Replacing missing teeth helps restore oral function and your smile, and dental implants are the gold-standard restorative solution that helps prevent bone loss, looks and functions like your natural teeth, and lasts a lifetime with basic maintenance.
Dr. Roge Jacob and Dr. Magdalena Azzarelli of Hillsdale Dental Care offer a full scope of dental services, including implants, for patients in San Jose, California.
Given that getting implants is a surgical process, you’ll need to protect them as they fuse with your healing jaw. In this month’s blog, we take a closer look at dental implant types, the overall recovery timeline, and how to care for your teeth once you have implants.
Unlike other tooth replacement methods, dental implants work, as the name implies, through implantation into the jaw by a process called osseointegration.
An implant is essentially an artificial tooth root made of titanium. Our team sets it into your jaw, where it fuses to the bone during the healing process. The portion of the implant that remains above the gumline provides support for the finishing crown (artificial tooth).
This procedure can be done in several ways:
When only one tooth is missing, a single dental implant can restore appearance and function.
With multiple missing teeth, implants can be placed in supporting positions to anchor and stabilize a dental bridge.
To address many missing teeth, we may recommend implant overdentures in the form of All-on-4 implants, which involves placing four implants in the jaw to support a full arch of dentures fixed above them.
Another option for replacing many teeth or an entire set of teeth at once, this restorative solution uses six implants to support three dental bridges.
After the titanium implant is set into your jaw, you may experience bruising, swelling, and minor bleeding. As you heal, you’ll have to make allowances for what you eat.
This means eating soft foods and staying hydrated as your implant heals, and light, gentle brushing for up to three weeks. We may also prescribe a medicated rinse to prevent infection.
The implant bone-fusing process can take several months, but once you’re fully healed, we can finish the implant with your crown or overdentures. With proper care and routine dental exams, your results can last a lifetime.
Once your implants are healed and the implant crown has been placed, caring for them works just like caring for regular teeth:
Brushing twice daily and flossing at least once daily keeps your teeth clean, whether they’re real or implants, so keep up your oral health routine as usual.
Our team needs to ensure that both your natural teeth and your implants remain strong and fully functional, so having dental exams every six months is as important as ever.
Implants don’t suffer from tooth decay, but periodontal (gum) disease is still a concern. Regular dental cleanings still play a vital role in protecting any remaining natural teeth as well as preventing gum infection and inflammation.
Dental implant complications are relatively rare, but if you experience issues such as implant movement, implant exposure between the crown and your gumline, or infection, let us know so we can address the problem promptly.
Implants can make a huge difference in dental health, but they need proper care just like your natural teeth. To learn all about this amazing dental restoration for missing teeth, schedule a visit with our team at Hillsdale Dental Care in San Jose, California, today.
