Implants are a durable, natural-looking option for replacing missing teeth

Dentists used to replace missing teeth with bridges or dentures, but dental implants are often a better option. What’s more, they “look just as good as natural teeth,” says Manoel Macedo, DDS, PhD, a dentist and assistant professor of restorative dentistry at Oregon Health & Science University

A dental implant has three parts

A titanium screw (called an implant) embedded into the jawbone, replacing the original root

A porcelain crown

A connector that joins the two pieces, called an abutment

Unlike dentures, which can be removed, a dental implant is permanent. The titanium screw fuses to the bone, making implants more durable than other options — one of the reasons more than 3 million Americans have opted for these implants and more than 500,000 get the procedure each year, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry

The implant is typically placed in two appointments: An oral surgeon, periodontist, or general dentist inserts it, generally while you’re under local anesthetic. You wear a temporary partial denture or retainer until the gums heal, which often takes a few months. Then the dentist attaches a porcelain or gold crown. Each implant can take as little as 30 minutes to place

Compared with bridgework — which often needs to be replaced after 10 years — dental implants don’t decay. Their placement doesn’t interfere with healthy teeth and, with the right care, most will last a lifetime

Implants have success rates topping 95%, and they’re a good option for people who are healthy enough to get routine dental procedures. But they’re not right for everyone. Dentists may caution against implants for people with gum disease or those who don’t have enough bone to support the titanium implant. Children, whose jaws are still growing, should wait until their late teens

Reference

Webmd.com

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