THE PERIODONTAL - IMPLANT INSTITUTE

Experts in Dental Implants

Dr. Carpio has over 5 years of combined experience in the practice of dental implant placement.

One of their highest priorities is that you fully understand your course of treatment and that you are aware of all alternatives available to you. They will take the time to answer any questions you may have.

A natural tooth is anchored to the jawbone by its tooth root. Tooth roots attach firmly to the jawbone by a ligament and keep your teeth stable when chewing solid foods.

Traditionally, if you were missing a tooth or if one needed to be extracted, the healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth would be reshaped and the missing tooth replaced with a three-crown “bridge”. A removable bridge might also have been used, but would often put undue forces on your remaining teeth.

Dental implants are the modern alternative. Instead of reshaping two perfectly healthy teeth, the practitioner inserts a dental post (dental implant) into the jawbone to replace your missing tooth root. This post becomes solidly fixed into your jaw, just as a tooth root would be. Your general dentist then places a crown onto this artificial tooth root that looks, feels, and functions like your natural teeth.

Quite simply, dental implants are the most natural and solid replacement for missing teeth.

Replacing Several Missing Teeth

Traditionally, several missing teeth would have been replaced with a removable partial or full denture.

Dentures have to be taken out and soaked at night. During the day, they can also look unnatural and rub painfully. Dentures and partials make it difficult or impossible to eat certain foods.

Dental implants can now be used to anchor partial and full dentures. This prevents the slipping, irritation, and pain associated with “floating” partials and dentures. It also prevents the tedious removal of dentures for overnight soaking and cleaning. Dental implants also eliminate the need for dental adhesives. This allows you to enjoy eating the foods you previously avoided. With dental implants, your partials or dentures are firmly anchored to the jawbone, causing them to feel much more like natural teeth.

Natural tooth roots and dental implant posts are fixed firmly in your jawbone. When you chew, these tooth roots and posts stimulate the jawbone and prevent it from shrinking. You may have seen a person who looked prematurely old because their jawbone had shrunk after wearing floating dentures. Dental implants help preserve your jawbone and appearance.