Would you like to have a strong and beautiful smile? You could qualify for dental implants from our uptown Toronto dentist, Dr. Janet Tamo. Devoting many hours annually to continuing education, Dr. Tamo qualifies patients through oral exam and digital X-rays. Learn all about this highly reliable tooth replacement below.
You Need Your Teeth
Dentists have been replacing missing teeth for decades. Your teeth help you to smile, eat, and speak properly. Research shows that an attractive smile makes a great first impression, too.
Tooth loss, however, damages self-esteem, nutrition, speech, the size and strength of gums and the alveolar ridge, the part of the jaw that anchors teeth. Also, smile gaps make your face sag and wrinkle, giving you an aged appearance.
A Dental Implant Can Help
Unlike traditional crown and bridgework as well as partial and full dentures, dental implants appear, feel and function very much like real teeth. Because of a natural process called osseointegration, the titanium implant screw bonds directly to human bone. So, implant patients enjoy great smile appearance and exceptionally stable oral function.
Made up of three parts–the implant screw, a metal post and a realistic porcelain crown– the dental implant resides in the jaw. After a simple in-office surgery with a trusted oral surgeon in the area, the dental implant site heals, gets stronger and allows for placement of the post and crown. Multiple implants support bridgework and full and partial dentures.
The American Academy of Implant Dentistry reports that implants are probably the last tooth replacement an individual will ever require. Unlike bridges and dentures which last seven to ten years, dental implants last for decades with good at-home hygiene and in-office dental care. While they are initially more costly, in the long run, implants avoid repeated replacement costs and the problems associated with missing teeth.
Do You Qualify for a Dental Implant?
The answer may be yes, if you:
- Are an older teen or adult with good overall health
- Are in good oral health (no gum disease or tooth decay)
- Have a strong jaw bone
- Are not a smoker
- Have well-controlled diabetes
- Brush twice a day and floss daily to remove plaque
- Visit Dentistry @ 1881 twice a year for oral exams and professional cleanings
Problems such as tooth decay, gum disease and thin bone may be corrected so a patient can receive an implant. Regarding tobacco use, your physician and your uptown Toronto dentist urge to stop smoking. However, dentists place implants if patients have healthy teeth and gums and refrain from smoking 72 hours before and after the oral surgery.
Smoking contributes to a destructive condition called peri-implantitis. This infection resembles advanced gum disease and threatens implant retention. While other factors, such as poor diet and oral hygiene cause peri-implantitis, tobacco is a major contributor.
Learn More
If you desire a strong and complete smile, find out if you qualify for single or multiple implants.
Contact Dentistry @ 1881 for a restorative dentistry consultation.