You may have heard that dental implants are a great way to be able to chew normally again and restore your smile after losing one or more teeth. Implants consist of natural-looking teeth replacements that are anchored and integrated into the jaw bone.
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Dental Implant Technology
While removable dentures are less expensive, they require replacement every 4-5 years to adjust for jawbone loss, which they do not stop. Because implants help maintain the jaw’s bone integrity (preventing the body from a natural process of reabsorbing the bone), they can last more than 10 years. Removable dentures can also be very uncomfortable for some, often affect the ability to chew normally or speak and are not as aesthetically natural-looking, making it obvious that the individual is wearing dentures.
So why doesn’t everyone get regular implants? Traditional implants may first require a bone graft for those with significant bone loss (which is usually due to not having missing teeth replaced right away). To replace the entire upper and lower set of teeth would require eight implants (or more), which not only is more expensive than a set of dentures, but requires extraction of any remaining roots of the teeth under the gums (though this is painless). It takes 3-6 months to fully heal before the implants can be placed, which may be uncomfortable and it is advisable to mainly eat softer foods during this period using a temporary “overdenture.” Implants can also be used to firmly anchor dentures, which can reduce bone loss.
If you have lost many teeth, All-on-4 Dental Implants may be your best long-term option. This revolutionary approach enables our oral surgeon to place a set of four long-lasting dental implants. The upper and lower jaws could be given a complete set of natural-looking teeth with just four implants (and this can be done despite more bone loss than regular implants require to be anchored). This significantly speeds up the entire process of extraction, healing, and implant placement, which makes it less expensive and much more comfortable than with traditional implants. Many of our patients say that what they value most about All-on-4 implants is restoring functionality, the ability to eat and taste normally again, without the roof of the mouth being covered
Proper Treatment
Of course, with any kind of implant you will need proper dental hygiene maintenance to ensure long-lasting results (see the instructions at www.LAdentist.com).
To schedule an assessment by our dentists of your options to improve the health of your teeth and gums, book your free consultation with us online or call (323) DENTIST (323-336-8478) today.