Affordable Dental Implants at Dundee Family Dentistry

Dental implants are a permanent and appealing solution to replace missing or extracted teeth. They are better than other alternatives like bridges because no additional teeth need to be altered to place the new tooth. 

The entire implant process is performed over the course of a few months. The implant is usually made of titanium and is surgically placed by a dentist or dental specialist, like an oral surgeon. These screw-like parts are placed into the jawbone and are meant to imitate the root of the tooth. Multiple implants can be placed at once if necessary. After the implants are placed the gums are sutured. 

The implant must be allowed about 3-6 months to heal, and during this time the jaw bone will form around the implant in a process called osseointegration. During this healing time you can have temporary crowns installed so that you can eat and speak normally and maintain a proper aesthetic appearance for your smile. 

After the implant has healed it is time to place an abutment on the implant. The abutment serves as the base for your new tooth. Once this is placed, an impression of the abutment is taken and is used to create your permanent restoration. Some offices have an onsite lab to create the crown, but others will have to send it to an outside lab. Once the restoration is completed you can return to the office to attach the restoration permanently. Your smile will look great, and after a short period of getting used to the implant it will feel just like one of your own teeth.