If you have tried either bridges or dentures to replace your missing teeth but were not satisfied with the results, you may want to try dental implants. This tooth restoration option is actually the one that is closest to natural teeth and can restore your smile practically to what it was before you ever lost teeth. Visit All Care Dental by the Sea in Port Hueneme, CA to learn more about this treatment and whether it is right for you.
Unlike dentures or bridges, which sit on top of the gums or rely on natural teeth to stay in place, dental implants are fixed directly to the bone. They are not the actual dental prosthetics but are small metal posts that are inserted into the jawbone, where they fuse into the surrounding bone. The tooth replacement, usually dentures, is then attached to the implants.
The main advantage of dental implants in Port Hueneme, CA is that they feel like natural teeth. The implants are actually a replacement for the tooth root, creating a very stable foundation for the dental prosthetic. This results in better comfort with your tooth restoration, allowing you to eat and speak without worrying about a loose fit. Additionally, it is easier to clean dental implants than dentures or bridges. Finally, implants last a lifetime, so you don’t have to worry about the fit changing or to have to get them replaced.
Before your dentist at All Care Dental by the Sea places the dental implants into your jawbone, he will ensure that there is sufficient bone structure in the area to support the implants. If there isn’t, an additional procedure of bone grafting may be needed, adding some time to your treatment. To put the implants in place, surgery will be needed. Your dentist will make an incision into the gums and prepare the jawbone to receive the implant. The metal post will then be inserted into the bone, and the gums will be stitched closed. Over the next few months, your bone and gums will heal. The bone surrounding the posts will fuse with the implants until you have completely healed. The prosthetic can then be fixed onto the implants to complete the restoration.
For a better tooth restoration option, consider dental implants from our dental office near you in Port Hueneme, CA.