Implants
Whether lost due
to accident or disease, missing teeth can cause a number of problems in your
dental health. When a tooth becomes missing the bite in a person’s
mouth changes. Teeth actually begin to move toward the gap which effects
the positioning of the opposing teeth when chewing or biting.
Additionally, the teeth around the missing tooth must now bear the load once carried by the missing tooth, creating a greater possibility of damage to the remaining teeth. Finally, the bone where the missing tooth once sat begins to recede, affecting the stability of the adjacent remaining teeth.
But today, there is an exciting solution to health and appearance
problems of missing teeth. This is the permanent replacement of the missing
tooth or teeth with Dental Implants. Dental implants effectively replace
the natural root of the missing tooth with a titanium anchor. It was found
by the Swedish orthopedic surgeon, Per Brånemark, that titanium, when placed
in bone, allows the bone to grow around the threads and rough surfaces of the
titanium. This “osseointegration” process of bone growth holds
the titanium anchor or post so that it almost becomes part of the bone.
When this titanium “root” is placed in the bone where the missing tooth once was the bone grows to hold it fast, almost like the original root. On top of this post is placed a dental crown made to look and act like the original tooth.
At Harrison Dental we believe that each of our patients can enjoy the benefits of natural-looking, healthy smiles that can also benefit their total health and confidence.
If you or a loved one suffers from the effect of a missing tooth or several teeth, call today to schedule a visit to see if dental implants may help you regain the health and confidence of a beautiful, functional smile.