What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are prosthetic metal roots that are surgically implanted into your jawbone.

These titanium root implants then integrate into your jawbone after which an artificial tooth is attached to a post that is joined with the root. 

 Dental implants are a revolutionary procedure in dentistry that gives everyone a chance to have a beautiful smile and live a healthy life with a mouth full of beautiful, real-looking, and functional teeth. Dental implants also help you regain jaw bone density and do not affect the surrounding teeth. 

If you are missing one or more teeth and wish to have a beautiful smile once again, you may be the ideal candidate for getting dental implants.

What are the three types of dental implants?

Endosteal Implant

These are the most commonly used dental implants. They are placed in the bone and are implanted surgically. Endosteal implants are mostly made out of titanium and are in the shape of small screws.

These screws are surgically placed into your jawbone so they can serve as the roots for the newly implanted teeth. It is possible to anchor one or more teeth to a single implant. This type of implant is ideal for candidates who have good jaw bone density. 

Subperiosteal Implant

There are times when a patient does not have sufficient jawbone density or volume to support regular or endosteal implants. This is when they suggested Subperiosteal implants.

These types of implants are implanted under the gum but are not directly inserted into the jawbone by drilling. They are put right over the bone and not inside the bone. 

Zygomatic Implant

These are the rarest type of implants that are not seen commonly. This is not common because the process is rather complicated.

The only patients who are recommended Zygomatic implants are ones who don’t have sufficient jawbone to get Endosteal implants. Instead of the jawbone, the implants are put in the cheekbone of the patient. 

What is the process of getting dental implants? 

The process of getting dental implants can last from three to six months. To get dental implants, several dental specialists will work together at different stages.  

At Morgan Hill Dentistry, our dental implant specialist will first perform an evaluation of your teeth, gums, and jawbone.

The goal of this evaluation is to ensure that your jaw bone density and mass allow you to get dental implants. Once you are considered fit for the procedure, the dentist will move to the next stage. 

How long does dental implant surgery take?

Dental implant surgery can take between 1-2 hours per implant. 

Placement

An oral surgeon will make a cut in your gums and holes will be drilled into the bone. The screw-shaped titanium posts will be placed into the holes and fixed there.

You can expect to have some pain and discomfort after this procedure. The swelling and discomfort can last for several days. However, you can resume your daily life the next day. 

Osseointegration

After the implants are placed, it may take between three to six months for your jawbone to heal and grow around the implants. This process is called osseointegration and it allows the implants to stay firmly in place like the natural roots of teeth. 

Abutment

In this part of the process, a metal part called an abutment is fixed to the implants. These abutments will be attached to prosthetic teeth later, making your teeth complete.

If the abutments are fixed in the second part of the process after many months, the dental surgeon may have to make an incision to remove the protective healing cap which is placed over the implants.

This healing cap is removed and the abutment is placed over the implants. The gums are then left to heal and they gradually contour around the abutments. This will take four to six weeks to heal. 

Placing the Crown 

A Morgan Hill dentist will take an accurate impression of your teeth in order to create a custom-made porcelain tooth or set of teeth that match your original set of teeth.

Your new set of teeth will be fixed to the abutment. You now have new teeth which look and feel like real ones. Make sure you communicate with your dentist if you feel anything unusual. 

You have to take care of the replacement teeth just like your natural teeth. 

Dental implants cost – How much does it cost to get dental implants?

Most people can be found asking this one question – “Why are dental implants so expensive?” The answer to this question is pretty simple. Dental implants are meant to last for a lifetime. Getting implants takes months and multiple sittings and consultations.

Compared to dentures or bridges, implants are more expensive because the process is complex too. The cost of implants also varies according to the number of implants you are getting and other factors.  

You should consult us at Morgan Hill Dentistry to get an accurate estimate of the cost of dental implants for you. 

Benefits of getting dental implants 

This process is preferred by many patients because it is beneficial in many ways

Here are some of the benefits of getting dental implants at Morgan Hill Dentistry by a dental implants specialist 

Real look and feel 

The best thing about dental implants is that they look natural and also work like your real teeth.

Dental implants give you the freedom of eating anything you want. Your bite power is restored to a great extent and you can chew your food normally. No one can tell whether you have implants. 

Implants last forever 

In most patients, implants last for a lifetime. Dental implants are a one-time permanent process. If you take care of your implants, they will last you for a lifetime. 

They don’t affect other teeth

Dental implants fit naturally with your surrounding teeth and there is no need to grind the surrounding teeth to accommodate the implants. Implants are prepared especially according to your existing dental condition. 

You can restore bone mass with implants 

It is known that without teeth, the jawbone begins to deteriorate. You can lose a lot of bone mass unless you replace the empty space with an implant. Dental implants are created to replace the original root of the teeth in your jawbone.

The jawbone naturally accepts the implants as a part of the body and your jawbone starts to recover. Jaw bone preservation is one of the important benefits of getting dental implants. 

FAQ on Dental Implants

If you don’t have gum disease and don’t suffer from specific medical conditions which can be an impediment in the treatment, you can get dental implants. It is best to consult a dental implant specialist at Morgan Hill dentistry

If you are looking for dentists in Morgan Hill, CA, and have any questions about dental implants, you should book a consultation with Morgan Hill Dentistry.