Take Back Your Self-Esteem with Dental Implants

Losing a tooth has a huge impact on your appearance and your self-esteem. A single missing tooth can affect how you speak, chew, and smile. Over time, it can lead to bone loss and cause adjacent teeth to shift. Whether you have lost teeth due to decay, injury, or failed root canal treatment, dental implants can replace them without compromising your healthy teeth. Implants look virtually identical to natural teeth, but their good looks are just the beginning; they offer several other important advantages over standard bridges or removable dentures.

Benefits of Implant Dentures and Dental Implants

Sometimes a standard fixed bridge is used to replace single teeth, but it requires that healthy supporting teeth be ground down. A dental implant doesn’t involve adjacent teeth; it is stabilized by the jawbone. Because implants integrate with the living bone, they help it stay healthy and intact, and prevent bone loss. With bridges, bone that previously surrounded the tooth deteriorates. Bridges are also associated with aesthetic problems. Gums typically recede around a bridge, leaving an unpleasant visible defect. Cement that secures the bridge can wash out and allow bacteria to attack and decay the anchoring teeth. Like implant-supported bridges, implant-supported full and partial dentures don’t compromise the health of adjacent teeth, and they never slip or make noise like standard removable dentures.

Dental Implant Surgery Procedure

Successfully placing dental implants usually requires several procedures over the course of six to nine months. The first step is placement of a titanium screw into the jawbone. The implant is covered with gum tissue and allowed to fuse with the bone for a period of two to six months. Next, the implant is uncovered and an extension called an abutment is attached. After a short healing period, a custom-made crown created to look like your natural tooth is cemented into place, completing your implant procedure.

Determine the Best Dental Implants for You

Each patient’s needs are different, so your procedure may not be exactly the same as what is described above. When conditions allow, some steps may be combined. Your dentist in Detroit will evaluate your case, and determine the best treatment plan.

To learn about our family dentistry practice in Detroit, call Gentle Dental of Michigan today at or make an appointment.