Dental Implants: For Better Oral Health
Dental implants give you the option of filling in the gaps left by missing teeth with permanent dentures rather than removable ones.
Whether you are missing a single tooth, several teeth, or all of your natural teeth, dental implants may be a viable option if you want the convenience of non-removable replacement teeth. Dr. Ahmed at Alpha Dental will conduct an oral exam and let you know if you are a good candidate for dental implants.
The Process of Receiving Dental Implants
Before you decide on dental implants, you should know that it is an involved process that requires many visits to Alpha Dental. However, most patients feel the end result is well worth it. Prior to placing the titanium rods in your jaw bone to support the new dentures, your dentist must make sure that the area to receive the implant is strong enough to support it. If the area appears weak, Dr. Ahmed will complete a bone graft procedure first. This entails removing small portions of bone from a stronger area in your mouth and moving it to the implant area.
After your dentist inserts the titanium rods, you must allow time for the gums and jaw to heal. This could take up to several months. We can provide you with removable dentures in the meantime. You will periodically return to our dental clinic so your dentist can check the healing process. Once sufficient healing has taken place, it’s time to attach your new replacement teeth to the rods in your jaw. That completes the procedure, but you should plan to come in for periodic follow-up appointments. Your dentist will let you know how frequently this needs to take place.
Why Dental Implants May Be a Better Choice Than Traditional Dentures
Although removable dentures conceal tooth loss, people have many complaints about them. One is that they slip out of place or even fall out sometimes, causing the wearer embarrassment. This never happens with dental implants. Some of the other benefits dental implants offer over removable dentures include:
- You don’t have to give up any of your favorite foods.
- Dental implants don’t affect speech.
- Replacement teeth attached to dental implants appear more natural due to matching the color and shape to any existing teeth.
- Placing dental implants in empty tooth sockets prevents remaining teeth from gradually shifting towards them.
- Since your new teeth are permanently attached, you don’t have to perform any special cleaning or maintenance on them.
- Dental implants typically last between 15 and 20 years while bridges and other types of restoration only last 7 to 15 years.
Alpha Dental in Nashua, New Hampshire offers several different types of dental implants and dentures. We encourage you to schedule a one-on-one appointment with Dr. Ahmed to learn more about the process, including cost, benefits, drawbacks, and other considerations.