Dental Implants
Dr. Jenista is an expert in dental implants, using state-of-the-art technology and the best quality materials. If you are missing teeth or need extraction, he can evaluate your situation and give you an honest assessment of what solution would work best for you. You can be confident that he will get your mouth and teeth to full health and provide the best treatment plan.
A dental implant is a tooth that feels and functions like a natural tooth. It is used where there are missing teeth. It is commonly composed of a titanium post and a ceramic crown. Dental implants are anchored to the jawbone and topped with individual replacement teeth, a bridge or dentures that screw, snap or are cemented onto the posts. Not only does a dental implant fill unsightly gaps in a smile, they are also important to deter bone loss.
Advantages of Dental Implants over Dentures or a Bridge
- Your mouth will be restored as closely as possible to its natural state
- Permanently fixed and won’t loosen
- Long-lasting
- Keeps you looking younger by preventing shrinkage of jaw bone
- Deter further tooth loss
- No nightly care & adhesives
- Allow you to eat all foods
- Don’t need to cut down adjacent teeth as in bridges
Fixed bridges and removable dentures are not the perfect solution to missing teeth and often bring with them a number of other problems. Removable dentures may slip or cause embarrassing clicking sounds while eating or speaking. Of even greater concern, fixed bridges often require the cutting down of adjacent healthy teeth, and removable dentures may lead to bone loss in the area where the tooth or teeth are missing. Recurrent decay, periodontal (gum) disease and other factors often doom fixed bridgework to early failure.
For these reasons, fixed bridges and removable dentures usually need to be replaced every seven to 15 years, compared to an up to 25-year life span for dental implants.
Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant. Some people who have lost bone in their jaw still can get implants, but first the bone must be rebuilt using special bone-grafting procedures. People who are currently wearing partial or full dentures can replace these with dental implants, or use implants to stabilize and secure the denture, making it much more comfortable. People who are not good candidates for dental implants include:
- Young patients whose jawbones have not fully developed
- Pregnant women
- Heavy smokers – smoking impedes healing in the mouth and can reduce the likelihood that implants will be successful. However, this doesn’t eliminate the possibility of getting dental implants.
- People with existing medical conditions. If you can have routine dental treatment, you can generally have an implant placed. While precautions are advisable for certain conditions, patients with such chronic diseases as high blood pressure and diabetes are usually successful candidates for dental implant treatment.
- Patients who take certain medications such as steroids or drugs that suppress the immune system.
- People who severely grind or clench their teeth – these habits can place too much pressure on the implants and increase the risk of failure.
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We are a full service dental practice located in beautiful Scottsdale Arizona, near Ancala Village Shopping Center. We offer very personal and professional service from our experienced and knowledgeable team.