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Dental Implants are titanium posts that replace natural tooth roots and support prosthetic teeth (crowns, bridges). The implants are placed in the bone under your gums. During a healing period, the bone grows around the implant. Then, a replacement tooth (crown) is made and attached to the metal post, giving you a restoration that is very much like your natural tooth. Implants can also be used to secure bridges and dentures when more than one tooth is missing.
Dental implants allow for the replacement of missing teeth without grinding on good teeth. Dentists agree that a tooth often begins a downward spiral after being touched by a dental drill for the first time. With the advent of dental implants, many conventional procedures are becoming outdated. For decades the dental profession has advocated the preservation of natural teeth and natural tooth structure. This concept is certainly upheld when using dental implants for tooth replacement. The need for removal of healthy tooth structure (enamel) has been eliminated by dental implant treatment.
Several studies on crowns and bridges on teeth found an average 9-10 year life expectancy. Conversely, it is well documented that dental implants last for decades. Until about 1985 our choices for tooth replacement were poor, at best. Since implants have become the “standard of care” for tooth replacement our choices have improved dramatically.
