What are dental implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts. They replace your natural tooth roots, providing a foundation for restorations like crowns, bridges, or implant-supported dentures.
Dental implants don’t rely on your existing teeth for support. Instead, your provider inserts them into your empty tooth sockets during an outpatient procedure. After implant placement, the posts integrate with your natural bone.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants offer various benefits, including:
- Easier biting and chewing
- Clearer speech
- A more defined jaw
- Durability
- Convenience
Dental implants even improve your oral health. By filling the gaps where teeth used to be, it’s possible to reduce the risk of gum recession and bone loss.
What is the process for getting dental implants?
At the practice of Jeffrey Busch, DDS, getting dental implants takes three visits.
First dental implant visit
During your first visit, your provider conducts an oral exam and takes a series of X-rays. These measures help them determine if you have enough jawbone to support the implants. If you have gum disease or low bone volume, your provider might first recommend a bone graft.
If everything looks good, your provider numbs your mouth with a local anesthetic and places the dental implants into your jaw. The number of implants you get depends on various factors, including how many teeth you’re missing and the type of restoration you want.
After surgery, your provider writes a prescription for pain medication and antibiotics. You go home and recover for several months.
Second dental implant visit
When your mouth finishes healing, you return to the practice of Jeffrey Busch, DDS. Your provider takes impressions of your mouth with a digital scanner and sends the impressions to a laboratory that designs and manufactures your custom restorations.
Third dental implant visit
When the laboratory finishes your crowns, implant-supported dentures, or fixed bridge, you visit the office for the last time. Your provider connects your restorations to your dental implants, polishes them, and provides care instructions.
How do I care for dental implants?
You take care of dental implants like they’re your natural teeth. To keep yours in optimal condition, Jeffrey Busch, DDS, recommends:
- Brushing your teeth twice daily
- Visiting the dentist every six months for professional teeth cleaning
- Eating a balanced diet
- Avoiding bad habits like nail-biting or opening packaging with your teeth
If you play contact sports or participate in other physically strenuous activities, it’s also important to wear a mouthguard. Doing so can reduce the risk of chips, cracks, or other types of damage.
To see if you’re a candidate for dental implants, make an appointment at the practice of Jeffrey Busch, DDS, by calling the office or clicking the online booking feature today.
