Dental implants have become one of the most popular options for replacing a missing tooth. Why? Because implants look and feel like your natural teeth, and they’re durable. They also rely on a combination of technology and your own bones. If you’ve lost a tooth due to decay, injury, or periodontal disease, a dental implant can replace the missing tooth root. It’s positioned in your jawbone during a minor surgical procedure and serves as a foundation for a replacement tooth. And unlike dentures, dental implants don’t slip or shift, so you can always feel confident about your smile, and when you eat. We’ve helped hundreds of patients throughout Bellevue regain their smiles with implants. If you’d like to learn more about implants and whether they would be a good option for you, please schedule an implant consultation!
Think of dental implants as an artificial tooth root that fastens to your jawbone to support a porcelain crown. An implant is a titanium post embedded into your jaw.
The top of the implant contains an abutment, which connects to a crown that provides a permanent replacement for your missing tooth. Besides replacing a missing tooth, implants are also a great option to replace severely damaged or broken teeth. Dental implants feel comfortable when you chew your food, or when you talk. And because they look like your natural teeth, you’ll never need to worry about hiding your smile!
Implants offer a number of benefits, especially as an alternative to bridges or dentures. They don’t slip and serve as a long-term solution to missing teeth. Other benefits include:
Dr. Gilbert develops a dental implant treatment plan individualized just for you, based on your oral history and specific needs. During the initial procedure, Dr. Gilbert places the small titanium post — or implant — directly into the bone socket of your missing tooth. You’re sent home for the implant to heal and for the bone to grow around the metal post. This may take between six and 12 weeks.
After it heals, Dr. Gilbert adheres a small connector post to the implant. This post holds your new tooth, which is crafted from porcelain and designed according to impressions of your existing teeth so it matches your bite. Depending on your needs, you may have one or more implants and crowns.
Placing the implants is an outpatient procedure, but the entire process from implant to crown takes several weeks. It depends on how quickly the implant and jawbone bond. You can continue enjoying your normal activities while waiting for this process to complete.
Implants work just like natural teeth. In fact, implants are often stronger than natural teeth, and Dr. Gilbert sometimes refers to them as “bionic teeth.” You use your normal oral care routine for implants just as you do for your natural teeth. This includes:
With proper care, implants should last a lifetime.
If the crown attached to your dental implant is damaged, replacing it is simple. Dr. Gilbert can remove the broken crown and attach a new one. The implant itself should remain in place through this procedure.