the implant would adhere to the jawbone and the gums will regrow around it.

During the next consultation, we would fix the pre-fabricated tooth crown to the implant stud. The abutment will be used for this purpose along with dental cement. After fixing the crown, your bite will be checked and any changes, if required, will be made. It may be polished to get the right texture and luster to improve aesthetics.

Advantages of dental implants

• Amazing aesthetics
• Restoring the oral functionality
• Preventing the drifting of natural teeth from their ideal positions
• Durability and longevity
• Preventing jawbone deterioration
• Excellent strength and stability

Call us at 949-786-2820 or schedule an online appointment with Dr. Michael Choi, one of the best dentists in Irvine, CA, and we’d be happy to help.