When you suffer from tooth loss, this could mean major complications for your oral health in the years to come, including additional missing teeth and even a dramatically aged appearance due to loss of jawbone structure. But your Santa Rosa , CA, oral surgeons can protect you from these complications with the placement of dental implants.
The Causes of Tooth Loss
How do we lose our natural teeth? We could lose a tooth to an untreated cavity or infection, as the tooth could fall out or require extraction to protect the rest of your smile. A tooth could be knocked out due to a serious injury or accident. If you have periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease, then you could lose your teeth. The causes vary, and our team will diagnose the cause and assess the severity as part of the placement process.
Impacts on Your Overall Health
Missing teeth could cause you to feel embarrassed about your appearance and could even limit your replacement options. You could have trouble speaking clearly in some cases. But the most severe complication is the fact that the body will suspend or divert the flow of calcium and phosphorus to the jaw following tooth loss. The area around the missing teeth then loses mass and density with time, which could use further tooth loss and an older appearance. But by placing dental implants to secure a new tooth or a fixed denture, you can avoid these changes and preserve your facial structure!
Planning Treatment
To begin, our team will take a close look at your jaw with digital x-ray technology, so we can assess the strength of your jawbone. We want to make sure you have enough structure to properly support one or more dental implants. If not, we may need to conduct a grafting or sinus lift procedure to uncover new tissues to rebuild the weakened portions of your smile. We then choose the best angle and position to insert the dental implant post, so they can bond with the jaw and stimulate the growth of tissues, keeping your smile strong for years to come and ensuring long-lasting tooth replacement.
Anesthesia and Sedation
Our team wants to keep you comfortable during the oral surgery portion of the procedure, which is why we will administer a local anesthetic to the area where the new tooth root is being placed. We also have sedation options, which can help you stay calm and relaxed during complex oral surgical procedures. The option we prescribe will depend on your age, weight, medical history, and your anxiety levels. We want all of our patients receiving new teeth to enjoy a positive and comfortable experience in our office.
Tooth Extraction
For those receiving dental implant dentures, you may have a few remaining teeth. We can gently remove them to pave the way for your new dentures. The tooth extraction process takes as little as 30 minutes, and we take steps to ensure the procedure is a gentle and comfortable one.
Dental Implants
Each dental implant consists of three portions. The implant portion is a screw-like post made from titanium, which the body accepts as natural bone structure. When we insert the post into the jaw, it will bond with the bone structure through osseointegration. We then attach the second part, the abutment, which extends above the gum line. Then abutment makes it possible to connect the third part, the part you see when you smile. Crowns can be used for an individual missing tooth. Our team could also use multiple posts to secure a bridge or even a set of fixed dentures.
All-On-Four
If you have a weakened jawbone, we could potentially secure a set of dentures in one visit without the need for grafting or sinus lifts. All-On-Four requires only four smaller posts per arch, placed at an angle that can ensure it supports a complete set of dentures. The entire process, from implant placement to the attachment of a denture, takes one visit. You never go without a complete smile. You may need to return later so we can attach your final denture.
If you have any questions about implant dentistry then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk To Your Santa Rosa, CA Oral Surgeon About Implant Dentistry
We would like to help you enjoy a complete smile again with our lifelike and durable dental implants. If you would like to learn more about replacing your missing teeth, then contact your Santa Rosa, CA, oral surgeons by calling (707)545-4625.
