Why Choose Dental Implants?

Dental implants are known to be the best replacement for missing teeth. They are fabricated from a combination of dental-grade ceramic and a highly durable metal such as titanium. Together, both these components restore a missing natural tooth entirely and offer a few advantages that their alternatives do not.

What are the advantages of dental implants?

• The metal implant made from titanium is inserted into the jawbone, which helps to hold it firmly in place. This keeps it from slipping off or getting dislodged.
• Implants are long-lasting restorations. They usually last for several years without any hassle, provided you take optimum care and avoid biting or chewing hard objects, tearing open plastic bags with the teeth, etc.
• Once implants are placed in the mouth, you can bite and chew food as you always used to. They also restore ideal phonetics and oral functionality.
• Implants keep the adjoining teeth from drifting from their orthodontically right positions. This prevents a change in your bite or the onset of a malocclusion.
• Filling the gap in the jawbone avoids jawbone deterioration or shrinkage.
• In some instances, dental implants can be combined with dental bridges or dentures to replace multiple missing teeth.

How is a dental implant placed?

When you visit our dental practice for the initial consultation, the dentist will scan the teeth and take x-rays to get a better view of the jawbone and tooth roots. Multiple tests will also be conducted to determine the candidacy for implants. Some of the crucial factors in planning implants are jawbone size, jawbone health, the overall state of health, gum diseases, cavities, spacing available for implant placement, etc.

The dentist will make a tiny hole in the jawbone using high precision dental instruments to place the implant. It will be inserted in the hole and secured firmly using dental cement. A suitable healing period of a few months will be suggested, which allows the bone to fuse to the implant. During the next consultation, the ceramic crown will be attached to the metal implant with the help of an abutment and dental adhesives. A bite test will be conducted to ensure the implant fits well, after which it will be polished to make it appear life-like.

Care of the implant

Though the implant is quite strong and durable, it may get damaged when you try to bite anything too hard to sustain a hard blow to the mouth. In case they have been damaged, reach out to a dentist at the earliest to get them restored. Avoid biting pen caps, ice cubes, opening plastic bags or bottle caps with the teeth to keep the implant as good as new for a long time. In case the implant loosens from the socket, a bone graft may be required to restore the implant. Your dentist will conduct a thorough diagnosis and discuss the treatment with you.

Please schedule an appointment online or call us at (773) 880-2310, to have a consultation with Dr. Eliot, and we will be happy to guide you further with dental implants.  We also serve Lakeview and Lincoln Park areas of Chicago, 60657.