What Is Dental Implant Restoration & Who Is It For?

Losing a tooth or teeth can be traumatizing. Besides affecting your bite and speech, tooth loss also raises aesthetic concerns by changing your smile and general facial appearance. This is especially true for the front teeth that are more visible. Fortunately, you can fix this problem with dental implant restoration.  

What Is Dental Implant Restoration?

Dental implant restoration replaces missing teeth with natural-looking inserts. This procedure has two main components: a restoration to replace the lost tooth and an implant to serve as the artificial root. Depending on the number of replacement teeth, restorations can be dentures, dental bridges, or dental crowns. If you settle for crowns, your dentist can recommend porcelain, metal, resin, or temporary acrylic-based restorations depending on your budget, preferences, and oral health needs.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Implant Restoration?

Dental implant restoration lasts longer than other treatment options. Provided you care for your teeth, implants can serve you for up to 15 years. Implants also protect against bone loss, preserving the integrity of the jawbone and surrounding teeth. Most importantly, you get an improved appearance since implants look and function like natural teeth.  

Who Is It For?

Just because you lost a tooth doesn’t mean that implants are right for you. However, you may qualify for the procedure if:

  • Your tooth decay is too advanced to be fixed with fillings or other traditional treatments
  • Gum disease has damaged your supporting tooth structure
  • You’re a victim of dental trauma such as accidents or sports injuries 
  • Your teeth are missing from failed dental procedures
  • You want more stability for dentures to prevent them from slipping or shifting
  • You lost teeth to aging 

What Can You Expect During the Procedure?

Because every case is unique, the dentist starts with an assessment of your teeth and dental history to determine the best approach for restoration. Afterward, these steps will follow:

  • The dentist extracts rotting teeth and broken pieces and cleans out what remains. 
  • Surgical positioning of the metal post. The patient then goes home to allow the bone surrounding the implant to heal. During this time, the implant fuses with the bone tissue through a process called osseointegration. 
  • Mounting the abutment to the implant. The dentist may also take an impression of the inserts at this point. Because a minor incision is necessary to reach the implant, you require several weeks to heal. 
  • Mounting of the restoration to the implant.  

Remember, dental implant restoration is a lengthy process that can take up to six months. Although implants cost more than other dental procedures, the longevity, functionality, and jaw bone preservation are well worth the spend.

Book an Evaluation  

A dental implant restoration is a multi-stage process that demands the highest level of expertise. Talk to us at LeCroy Dental to get that winning smile.