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Dental implants are your go-to option if you have lost one or several teeth and are planning to restore with aesthetically pleasing, naturally-looking replacements that look and feel like teeth.  

Unlike those tooth restorations like conventional dentures that may slide around, shift, or even fall out, dental implants fuse into the patient's jawbone beneath the gums, thus functioning exactly like real teeth.

What are Dental Implants? 

Dental implants are metal rods fabricated mainly from titanium and are surgically inserted into the jawbone of the patient beneath their gums. Once they are placed, your dentist can mount dental restoration onto them.

When Is A Dental Implant Needed?

Dental implants, when placed surgically in the jawbone, work as the roots of missing teeth. They are fixed structures that don't slip, make noise or lead to bone damage like dentures or fixed bridges do as the titanium rod fuses with the jawbone. Besides, unlike the case of regular bridgework where the supporting natural teeth may get decay, the materials used in dental implants are not prone to decay or damage.

Dental implants can benefit you if you:

• Have one or several missing teeth
• Have a fully developed jawbone 
• Have enough jaw bone to secure the new dental implants, or the patient can undergo a bone graft surgery
• Have healthy and strong gum and oral tissues
• Don't have any health concerns that might affect bone healing
• Are not unable to wear dentures
• Are ready to commit a few months to the dental implant process
• Don't smoke or chew tobacco

So, if you are someone who struggles with conventional dentures or dental bridges, or you are looking to have a dental crown, dental implants can be your favorite tooth replacement option.

Types of Dental Implants

American Academy of Implant Dentistry recommends mainly two types of implants – endosteal and subperiosteal. The dentist chooses the best implant for a patient on the basis of their jawbone's shape, size, and health.

Endosteal Implants: 

They are titanium cylinders or blades surgically placed into the patient's jawbone where the tooth is missing. As per the American Academy of Periodontology, they are the most commonly used type of dental implant.

Subperiosteal Implants

They are placed on the top of the patient's jawbone, beneath the gum tissue, which will eventually get fastened to the jawbone through osseointegration. These dental implants are recommended when the patient has jaw bone loss, or the jaw's health does not allow the surgical placement of the metal rod as in endosteal implants.

If you want to know more about dental implants, call Dawkins Family Dental at (662) 234-5725 to schedule an appointment.