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Implant Dentistry
Chicago, Illinois
When you have a missing tooth you can only see one of the gaps. The other is inside the jawbone where the tooth’s root used to be. Bridges and dentures may do a good job of filling the visible gap but they do not fill the invisible one, which is important.
When the gap is left in the jawbone, the bone tissue will gradually shrink to fill it. That will change the shape of your jawline and facial profile. It will give you an older, more shrunken look. That does not happen quickly but it happens inevitably unless you do something to prevent it.
How do Dental Implants Work?
The implant itself is a titanium cylinder positioned in the jawbone. It will hold a replacement tooth and sometimes that dual unit is referred to as the “implant”. But they are two separate components placed at different times, one visible and one hidden. There is a third component too, a small piece that connects the two. The procedure is done in three stages.
Placement of the implant in the bone is dental surgery. Several months must be allowed for full healing, with bone tissue being allowed to grow in closely around the implant. That makes it a part of the jawbone, which makes it a strong anchor for a new tooth. Once the gums have healed after surgery you can wear a denture to fill the tooth gap until the bone is fully healed.
When the recovery is complete Dr. Emery will do a second (but minor) surgery. She will expose the top of the implant and attach a very small piece called an abutment. This will be where the tooth is affixed. A couple of weeks are usually enough for the gum tissue to heal up again around the abutment.
Attaching the new tooth is a simple procedure. It might be a porcelain tooth or made of acrylic, and either way it will be matched in color to your natural teeth. It is permanently attached to the exposed part of the abutment. Now you have both gaps filled and your smile is repaired and enhanced.
Dental implants can be done as part of a smile makeover. You might have your natural teeth whitened, the old metal fillings replaced with white fillings, and the gaps in your teeth filled by using dental implants to hold new porcelain teeth, matched to your newly-whitened natural teeth.
Implants for Multiple Teeth
One implant can hold more than one tooth. If you have several teeth missing, you can have more than one implant – as many as needed. An entire mouthful of teeth can be replaced this way, with many of their missing roots also replaced. Dr. Emery will plan it carefully, determining exactly where each implant should be placed. The total number of implants will comfortably hold all necessary replacement teeth, upper and lower if needed, and keep your bite properly aligned.
Implants for Bridges
A set of implants can anchor a bridge. Instead of using the neighboring teeth for support, the bridge is attached to one or more implants. It can be removable so that it snaps on and can be removed for cleaning. Alternatively it can be permanently attached to the implants.
Caring For Your Implant-Supported Teeth
The teeth attached to dental implants will need the same sort of daily hygiene that your natural teeth need. You should brush and floss them all and go for regular check-ups. Regular professional cleaning will also be best, to remove any plaque that has hardened into tartar and cannot be removed by brushing or flossing.
To learn more about dental implants and how they could potentially enhance your dental health and your smile, please contact our office. We will be glad to set up a personal consultation for you.
(773) 883-1818
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