Dental implants are permanent artificial teeth. Each tooth is held securely in your jawbone, and it looks and functions like a natural tooth.

Implants are a popular way to treat one or more missing teeth, with an estimated three million Americans having them. You can get one implant or several. Dental implants are also used to secure dental bridges.

A dental implant has three main parts: a titanium rod, an abutment, and a crown. The rod is surgically placed into your jaw, and the abutment connects the crown, or artificial tooth, to the rod. Each crown is custom-made so that it fits in with the rest of your smile.

Getting a dental implant requires a few trips to the office. After your initial consultation, the next step is oral surgery to place the titanium rod.

The team gives you an anesthetic to keep you comfortable. Dr. Hwang makes a small incision in your gum. She drills a hole in your jawbone and inserts the rod, and then closes the incision.

In the next few months, your jawbone heals. It grows around the rod, creating an extremely secure artificial root. Once it heals, you come back to the office for the abutment and crown fitting.

Dr. Hwang attaches the abutment and crown to the rod. She checks your bite to ensure that it feels comfortable. Once you have your dental implant, it doesn’t require special care. Brush and floss your teeth every day and continue getting regular dental cleanings.

If you have one or more missing teeth, your oral health could be at risk. Your teeth work together when you chew and talk. Missing teeth affect all these mouth functions.

The remaining teeth take on added strain, increasing their risk of shifting or breaking. Missing teeth are also linked to jawbone breakdown and receding gums. Dental implants can keep this damage from happening.

Implants take undue stress off your remaining natural teeth. They stimulate healthy bone and gum growth. Implants are the right choice for many people with missing teeth, and Dr. Hwang can help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Don’t continue to live with missing teeth. Find out more about dental implants by scheduling a consultation at Smile for Miles Dental. Call the office today or request an appointment online.