Tooth loss is a significant occurrence for many reasons. Besides the appearance of your smile after losing a tooth, the loss can also have dramatic effects on your bite’s balance, your jawbone’s integrity, and the long-term health of your smile. Fortunately, dental implants can help you address even the most profound consequences of tooth loss, including the reduction of stimulation in your jawbone due to the loss of your tooth’s root. As such, dental implants work to preserve your oral health as well as rebuild your smile.
What Is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a small, root-shaped post made from biocompatible titanium. The post is inserted into the jawbone in place of a lost tooth root, and the jawbone heals to the post over the course of several months (typically 4-6 months). Unlike traditional bridges and dentures, implants provide natural, lifelike support for your replacement teeth, eliminating the need for hidden clasps or adhesives to hold your prosthesis in place. Implants mimic the structures of healthy teeth roots to offer unmatched comfort and long-term stability for your new smile.
What Is Osseointegration?
The secret to dental implants’ success is the process known as osseointegration—or the healing of your jawbone to the implant post’s titanium surface. The process allows the implant posts to become permanent parts of your oral anatomy, much like the roots of your natural teeth that rest within your jawbone. In addition to supporting your teeth, osseointegration grants implants the ability to preserve the strength of your jawbone by reestablishing vital stimulation in your jaw.
Find Out If Dental Implants Can Work for You
Dental implants have become the most comprehensive tooth replacement option because they integrate naturally with your jawbone and oral structures. To learn more, schedule your appointment by calling Keelan Dental in Butler, PA, today at (724) 285-4153. Our Smile Certified experts happily serve patients from Butler, Cranberry Township, Mars, Pittsburgh, Butler County, and all surrounding communities.