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The American Academy of Implant Dentistry reports that approximately 3 million Americans have dental implants. If you’ve lost a tooth, dental implants restore your smile and boost your confidence. Helene Julius, DDS, and the team at Applemint Dental offer natural-looking and effective dental implants in Beverly Hills, California. If you want to learn more about your dental implant options, call the practice today or reach out online.
What are dental implants?
If you’ve lost a tooth, Applemint Dental may recommend a dental implant — a structure that supports an artificial tooth like a crown, bridge, or denture.
Your provider uses screw-like devices to put the implant into your jawbone, providing an anchor for your artificial tooth. Then, they use an abutment to connect the implant to your new tooth.
The most common type of dental implant is an endosteal implant, which your provider embeds into your jawbone to support artificial teeth. If your jawbone is short, they may use a subperiosteal implant, affixing it to the top of your jawbone.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Benefits of dental implants include:
- Improved cosmetic appearance
- Boosted confidence
- Restored chewing abilities
- Improved speech
- Support for gum and bone health
- Improved oral hygiene
- Support for surrounding teeth
- Durability
- Biocompatibility (implant titanium material is compatible with your body)
- No need for removable dentures
Before proceeding with a dental implant, your provider can discuss whether you’re a good candidate.
What happens during a dental implant procedure?
During your initial consultation, your provider will examine your mouth, take digital X-rays, and utilize a computed tomography (CT) scanner to create precise images of your teeth, jaw, and face.
You may need a single tooth implant, an All-on-4® dental implant if you need to replace an entire arch of missing teeth, or multiple implants to support a full set of dentures.
Your provider uses an iTero™ scanner to develop a customized treatment plan and create a natural-looking artificial tooth.
You can choose from various types of sedation to make you comfortable during the procedure, such as a pill before the appointment, IV sedation, or nitrous oxide.
Your provider uses local anesthesia before surgically placing the implant in your jawbone. The implants will need to heal and bond for several months. You should maintain overall oral hygiene during this period and stay up-to-date on your dental cleanings.
Then, you return to the office to have your provider attach the implant to your artificial tooth or teeth.
The team will work with you to create a maintenance plan that will keep your implants in good condition for several years.
If you’re interested in discussing dental implant options, call Applemint Dental today or reach out online.