Dental Implants in Ogden, Utah
If you want to restore your smile, dental implants may be right for you. Dental implant treatment can restore one or more teeth, depending on your situation. For more information about how to replace your missing teeth with dental implants or to schedule an appointment today, call our office.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants replace the entire tooth from the root to the crown. They are a restorative or a cosmetic option that can support a crown, bridge, or dentures. Dental implants are made of three different parts. The first part is the post. This is the part that sits in the jawbone under the gums and supports the new restoration. The second part is the abutment. This piece is the connection between the post and chosen restoration. The last part is the customized, artificial restoration. This can replace one or more teeth with a crown, bridge, or denture.
Why Are Dental Implants Placed?
Dr. Palmer may recommend dental implants for many different reasons. The first and most obvious reason is if you are missing one or more teeth. If you are missing one or more teeth, Dr. Palmer will need to ensure that you have enough jawbone to support the dental implant.
Another reason that we may recommend dental implants is if you have a broken or decayed tooth. A break in the tooth may be so severe that the tooth may not be salvageable. Similarly, tooth decay in the root of the tooth may not be able to be saved by a root canal. In this case, Dr. Palmer may recommend a dental implant.
The Dental Implant Procedure
If you have a tooth that cannot be repaired, the procedure begins with removing the old tooth. The tooth is removed with a dental extraction. Then, the process to place the dental implant begins.
Dr. Palmer may give you a sedative to calm your nerves before the procedure. Then, he will numb the area. The first part of the dental implant procedure is to prepare the jaw with a grafting procedure. This is not needed in all dental implant surgeries. Dr. Palmer recommends going to a dental implant specialist to place the implant. This concludes the first appointment. You will not have a visible tooth in the missing tooth space, but you will be on your way to a healthy new restoration. The surgical site must heal entirely before moving on with the process. Total healing can take anywhere from 3-4 months.
Once the jawbone has healed, in a process called osseointegration, Dr. Palmer will see you for another visit to place the abutment. This is the part that connects the implant post to your chosen restoration. The procedure is also done with a local anesthetic. Next, Dr. Palmer will ask you to heal for about two weeks before coming back for the final stage.
The final step in the implant process is the placement and securing of your personalized restoration. A dental crown is the top of your tooth created to look like a cap. It is made of porcelain and will blend into your smile. The porcelain material makes the crown both stain-resistant and durable. Another option is a dental bridge. A dental bridge is a series of dental crowns attached, forming a teeth bridge. Lastly, Dr. Palmer may suggest dentures to replace an entire set of teeth on the top or bottom of your smile.
Dental implants are a fantastic procedure to restore your smile. Restorations can be done to replace one or many missing teeth with a dental crown, bridge, or dentures. For more information about dental implants or to make an appointment, please call our office.
We look forward to hearing from you.