For those with one or more missing teeth, seeking a lifelike tooth replacement is crucial for keeping smiles healthy and whole. In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about how dental implants improve the health, beauty, and function of the smile. Do you have questions about implant dentistry? When should you see your North Hollywood, CA, dentist for treatment?

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants

Question: Why do we lose our natural teeth?

Answer: Different factors could lead to tooth loss, such as an injury or even untreated decay or infection. But the most common cause of tooth loss is gum disease. When we develop gum disease, there is no cure. The issue will need to managed with routine care to prevent periodontitis, the advanced stage responsible for adult tooth loss. If you lose one or more teeth to periodontitis, you may need treatment before we move forward with tooth replacement.

Question: Who qualifies for dental implants?

Answer: We can employ implant dentistry to address the loss of a single missing tooth, or to replace every tooth on one or both arches. We first need to make sure your jawbone is strong enough to support your new teeth. When we lose our natural teeth, the jawbone around them no longer receives certain nutrients, which cause the tissue to deteriorate and may cause further tooth loss and a loss of jawbone density. You may need bone grafting before we can place a dental implant. If you have gum disease, then as we mentioned above, we may need to help manage the disease before we recommend implant dentistry.

Question: How do you place them?

Answer: During oral surgery, we will insert them into the jawbone. Through the process of osseointegration, the implant will bond with the jawbone and act as a new tooth root, which helps ensure they last for many years to come. We then complete the process by placing a crown or prosthetic once the area heals.

Question: Will they look natural?

Answer: Yes! For individual dental implants, we will create and place a crown to restore the visible portion of your new teeth. For those with multiple missing teeth, we may attach a bridge or denture. Regardless, the restorations and prosthetics will be custom-made using lifelike materials. If you have any questions about addressing missing teeth, then contact our team today.

Do You Have a Missing Tooth?

We want to help you enjoy a full and beautiful smile with quality, long-lasting tooth replacement. For more information on our approach to implant dentistry, then schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smile in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.