Why Should I Get a Dental Implant?
Nov 18, 2021
There are several options for restoring your smile following tooth loss, but a dental implant is the only method that can replace both a missing tooth and its root. For a restoration that looks, feels, and functions just like your natural teeth, you should replace your lost tooth with a dental implant. Dental implants are available at our Santa Monica, CA, dental practice, where Dr. Jason Ray can restore both function and beauty to your smile.
A dental implant is a small screw-like post made from titanium, a biocompatible and hypoallergenic metal. The titanium post is inserted directly into the jawbone and will serve as the root for the new tooth restoration. A custom dental crown sits on top of the implant and replaces the missing tooth. The crown and implant are connected by an abutment piece.
Dental implants are the most secure and long-lasting tooth-replacement method available today. A primary reason for this is that the titanium metal fuses with the bone tissue through a natural process called osseointegration. Over time, the dental implant becomes permanently rooted in the jawbone.
Candidates for dental implants must meet certain requirements, such as having sufficient bone tissue in the jaw. Unfortunately, bone loss naturally occurs after tooth loss. Without enough bone tissue, osseointegration cannot successfully occur and the dental implants will not be secure.
Candidates should also have healthy gums since a small incision is made in the gum tissue in order to place dental implants in the jawbone. Having a strong immune system and being in good health overall are also important. The experienced dentist at our dental office in Santa Monica, CA, can determine if dental implants are a possibility for restoring your smile.
There are many benefits to getting a dental implant after losing a tooth. Dental implants improve the appearance of your smile by filling in the gaps caused by tooth loss. They also improve function and reduce some of the unwanted side effects that occur after losing teeth. Some significant benefits of dental implants include:
You should consider getting a dental implant to replace a missing tooth. More than any other restoration, dental implants look, feel and function the most like natural teeth. For dental implants in Santa Monica, CA, schedule a consolation with Dr. Ray by calling our office at (310) 581-5700.