Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are prosthetic tooth roots made of titanium or another durable metal. They are implanted into your jawbone and feature an abutment that connects to a prosthetic tooth replacement. 

Unlike traditional tooth replacement options, dental implants don’t slip or move around in your mouth. As a result, you’re able to eat, speak, and smile confidently. In addition, dental implants keep your jawbone healthy. 

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you’re more susceptible to gum recession and bone deterioration. 

Am I a good candidate for dental implants?

Anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental procedure such as an extraction or root canal is generally a good candidate for dental implants. However, you should also have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implants in place. 

If you smoke cigarettes or suffer from a chronic condition like diabetes or kidney disease, it’s important to share this information with your Margaret Culotta-Norton, DDS, PC provider. 

These issues won’t necessarily disqualify you from receiving dental implants, but they may increase your risk of complications. 

Following an oral exam, review of your medical history, and discussion of your goals for treatment, your dentist can determine whether dental implants are right for you. 

What is the process of getting dental implants?

Receiving dental implants can take anywhere between six months to one year. Although this may seem like a long period of time, it’s important to remember that with proper care your dental implants can last a lifetime. 

At your first appointment, your Margaret Culotta-Norton, DDS, PC provider installs your implants in the sockets of one or multiple missing teeth. 

When the bone surrounding the implant heals — a process that typically takes between three to six months — you return to the office and receive an abutment post that extends the implant. Your new replacement tooth attaches to the abutment.

A week or two later, after your gums heal from receiving the abutments, your dentist takes molds of your teeth. A dental laboratory uses these molds to design your replacement tooth (or teeth). 

At your last appointment, your dentist attaches your prosthetic to the abutment by screwing it in place. 

How do I care for my dental implants?

Caring for your dental implants is easy and hassle-free. Simply brush and floss them daily and visit the dentist once every six months for a professional cleaning and exam. 

To learn more about the amazing benefits of dental implants, make an appointment at Margaret Culotta-Norton, DDS, PC today by calling the office or clicking the online booking tool.