The Solution for Tooth Restoration
If you’re missing a tooth and it’s causing dental issues, your dentist at Thomas F. Brown, DDS might suggest a permanent solution called a dental implant. Dental implants are a common procedure designed to replace a missing tooth with a custom-built implant that gets attached to the jawbone with a screw. Once the implant is placed, our dentist will design a custom implant restoration that will cover the implant and improve the functionality of your smile. A variety of dental implant restoration procedures are available at Thomas F. Brown, DDS in Naperville, each providing a unique method for tooth replacement. Our restorative dentist and dental team can discuss which implant restoration method is the best solution for you.
Dental Implant Restoration Benefits
A missing tooth can cause a host of oral health and speech problems, and it can even affect your confidence. Implant restoration crowns can last for up to 15 years, while the screw holding the implant can last a lifetime. To ensure the longevity of your implants and restorations, it’s important to go for regular checkups every six months, floss regularly, and brush daily.
By opting for this procedure, you may see an improvement with the following:
- Eating and chewing
- Infections and disease
- Speech
- The overall aesthetics of your teeth
Types of Dental Implants
Each of the implant methods available has a functional and cosmetic purpose. Your oral surgeon and the team at Thomas F. Brown, DDS will usually discuss the best solution for you. Although there are roughly over 40 implant types, the three most common types are endosteal, subperiosteal, and mini-dental implants.
Endosteal Implants
This procedure, which involves constructing an artificial root to secure the false tooth in place, is the most common type of implant restoration for people with a healthy jawbone. A titanium screw is inserted into the gum and attached to the jawbone. The protruding screws keep the tooth secure.
The entire procedure can take anywhere from two to six months, as first, the jawbone needs to fuse with the implant to create a solid base before tooth insertion.
Subperiosteal Implants
If you have an eroded jawbone or have lost a lot of your back teeth, a subperiosteal implant is likely to be the preferred implant method. Because the jawbone is weak, a surgeon uses a metal frame beneath the gums. This solid structure can then support crowns, bridges, or dentures.
Mini-Dental Implants
A mini-dental implant is a less invasive procedure than a full implant. These implants also last a lifetime but tend to be smaller, with a tinier titanium screw. Mini-dental implants are strategically placed over the gum. Although no sutures or major surgery are involved, the process can take up to six months. This procedure at Thomas F. Brown, DDS is used for people who don’t have a solid jawbone and who would rather not undergo surgery.
As with most surgeries, there is likely to be a bit of pain and swelling at the site of the incision. Over-the-counter pain medication should be sufficient to ease the pain.
Simple dental procedures don’t quite have the advantages of lifelong implant restorations, which require a one-off surgical procedure for a lifetime of reliability and uncomplicated dental problems.
Let Our Team Create a Quality Implant Restoration
Once your implant is placed, the team at Thomas F. Brown, DDS will create an implant restoration that will look natural and restore functionality to your mouth. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with our restorative dentist in Naperville.
