Dental Implants
Dental Implants
If you have one or more missing teeth or will soon need a tooth extracted (pulled), you may be thinking about tooth replacement options including dental implants.
Here at Front Range Oral Surgery, Dr. Hinckley is proud to provide dental implants for his patients due to the many benefits dental implants have to offer.
Benefits from Dental Implants include:
- Look, feel and function like natural teeth
- Preserve jawbone strength
- Prevent other natural teeth from shifting or falling out
- Less likely for others to think you have false teeth
- Permanent, no need to take out and clean like with dentures
- Overall a more secure and long-lasting solution
Additionally, the ability to customize dental implants to make them appear like your surrounding teeth makes them an option for people who want the improved confidence that comes from a attractive smile.
What Are Dental Implants?
Our natural teeth consist of a root (the part hidden beneath the gums) and a crown (the white part that we all recognize as the tooth). When you completely lose a tooth, both the root and the crown need to be replaced.
Replacement teeth that are implant-supported have the same basic parts – a root and a crown. The root is replaced with an implant post that is made of titanium — the same safe material used by surgeons for artificial joints. Dental implants may be used to replace a single missing or damaged tooth or even to restore an entire smile.
Many prefer dental implants because they offer the same function as natural teeth and also keep the jawbone underneath the missing tooth strong and healthy. When the natural tooth is lost, circulation to the bone decreases, thus weakening the bone.
Dental implants stimulate the bone and prevent further weakening. The implants also help encourage good oral health and prevent the appearance of an aging facial structure such as a caved-in or diminished jawbone.
With a simple procedure, typically performed in the clinic under sedation, Dr. Hinckley attaches the surgical-grade titanium dental implant post and abutment to the jawbone. The bone is then given some time to heal and grow around the dental implant. Once this process is complete a new replacement tooth (the crown) is placed on top of the abutment. Often a temporary replacement tooth can be attached to the implant immediately after it is placed until the bone has time to heal and the implant is secure. A variety of treatments are available if more than one or all of your teeth are missing. Read on to learn more.
In general, most people are good candidates for dental implants, however, this method of tooth replacement is not for everyone. Certain conditions or issues can increase the chances of complications or make the implant unstable and not the best option for tooth replacement.
Good Candidates for Dental Implants include those who:
- Are in good general health
- Have one or more missing teeth
- Have enough bone in the area where the tooth or teeth are missing
- Don’t have severe gum disease
Contact Front Range Oral Surgery
The first step towards a beautiful, healthy smile is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hinckley at either our Oral Surgery office in Wheatridge or Dacono, Colorado. Please contact our office by phone or complete the appointment request form so Dr. Hinckley and our team can discuss your situation and find the best option for you. If you are an existing patient, this contact form should not be used to communicate private health information.
Our scheduling coordinator will contact you to confirm your appointment.
