Dental Implants have transformed the field of restorative dentistry.

Implants have changed how dentists all over the world look at tooth replacement, and that includes at our office right here in Ridgecrest, CA.

While dental professionals have known about dental implants for a while, we also know that they are unfamiliar and even unknown to many patients who could receive real benefits from them.

Today, we will be answering some common questions about dental implants, but there is one question we can only answer if you visit The Dentist House in person: Will dental implants work for you?

To make that determination, we need to be able to examine your mouth and your jaw. Nevertheless, today’s short Q-and-A should give you an idea if you should schedule a consultation.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are prosthetics that replaces the roots of your natural teeth.

Implants can be cylinders or screws and are made of titanium. When the implants are placed into your jawbone, they provide support for other restorative services like dental crowns, dental bridges, and dentures.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants work because of a process known as osseointegration.

This work was coined by Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark. He is a Swedish physician and professor who is considered the father of dental implants. While doing research on blood flow, he placed titanium cylinder into the leg bones of rabbits.

When he tried to remove the cylinders, he discovered that the bone had grown around and bonded to the cylinders, which made them difficult to remove. He used that knowledge to develop dental implants.

Implants interact with your jawbone in a way that is quite similar to roots. The implants push into the bone. The bone responds by creating new tissue. This keeps the bone health and holds the implants securely in place.

This also explains why implants add stability to other tooth replacements.

Are Dental Implants Permanent?

If you take the proper care to maintain your implants, they can and should last the rest of your life.

When you have dental implants, you need to care for them just as you should care for your natural teeth. This means cleaning them every day to remove bacteria buildup.

You aren’t going to get a cavity in a dental crown, but you can develop peri-implantitis. This is a type of gum disease that affects the soft tissues around a dental implant.

Caring for your oral health (brushing, flossing, visiting the dentist for cleanings and examinations) will help you keep your mouth healthy and your implants where you want them to be.

When Should You Get Dental Implants?

Ideally, you would get a dental implant as soon as you are able.

Not only is this an effective way to replace lost teeth, it’s beneficial to your oral health.

We mentioned earlier that dental implants help to keep your jaw healthy and strong.

Without a root or an implant to stimulate your jawbone, it will not create new tissue as often as it should. As a result, your jaw will lose mass and density. This can affect neighboring teeth, and it can increase your risk of losing more teeth.

If you are already missing all your teeth, this bone loss can affect how traditional dentures fit in your mouth. This is one of the reasons traditional dentures have to refit from time to time.

Implants also help provide support for any remaining teeth you may have. If you lose a single tooth and don’t replace it, the adjacent teeth can start to drift slowly into that space. This can affect your ability to bite and chew and put you at risk of further tooth loss.

By getting a dental implant and a dental crown, you have something to support those teeth so they remain in their original positions.

How Can You Pay For Dental Implants?

This is an understandable question. Our staff will work with you to find the right financing option for you.

If you have dental insurance, please let us know. We work with several insurance companies, and we want to help you get the maximum benefits that you deserve.

We also accept other payment methods such as CareCredit and Springstone. If are part of either of these services, we also have an in-house benefit plan.

If you are interested in dental implants, we want to work with you to make them affordable.

Call If You Have More Questions

We know you may have more questions about dental implants than what we addressed in this post, and we will be glad to help answer them for you.

You can contact us by calling The Dentist House at 760-657-4049 or by filling out our online form. Our office is located in Ridgecrest, CA.