Implant Placement
Dental Implant Placement in Newport News, Virginia
Of all the ways to replace missing teeth, there is none that feels more natural, or lasts longer on average, than with dental implants. A dental implant can replace an individual tooth, or multiple implants can be used to replace several teeth
Treatment with dental implants usually occurs in two phases. First comes the placement phase, in which the implants are placed under the gums. Once the implants heal – which normally takes around 3-4 months – they can be used to support replacement teeth: either crowns, a bridge, or a denture.
There are two reasons why implants have such a good long-term prognosis. First, since implants are made of titanium, then will certainly never decay. Secondly, once they integrate with the bone, it is unlikely that they will ever become weak and loose, as natural teeth sometimes do. Of course, it is important to brush and floss around implants, just as with natural teeth, and also to have them cleaned professionally. If this is done, then implants can serve patients well for decades.
In order for implants to be secure, there has to be enough bone in the area of the implant to surround and attach to the implant. X-rays are a good indication of how much bone might be available for implant placement. However, x-rays are a mere two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional situation. Therefore, in order to more precisely verify the presence and density of a patient’s bone, cone beam CT scans are sometimes made. In this way, the placement of the implants is more likely to be successful.
