How Do Dental Implants Work?
Tooth loss can be upsetting and stressful, but with the use of technology and new dental techniques, we are able to help.
When patients come in with dental problems such as cavities, broken teeth, missing teeth, or other complications, our job is to restore their teeth to perform and function normally and prevent future damage to the teeth and oral cavity.
Today, dental implants are the top solution for recreating lost teeth, providing exceptional durability, aesthetic value, and longevity. Your new tooth will sit perfectly into your smile, so much so that it will be virtually indistinguishable from the original tooth.
Dental implants work so seamlessly within your smile because they take on the same purpose as the roots of natural teeth. Like a natural tooth root, they lie under the gum line and anchor the replacement teeth to your jawbone. Dental implants are made of titanium, a metal that has the unique ability to fuse to living bone — this makes them extremely stable, reliable, and durable. Lifelike prosthetic teeth are then attached to them like a screw to provide one or multiple new teeth to give you your dream smile.
Every patient we see has a different case, so the number of implants required and the technique may be different; however, we design the restoration in the most conservative way possible for each patient’s needs. If patients are missing more than three teeth next to each other, they may require an implant-supported bridge. There are also various options for fixed dentures and full mouth restorations.
What to Expect From Dental Implant Surgery
The surgery to place dental implants is a straightforward procedure carried out in our dental office in Herndon by our resident periodontist and implant specialist, Dr. Habib. Usually, you will require local anesthesia for this procedure and aftercare is manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. Dr. Habib will begin by removing any decayed teeth and the required number of implants will be placed in the precise locations in your jaw to maximize the support needed to give you a perfectly functioning set of teeth.
Depending on your case, you may receive your new teeth on the same day, or if you have a more extensive case, the doctor may require additional time for the implants to fuse and heal before adding your permanent fixtures.
You may be advised to avoid hard or chewy foods while the healing process takes place but once your implants are fused and your new permanent teeth are attached you can go back to eating anything you want. For people who upgraded from removable dentures to fixed dentures, this will be an amazing feeling as they will have avoided these types of foods for years.
Dental implants can not only improve your appearance but also your ability to chew and to speak, both actions that are difficult when you have missing teeth. We also offer full-mouth restorations depending on your needs, so please speak to our team if you would like a consultation. Dental implant surgery can exponentially improve your way of life!