If you have had teeth extracted due to extensive decay, infection or trauma, dental implants offer an attractive and long-lasting solution for filling the gaps in your smile. While bridges and dentures can also solve the problem of missing teeth, these alternatives either require alteration to the teeth adjacent to the gap or are not permanent fixtures in the mouth. Dental Implants, however, both feel and act like your natural teeth, and at our office in Alta Loma, CA, Dr. Michael Kim can use them to help patients achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.
The implant process can take between three to six months to complete, and the first step is to implant a titanium screw in the jawbone. This screw serves as the replacement tooth root and keeps your jaw from deteriorating or changing shape. Once the screw is in place, the bone is left to heal around the implant. This healing process is called osseointegration, and while it takes place over the next several months, you may receive a temporary crown for easier speaking and eating.
Once the jaw has healed, an abutment will be placed on top of the implant to serve as the foundation upon which your permanent crown will be fixed. The tooth restoration is then custom made for your mouth and is either screwed or cemented in place so that you may enjoy a complete smile that both looks and feels natural.
To learn more about dental implants at Alta Loma Dental Care, call (909) 987-6268. For more information, visit www.altalomadentalcare.com.
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