Dental Implants

If you have a missing tooth or missing teeth, your dentist in Colorado Springs, CO might have recommended dental implants. Dental implants are a great tooth replacement option for people that don’t want to lose bone in their jaw or experience any of the other oral issues that come with missing teeth.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant in Colorado Springs, CO is a permanent dental prosthesis surgically implanted into your jawbone. Dental implants serve as artificial tooth roots that are used to support a crown, dental bridge, denture, or some other type of orthodontic anchor. Once placed, your new dental implant will make it easier for you to chew, help you to speak more easily, and improve your smile, which will help boost your self-confidence.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

A dental implant places a small titanium screw into your jawbone on either your upper or lower jaw. The titanium screw that is now serving as your tooth’s root will fuse with your jawbone and is used as an anchor for your replacement tooth.

What Is the Dental Implant Process?

At your first appointment, the dentist will X-Ray your jawbone to see if it is capable of holding the titanium posts used for your implant. A model will then be made of your mouth to show where any gaps are located. This will provide the dentist with the measurements needed for a replacement tooth.

Next, your dentist in Colorado Springs, CO, will make a small incision in the gum to expose the bone where the implant will be placed. A hole will be drilled into the bone, and the dental implant will be inserted. That post will now serve as a root for your artificial tooth. Then a partial temporary denture will be placed over the post. Once your jawbone grows and unites with the metal post (this usually takes several months), the dentist will place the abutment (the piece the crown attaches to) on your implant and close the gum tissue around it. After the abutment heals, your dentist will make impressions for your crown. Once your jawbone is strong enough to support the new tooth, the crown will then be placed.