Dental Implants
Dental Implant Dentistry: The Modern Way to Replace Missing Teeth
Your teeth provide underlying support to facial muscles, allow you to consume a healthy diet, and give you an incredible smile. One missing tooth might not seem like a big deal, but if a missing tooth isn’t replaced, your risk for losing more teeth will increase. Furthermore, remaining teeth must take on more of the workload, and they will shift out of alignment. This can alter your bite, which may lead to jaw pain and bruxism (teeth grinding). With dental implant therapy, Advanced Dentistry in the Bridgewater NJ area can revitalize the health and appearance of your smile.
Understanding Dental Implants
The closest alternative to natural teeth, a dental implant is a metal post that forms an artificial tooth root. After placing the dental implant, a prosthetic crown or denture is secured on top of the post. Before treatment begins, Middlesex NJ dentist Dr. Ralph Reilly will evaluate your mouth to make sure you have enough bone mass to support dental implants long-term. In some cases, preliminary procedures, like bone grafting or sinus lifts, are required.
Completing the Dental Implant Process
A skilled specialist will position the small dental implant posts into the sockets left by your missing teeth. One dental implant post can hold one crown, or a few posts can secure dental bridges, partials, or dentures. Over time, your mouth will heal and the bone will adhere to the dental implants to form a foundation for prosthetic teeth.
Dental Implant-Supported Dentures
If your dentures slip out of place, feel loose, or you simply don’t like the cleaning routine, consider dental implant-supported dentures. Your current dentures might be modified with snaps, or Dr. Reilly may recommend a new denture that will attach to your dental implants. In most cases, dentures will be secure on about four dental implant posts, spaced strategically on a jaw. With dental implant-supported dentures, you will never experience slippage or looseness. You also will not have to use denture cream.
Dental implants not only improve the look and function of your smile, they also improve dental health. To learn more about dental implants, including how they can secure dentures, contact our Somerville NJ area office in Middlesex today by giving us a call or simply filling out the form on this page.
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