Missing teeth can affect the aesthetic of your smile and cause low self-esteem or embarrassment, which can be very hard on you. But that's only the tip of the iceberg. Missing teeth may result in other more severe issues if you don't immediately visit Dr. Michael Lorio, your Wilsonville, OR, dentist at Town Center Dental Care.
Dental Implants
"About 3 million people in the United States have implants, a number that is growing by 500,000 annually," according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Modern dental implants were created in 1952 by a Swedish orthopedic surgeon and help preserve natural bone and stimulate bone growth.
A dental implant has three main components:
- Titanium post
- An abutment
- A crown
What does the procedure entail?
Your Wilsonville, OR, dentist first removes dental remnants, then inserts the titanium post. Dr. Lorio seals the surgical area to allow the post to fuse to bone in the jaw. This process is called osseointegration and takes about 3-to-6 months. During this time, you'll be given a temporary crown so you can go about your regular activities and have a smile full of teeth.
Next, your dentist places an abutment or a connector to fasten the permanent crown. The crown matches the rest of your natural teeth so you don't have to worry about having a mismatched smile.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants have many advantages but perhaps one of the most important is their biocompatibility. You don't need to worry about your body rejecting the titanium post, which is why dental implant procedures have a 95% success rate.
Would you like to speak with a dentist?
If you'd like to learn more about dental implants, don't hesitate to contact Dr. Lorio, your Wilsonville, OR, dentist at Town Center Dental Care by calling (503) 682-9191.