Dental Implants
Until recently, if you lost a tooth, you had it filled with a dental bridge or a false tooth. Dentures and bridges both had their drawbacks, like creating the possibility for other dental problems, like plaque build-up, tooth decay, and even the possible need for a root canal in the future. Dentures have their own obvious drawbacks, like a poor fit and difficulty eating. This has all changed in recent years, however, including at Elite Smiles in Draper, Utah. Dental implants significantly improve the practice of replacing teeth. They look and feel like real teeth and have a minimal impact on surrounding teeth.
Patient Results
Before, Temporaries, and Final Results
Before
Temporaries
Final Results
Dentures and bridges for missing teeth both have their drawbacks. A dental bridge, while still a viable option for a missing tooth, requires a dentist to grind down the neighboring teeth to make the bridge. This creates the possibility for other dental problems, like plaque build-up, tooth decay, and even the possible need for a root canal in the future. Dentures can fall out and sometimes prevent us from eating the foods we love.
Dental implants restore function and appearance to the mouth, not just in the teeth but in the surrounding bone and tissue. This prevents further serious complication that can occur when dental damage is not treated.
Durability
Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime. Be sure to come in for your exams and cleanings.
Convenience
Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing your dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep your dentures in place.
A Fully Functional, Beautiful Smile
Implant x-ray.
Implant before crown.
Final implant.
Meet Dr. Meden
“Whether it’s a single restoration or a more comprehensive full mouth rehabilitation, I create for my patients the “smile lift”—natural looking teeth that are meant to complement the natural facial symmetry. Great aesthetic enhancement has to be performed with great planning and precise execution.”
Advantages of Implants Over Dentures or a Bridge
Aesthetic
Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth! Since dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompany bridgework and dentures. No one will ever know that you have a replacement tooth.
Tooth-saving
Dental implants don’t sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your oral health!
Confidence
Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence! They are secure and offer freedom from the irksome clicks and wobbles of dentures. They’ll allow you to say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures and messy pastes and glues.
Reliable
The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement.
Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Enjoy the Benefits
- Improved appearance
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Improved Self-Esteem
- Improved Speech
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Improved Comfort
- Easier Eating
- Improved Oral Health
Dental implants are not simply a replacement for a lost tooth—they replace the roots of the tooth as well. A normal tooth has a root system that fastens it firmly to the jawbone. The biocompatibility of titanium makes it the perfect material to use for a dental implant. Titanium can actually fuse to the jawbone, which keeps the jawbone from deteriorating over time. The biocompatibility of titanium is the biological basis for the success of the dental implant procedure.
The dental implant procedure involves placing a titanium screw in the original bone pocket, which will happen at our Draper office. The crown is then securely attached to a titanium stud. The crown looks just like a real tooth and can ever do your real tooth one better—it can’t develop cavities (that’s not an excuse to avoid good dental hygiene, though).
Dental implants are typically a more costly alternative to removable dentures and fixed dental bridges. They are, however, well worth the cost. You can even think of dental implants as an investment. With proper oral hygiene, a dental implant can last a lifetime.
