Dental implants are among the most effective treatments in restorative dentistry. They can restore the look and function of your smile and provide excellent long-term health outcomes. However, many patients aren’t entirely clear on what they are and how they work. In this blog post, you will find out everything you need to know about dental implants.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are a modern treatment method that can be used to replace one, several, or a full smile of missing teeth. They provide a strong foundation for dental crowns or implant-supported dentures by being embedded in the jawbone.

There are several different parts at play. First is the titanium screw. This is the part that your dentist will implant into the jawbone. You may need just one to replace a single tooth or multiple for implant-supported dentures. The screw is made of titanium because it naturally integrates with the bone to form the strongest possible bond.

The screw sits below the gumline, so it isn’t visible during the healing process after implant placement. Once healing is complete, your dentist will attach an abutment tooth to the screw. This is the part that holds the replacement tooth, and it’s shaped similarly to a natural tooth that’s been prepared for a dental crown.

Finally, you have the crown itself. This replacement tooth is made of porcelain or other materials and is carefully customized to suit your smile. It is attached to the abutment with dental cement, much like when dental crowns are used to repair natural teeth.

Together, these parts deliver many benefits as a restorative treatment option, including the following four facts.

1. Dental implants help you achieve a natural-feeling smile.

The stability offered by dental implants is one of the reasons they’re so widely used today. Unlike options such as full or partial dentures, new teeth implants are incredibly solid. Using the jawbone as a foundation makes them just as stable as natural teeth with strong and healthy roots.

That stability makes your restored smile feel incredibly natural. There isn’t any wiggling or movement. Instead, your replacement teeth hold fast, just like natural teeth. This is true whether you’re biting, chewing, or speaking.

With improved eating and speaking comes greater confidence. You won’t have to worry about dentures or other prosthodontics shifting at an inopportune time. Instead, you know that you can count on your replacement teeth at all times.

2. They preserve your long-term oral health.

Dental implants provide some of the best long-term oral health outcomes in restorative dentistry. Much like dental bridges, they prevent remaining natural teeth from shifting into the gap left by a missing tooth. This can help you avoid the need for orthodontic treatment to reposition your teeth later on.

They also have some unique benefits. Dental implants help preserve your jawbone density. When natural teeth are present, they apply pressure and stimulation to the jawbone through their roots. This keeps the jawbone strong, dense, and healthy. If you’re missing teeth, your jawbone can weaken and deteriorate.

Implants act similarly to natural teeth in preventing jawbone deterioration. This lets patients with implants avoid the distinct sunken facial appearance that many who live without teeth can develop.

3. Dental implants keep your smile beautiful.

Dental implants provide a range of benefits in terms of health and performance, but they also restore the beauty and fullness of your smile. Whether you need implants to support a crown for a missing tooth or for implant-supported dentures, you can get a custom smile design that suits you perfectly.

In cases where patients still have remaining teeth, the dental crown that goes over the dental implant is customized to match the natural look of their smile. The crown is sculpted to the right shape and proportions, and the color is adjusted to fit your smile’s natural shade.

Both dental crowns and implant-supported dentures look incredibly natural. Combined with the stability and confidence that come with dental implants, no one will have reason to suspect anything about your smile.

4. They deliver long-lasting performance.

Dental implants are a long-lasting solution for missing teeth. The titanium screw section of the dental implant typically lasts for the rest of a patient’s lifetime. The dental crown on top of the implant can wear down or become damaged, just like a crown over a natural tooth.

However, replacing the crown itself is straightforward and easy. The dental implant is already in place, so you won’t need implant surgery again when it comes time to replace the crown or implant-supported dentures.

Find out more about dental implants in Middletown, Ohio.

If you have one or more missing teeth, dental implants could be just what you need for a full, functional, and healthy smile. You can visit the best family dentist near Middletown, Ohio, to discuss treatment options and find out whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants.

Schedule your appointment with Dr. Steven A. Lang, DDS, today.