Getting Dental Implants in Red Deer: How Do They Help Dental Health?

What are dental implants?
Dental implants are essentially artificial tooth roots. As such, it anchors the crown or replacement tooth. It also prevents the jawbone from eroding. When a tooth is lost, the body starts to reabsorb the bone cells in the area, so the jawbone becomes thinner and weaker.

A dental implant looks like a screw and is made of titanium. The titanium offers a couple of novel advantages. First off, titanium is biocompatible, so the body won’t reject it. It can also fuse with the jawbone during a process called osseointegration, which means the dental implant will be as firmly attached to the jawbone as a natural tooth root would be.

There are three main types of implants: root form implants, zygoma implants and small diameter implants. Root form implants are the most common type, and they replace tooth roots. There are 18 different types, and the dentist will pick one depending on which tooth or teeth need replacing.

The word “zygoma” refers to a bone above the upper jaw called the zygomatic bone. It supports the cheekbone. Zygoma implants are thus used in the upper jaw to support full dentures in patients who have lost all of their upper teeth.

Small diameter implants are long and thin. Their abutments or connectors are fused to the titanium post and can hold dentures or orthodontic appliances in place.

If you’re searching for dental implants in Red Deer, know that getting a dental implant requires surgery and typically at least two visits. During the first visit, the dentist will have to cut the gum to expose the jawbone and then make a space for the implant. After the implant has been placed, you will get to go home. You will then return several months later after the implant has fully fused with the jawbone. Finally, the dentist will attach the abutment and the crown.

Contact 67th Street Dental to learn more about dental implants in Red Deer.