DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dental implants are prosthodontic devices that replace missing teeth. Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, which sit atop your gums or attach to adjacent teeth, dental implants use a titanium post anchored directly to your jawbone and an implant crown or implant-supported dentures. 

Dental implants work with your body's natural ability to incorporate a foreign body into the bone through osseointegration. Once new bone tissue stabilizes the dental implant post, your prosthodontic team at GoPro Dentistry places a customized crown that matches the look and function of your natural teeth. 

Dental implants are the preferred option for tooth replacement as they offer advantages over traditional partial dentures or fixed bridges, including:

• Longer-term stability 
• Fewer long-term complications 
• Less risk for bone or tissue loss
• No need to grind or reshape natural teeth
• No embarrassing clicking noises 
• Don't affect speech or ability to eat
• Dental implants stimulate new cell growth in the jawbone, which prevents long-term bone loss. Dental implants also protect natural teeth from shifting and lower the risk of decay. 

GoPro Dentistry may recommend dental implants if you have one or more missing teeth due to: 

• Severe decay
• Periodontal disease
• Bone loss
• Age-related wear
• Oral trauma 

If you have missing teeth, your prosthodontist discusses your tooth replacement options and shares what you can expect when getting a dental implant. 

It typically takes about three visits to get your dental implant in place. During your initial visit, the GoPro Dentistry team discusses your options and takes digital X-rays to plan your treatment. Sometimes, you may need a decayed tooth removed or antibiotic medicine to heal an infection before taking the next step. 

On your second visit, your prosthodontist takes digital impressions and attaches the dental implant post to your jawbone. They cover the post with a temporary crown, which functions like your natural tooth while your post heals and stabilizes. 

Once your bone integrates the dental implant post — which could take several weeks — you return for your permanent crown. To care for your new dental implant, maintain excellent oral care, and schedule regular dental cleanings every six months to a year. 

Call or schedule an appointment online with GoPro Dentistry today for quality dental implants.