Dental implants have been available to help restore an individual missing tooth for over twenty years. In recent years, dental implant technology and techniques has continued to advance. Now they can also be used to anchor a bridge or create anchor points to lock removable dentures into place.
The process starts with Kirkwood Dental examining your mouth and taking some X-rays of the area intended for the implant. This gives us a clear understanding of how much jaw structure you have available. If gum disease, tooth decay or past extractions have caused a loss of bone structure, Kirkwood Dental might recommend you receive a bone graft procedure to restore enough structure to mount the dental implant.
A dental implant procedure is often performed outpatient basis and usually requires deep sedation. This means you will need to arrange to have a friend or family member drive you.
During the dental implant procedure, a small incision is made in your gums and a narrow channel is made in the bone. A titanium abutment is then screwed into place. Titanium is known to be biologically safe and will eventually fuse to your bones in a process known as osseointegration.
A temporary crown is then placed over titanium abutment to protect it. Once the abutment fuses to the bone, Kirkwood Dental can fit the abutment with a permanent crown.
If you have questions about dental implants, please feel free to call Kirkwood Dental at 408-378-8500 to schedule an appointment.