What are Implants?

Men and women of all ages are self-conscious about their dentures, bridges, or missing teeth. The effect of missing teeth can be detrimental to your long term oral and overall health. Missing teeth can make you look much older than you are. Denture wearers often have difficulty speaking because their dentures fit so poorly. For others, the irritation and pain caused by dentures are constant reminders of their limitations. Denture wearers may find that they regularly decline invitations to social events because they are unwilling to face the uncertainties of eating, speaking, and laughing in public. Many can no longer enjoy favorite foods, nor the social interaction with family and friends that accompanies special meals. Now, more and more people are putting an end to these problems by choosing dental implants, a revolutionary way to replace missing teeth. Dental implants offer an excellent alternative to the limitations of conventional dentures, bridges, and missing teeth. Dental implants change the way people live and allow them to rediscover the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, and enjoy life. Replacing missing teeth can dramatically improve your smile and the shape of your face. This will greatly enhance both your dental health and self-esteem. Dental implants can be a dependable and lifelong solution to missing teeth.

A tooth should be replaced as soon as it is lost. This will retain your oral health by preventing bone loss and reducing movement of surrounding teeth. Teeth provide more functions than just the ability to chew. They are necessary for the health of the gum and jaw tissues, and a prolonged absence of a tooth will severely limit the possibilities for restorations. When a tooth is lost, the bone is not stimulated and begins to shrink away. A dental implant keeps the bone intact and prevents bone loss and gum tissue shrinkage.

What are Dental Implants?

Reproducing the natural function and appearance of your lost teeth can be very difficult to accomplish. Historically, dentures or bridge restorations were used as replacements, but with limited success. Dental implants, however, are natural looking replacements for missing teeth that provide the same function as your natural teeth. They are also used to anchor other types of restorations such as dentures and partial dentures, for greater success and patient satisfaction.

A dental implant is a biocompatible titanium post that acts as the root structure would for a natural tooth. The implant is placed into your upper or lower jaw bone, and mirrors the size and shape of your natural tooth root. The implant is placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia and allowed to heal and chemically fuse to the bone for several months. Once the healing process is complete and the jawbone has attached to the implant, you will return to our office, and Dr. Conti will fit the implant with a crown, bridge, or denture.

Replacing teeth with Dental Implants

If you have lost a tooth due to an accident, decay, or periodontal disease, a dental implant is an excellent way to replace a single tooth without the disadvantages of a fixed bridge or removable denture. It is the ideal treatment for a missing tooth, because it does not affect your adjacent teeth. That means no grinding or crowning of your natural teeth for bridges and no clasps for removable partial dentures. A dental implant is also much easier to clean as compared to a bridge and cannot be affected by decay. Just as with one missing tooth, several missing teeth can be replaced with implants. Implant supported bridges are permanently fixed in the mouth.

As we age, a greater effort is required in the maintenance of our appearance. While we may force ourselves to a strict diet and exercise, many times our teeth are forgotten. Teeth are prone to deterioration after many years of use. They get worn down, chipped and cracked, and eventually can be lost due to physical injury or prolonged tooth decay and deterioration. Having many missing teeth is detrimental to the health and replacing teeth is very important to maintaining the full function of chewing and a healthy, happy smile.

Implant supported dentures

Many people missing teeth wear dentures. Lower dentures never fit or feel like natural teeth. Upper dentures are easier to wear, because the suction in the palate (roof of the mouth) helps keep the denture in place. However, having the palate covered can also reduce the taste of foods that you are eating. Upper and lower dentures become loose due to shrinking gum tissue, which then causes irritation, sores, and pain. Messy dental adhesive is often needed to improve the fit.

With the introduction of dental implants, the need to suffer with uncomfortable dentures has been eliminated. A common reason people consider implants is due to the poor fit of dentures, which causes difficulty in chewing and a fear of losing the dentures while talking or eating. As our lifespan has increased, the need for a highly functional dental replacement system has become increasingly important. Dental implants are used to support dentures or completely replace dentures. They eliminate the need for dental adhesives or covering the palate. Implants eliminate the day-to-day frustrations and pain of ill-fitting dentures. They allow people to enjoy a healthy and varied diet without the restrictions many denture wearers face. With a sense of renewed self confidence, many people rediscover the excitement of an active lifestyle shared with family and friends and the chance to speak clearly and comfortably.

For all these reasons, people with dental implants often say they feel better...they look better... they live better.

Are you a good candidate for Dental Implants?

Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general oral health. Candidates for dental implants need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. A thorough evaluation by Dr. Conti will help determine whether dental implants are right for you.

If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to smile, speak, and eat again with comfort and confidence, then there is good news for you. Dental implants in Dr. Conti’s office in St. Petersburg are so natural looking and feeling that you may forget you ever lost a tooth. Dr. Conti is highly trained and qualified to perform implant surgeries and restorations with absolute minimal discomfort. Whether you need one implant, multiple implants, or even bone augmentation, they can help you with all your dental implant needs. Dr. Conti is changing lives and giving people healthy and functional smiles. Let us introduce you to a new horizon in oral healthcare - one that involves comfort, beauty, function, and innovative technology. Call us today to reserve your implant consultation with Dr. Conti