Dentist

Modesto, Manteca, Ceres, Turlock, Salida, Ripon, California Dentist

Questions About Implant Dentistry

 

What is implant dentistry?

 

Implant dentistry is the process of replacing lost or missing teeth with a dental implant that consists of two parts. The root of a dental implant is a titanium post that is inserted directly into the bone that supports your natural teeth. The bone is allowed to grow in around the post, and then a tooth crown is attached to the post. The crown looks and acts like your surrounding natural teeth,
is as resilient as natural teeth, and can be brushed and flossed just
like your natural teeth.

 

Who invented implant dentistry?

 

A Swedish orthopedic surgeon discovered the concept for implant dentistry by accident. While performing studies with titanium implants into bone, he found he was unable to retrieve the titanium pieces after several months because the bone had grown around it and cemented it in place.

 

What are the benefits of implant dentistry?

 

Implant dentistry allows patients with healthy jaws and gums to replace missing teeth with false teeth that look real, instead of requiring a bridge or dentures. Dental implants are permanent fixtures that connect directly to your bone and are resilient and aesthetically similar to natural teeth.

 

Who performs implant dentistry?

 

Implant dentistry is performed by an oral surgeon and a restorative dentist. In many cases, a general dentist or cosmetic dentist will refer you to an outside oral surgeon to have the titanium post inserted to your jaw, but will create the tooth crown. At Sierra Dental Care, our dentists will create the tooth crown to match your surrounding natural teeth as closely as possible.

 

Am I a candidate for implant dentistry?

 

Not everyone is a candidate for implant dentistry. If you have lost a tooth and would like to replace it with a dental implant, you must have healthy bone and gum tissue in your mouth. Our Modesto implant dentists can inspect your gum and bone to determine whether it will be able to support an implant. If your gum or bone tissue cannot support a dental implant, a dental bridge or dentures may be a better option for you.

 

If you have lost a tooth and think you may be a candidate for implant dentistry, please contact the Modesto dentists at Sierra Dental Care today to schedule an appointment. We serve patients in the Modesto, Turlock, Ripon, Salida, Ceres, and Manteca, California areas.