Missing teeth aren’t just a matter of medical importance: they can be an enormous source of emotional distress. Don’t settle for a smile you don’t love or feel comfortable in – dental implants can help you safely and effectively replace missing teeth in the long term.
Located in Asheville NC, Chestnut Family Dentistry is committed to providing our patients with state-of-the-art dental care. For more information about our practice or any of the services we offer, contact us today.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are both permanent and semi-permanent dental fixtures used to replace one or more missing teeth. While crowns and bridges are placed over the teeth, dental implants are inserted directly into the jaw bone. For our clients that prefer dentures, we offer a hybrid denture-implant procedure. Regardless of which treatment option you prefer, it’s vital that you don’t leave your missing teeth unexamined. If left alone, missing teeth can become infected, cause other teeth to shift out of place, or make it difficult to speak or eat correctly.
How do they Work?
Implants can be used to secure crowns, bridgework, or dentures into place. Like natural tooth roots, dental implants are secured snugly into the jawbone, entirely invisible once insertion is complete. The implant itself is made out of titanium. This metal is strong, lightweight, and biocompatible. Unlike many other metals, titanium is able to fuse entirely with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. This ensures that the implant stays securely in place and is a permanent fixture within the jaw.
What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Both partial and complete dental implants offer the clients that receive them a unique, effective way to restore missing teeth.
By replacing these teeth, dental implants help:
- Stabilize the jaw bone
- Maintain the jaw bone’s shape and bone density
- Support the gum tissue, cheeks, and lips
- Make it easier to speak normally
- Improve aesthetic appearance
- Enhance oral health
- Increase day-to-day comfort
Who is a Candidate?
Nearly anyone with missing teeth is a good candidate for dental implants. However, it’s important that you’re in good health before undergoing the procedure; this treatment may not be safe for patients suffering from uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, alcoholism, or uncontrolled gum disease. Because their immune systems are compromised, the titanium implant may not be able to successfully fuse to the jaws of these patients.
Looking for a skilled dental practice in the Asheville, NC area? Let Dr. Wendy Willoughby and her expert medical staff provide you with the most comprehensive, environmentally friendly care available in the area. Contact us today to schedule a consultation appointment.
