Replacing Missing Teeth with Mini-Dental Implants with Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Dentist David Yates
Randy Alvarez, host of The Wellness Hour, interviews Palm Beach Gardens, Florida dentist David Yates, DMD about replacing missing teeth with mini-dental implants.
If you have a missing tooth, you might not feel like smiling. But you don't have to live with an embarrassing gap between your teeth if you don't want to. Plenty of options exist to replace a missing tooth. That's good to know because a missing tooth doesn't just leave a hole in your smile -- it may also affect how you speak and chew. And if a missing tooth isn't replaced, the teeth around it begin to move. Shifting teeth create new crevices for dental plaque to hide in, which can lead to tooth decay and the need for a tooth filling or gum disease treatment down the road. Implant dentistry is a popular option for replacing a missing tooth. Rather than resting on the gum line like removable dentures or using adjacent teeth as anchors like a dental bridge, dental implants are surgically placed into the jawbone where they act as an anchor for replacement teeth. A dental implant looks and feels like a natural tooth, allowing you to chew and speak just like you did before.
The Dental Implant Procedure
The dental implant procedure is usually a three-step process requiring oral surgery that is provided by your dentist, a prosthodontist or an oral surgeon. During the first step of dental treatment, your dentist drills a hole into the jawbone and a titanium implant is screwed into place. This portion of your dental implant treatment might sound painful, but most patients are comfortable with just local anesthesia. (If necessary, sedation dentistry can be used for anxious patients.) At the end of the procedure, the gum is secured over the dental implant, which will remain covered long enough for it to undergo the process of osseointegration, when the implant actually fuses to the bone. Osseointegration usually takes three to six months. As with any dental surgery, you may experience some mild discomfort as the dental implant heals.The dental implant is uncovered during the second phase of treatment and a post is added. This serves as an extension and together with the dental implant serves as the foundation for your new tooth. Once the gum tissue around the post has had a chance to heal, your dentist places a dental crown on top. Since it is fixed to a post, your new tooth is extremely secure and will function just like any other tooth.
Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants can replace a single tooth, several teeth or all of them. Dental implants can also be used to anchor a bridge or dentures into place. If you need to have all of your teeth replaced, implant-supported dentures are ideal, providing more stability than traditional dentures and costing less than a complete set of single dental implants.Just like any surgery, the dental implant procedure will be more successful if you are healthy. That means practicing excellent oral hygiene, eating well and not smoking. Patients must also maintain a significant amount of jaw bone to support dental implants. Discuss your pre-existing medical conditions with us. Gardens Dental Care can determine if you are a candidate for dental implants.
About Dr. David W. Yates
Dr. Yates is a native Floridian who has been practicing dentistry for more than 25 years. This Palm Beach Gardens dentist takes great pride in providing excellence for all his patient’s dental needs. Dr. Yates received his Bachelor of Science from Florida State University and his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Southern Illinois University. He also completed a post-graduate dental program at Emory University and earned his Juris Doctorate from Georgia State University.Dr. Yates has trained with some of the world’s most prominent dental education institutes and dentists and brings that expertise to each patient. Yates is a member of the American Dental Association, the Florida Dental Association, the Atlantic Coast Dental Society, the International Academy of Mini Dental Implants and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.