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If you have one or multiple missing teeth, you might wonder what you can do to restore your smile's appearance. Dental implants, which have the look and structure of natural teeth, may provide a permanent solution for improving the appearance and function of your smile. To discover more about this dental procedure and its benefits, consult the guide below.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are prosthetic devices that consist of posts, abutments, and crowns. The posts, often made from durable zirconium or titanium, are surgically inserted into the gums and fused with the jawbone. Crowns, made from ceramic or resin, resemble natural teeth and screw onto the metal abutments on top of each post, providing a foundation for crowns. 

What Are the Benefits?

dental implants

Implants can fill in gaps by restoring missing teeth, giving you a gorgeous smile that increases your confidence in social settings. To ensure that your smile looks natural, a dentist will create molds of your mouth and send them to a lab, where technicians will custom make crowns that match the exact shape, size, and color of your teeth. Additionally, since implants fuse with the jawbone, they can stimulate bone growth, strengthen the bone, and preserve your facial structure. They also typically last several decades with regular brushing, flossing, and professional teeth cleanings. 

What Happens During the Procedure?

Since the insertion of dental implants is a surgical procedure, your cosmetic dentist may provide anesthesia and sedation to ensure you do not experience any pain or discomfort. They'll make incisions into the gum and drill holes into the jawbone. Next, they'll place the posts in the openings, close the gums around the posts, and attach temporary crowns. You'll wear the temporary crowns while osseointegration occurs, which is the process by which posts fuse to the bone and form a solid foundation for the implants. Once this process is complete, typically after several weeks, your dentist will attach the abutments and permanent crowns to the posts.

How Should I Care for My Mouth Afterwards?

Following your initial procedure, you might experience pain, swelling, and bleeding of the gums. You can reduce these symptoms by applying frozen gel or ice packs to your cheeks several times daily. Taking all pain medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antibiotics as directed by your doctor may reduce discomfort and prevent infections. You can also avoid gum irritation and discomfort at incision sites by eating soft foods such as smoothies, mashed potatoes, and soup during the first several days after your dentist inserts the posts. 

 

Restore your teeth and enhance your smile with help from Preventive Dental Services PC. This dentist offers advanced restorative treatments, including dental implants, to clients throughout the Homer and Barrow, AK, areas. Call (907) 235-1286 to book an appointment with this cosmetic dentist, and visit the website to learn more about how they can enhance the appearance, function, and health of your teeth. 

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