What is a Dental Implant?

There have been incredible advancements made in dentistry in the past decades and some consider dental implants to be the largest breakthrough in the past 40 years. It is estimated that more than 30 million Americans are missing all their teeth in one or both jaws and that 69% of Americans age 35-44 have at lease one missing tooth! Although in the past missing teeth was irreversible, dental implants have provided people with a natural feeling and successful alternative!How Do Dental Implants Work?Dental implants are prosthetic replacements for missing teeth. The natural tooth is compromised of the root, which is held in place by the jaw, and the crown which consists of the top part of the tooth visible above the gum. The dental implant is a cylindrical post made of titanium that is surgically placed into the jawbone. Through the process of osseointegration, the titanium implant will fuse with your jaw bone, as you heal, and form a strong bond similar to a natural tooth’s. Once the implant is bonded with the jawbone, an abutment is placed on top of the dental implant to connect the implant to the replacement tooth or teeth.The process of osseointegration is what makes all of this technology a great alternative. Your bone cells attach themselves directly to the titanium surface. What this does is it locks the implant into your jawbone, imitating the bond of a natural tooth. In the 1960’s this process was discovered by a Swedish researcher and since then the surgical procedures have been perfected! Dental implants have a 98% success rate and the market for dental implants continues to grow in popularity!What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?There are countless reasons why dental implants are preferred over other methods of treatment for missing teeth. To begin, the benefits that dental implants have on your facial bone structure will be examined.When you are missing teeth, your jaw bone starts to deteriorate. When you are missing teeth for too long, it is possible that you may lose your face shape. When the bone deteriorates because of missing teeth, people have the appearance of having a sunken facial structure. Along with the changing of your facial shape and bone structure, when the jawbone deteriorates because of missing teeth, it also loses some of it’s strength and firmness. Dental implants are an option that will preserve and stimulate natural bone. This helps prevent bone loss in your jaw and in turn retains your natural facial shape and smile.In terms of appearance, dental implants are the most natural looking option and the most comfortable. People who have taken advantage of this dental replacement option don’t have to worry about dentures slipping out or which foods they can or cannot eat. Patients who have opted for dental implants can enjoy the foods they’ve always loved without hesitation. And where dentures can be uncomfortable and may move and click in your mouth, dental implants are fixed into your mouth so you don’t have to readjust or reposition them in your mouth! Dental implants provide an option so that you don’t have to be self conscious or lose self confidence because of missing teeth! Not to mention, they don’t get cavities! You still need to maintain a clean mouth for your gum’s health, but an implant-restored crown cannot get a cavity!Dental implants are the next best thing to your natural teeth! They are designed to look, feel and function like your natural teeth. Dental implants have advantages in terms of comfort, look and internal bone structure! At the Ferber Dental Group we believe that exceptional dental care doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Excellent dental care is within reach! Call us at 561-439-8888 or contact us online! We’ll have you smiling again!