Dentist in Atascadero, CA

What Are Dental Implants?

To understand precisely what a dental implant is, you will first have visualize a natural tooth, that basically has two basic parts: 1. the root, that is inside the bone, and 2. the crown, that is the section that you get to see in the mouth above the gum line. A dental implant replaces just the core part of the tooth that is missing. The dental implant will then be topped by a true- looking dental crown.

The Dental Implant Procedure

The surgery is normally carried out with the use of local anaesthesia, so as to numb the section where the dental implant will be put. The procedure is relatively comfortable. Minor vibrations can be heard on the course of preparation. As there are no wounds after the implant surgery, and it is slightly invasive.

A single dental implant normally requires to be left on their own two to four months to connect to the bone before the crown is attached. The time of healing depends on the density of the bone at the section where the tooth was lost. The denser the bone, the quicker the integration. After a successfully integration, your dentist in Atascadero will create a crown that fits perfectly on the implant that will function and look exactly like the real tooth.

In other dental implant procedures, the implant may be inserted with the bone, and then later covered with a gum tissue, and then left to fuse or integrate to the bone. With this short procedure, the dental implant will be uncovered and then a little connector known as an 'abutment’ is connected to the dental implant permitting the gum tissue to slowly heal around it. After a short period or immediately, the crown can be linked to the abutment. The placement of dental implants is a procedure that takes the efforts of several specialists who will evaluate and come up with a dental implant placement plan.

Can Gum Disease Affect Dental Implants?

Gum disease is a type of bacterial infection which leads to the loss of bone mass. Continuous bone loss can lead to failure of dental implants. You are more vulnerable to gum disease, in case you are pregnant, or using any birth control pills.

How are Dental Implants different from the teeth?

Dental implants and natural teeth may appear to be the same, and even at times work in a similar manner, however they are not the same. The most obvious differences are their maintenance and repair, their response to dental disease, and the way they connect to the surrounding bone.

Teeth connect to the surrounding bone through a periodontal ligament- made up of collagen fibres which connect into the tooth for one side and the bone to the other side. Dental implants on the other hand connect directly to the bone.

The gums also do connect to the tooth’s root with collagen fibres just as described above. Nevertheless, gum tissues can just stick to the dental implant’s surface. Natural teeth is vulnerable to dental decay and also root canal therapy. Dental implants are made from metal and thus they do not succumb to decay or root canal issues.

Natural teeth is vulnerable to gum or periodontal disease, while dental implants on the other hand, are vulnerable to peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis refers to an inflammatory response to the presence of bacterial biofilm of the tissues which surround the dental implant, and can lead to the disintegration of the bone that holds the dental implant.

The Type of maintenance needed by Dental Implants

Dental implants crowns and other several false teeth replacements are created to be extraordinarily failsafe systems. They are replaceable and removable (only by a dentist), so that in case the wear or damage requires replacement, this can be achieved without having to interfere with attachment and implants to the bone.

However, implants do need regular maintenance. It is essential to practise proper daily oral hygiene, including flossing and brushing so as to control bacterial biofilm. You should also visit your dentist at least after every two months. Special devices are needed to clean dental implants which will not destroy their metal surface below the gum tissues. Your personal dentist will have to check on your implants to ensure that Osseointegration used is safe, and that the implant dentures, bridgework, and implant crowns are running sufficiently.