Having dental implants is a two stage process. The first stage is when the dentist opens to gum to expose the jaw bone after which a titanium “root” is placed after the root has been prepared. The top of the implant is slightly below the gum line, it is exposed to the oral cavity by leaving a tiny hole in the gum. A cap, called a “healing cap” is screwed into the threads of the insert; this stops any gum tissue from growing into the implant while it becomes one with the jaw bone.
The patient who is getting dental implants in Bergen County, NJ then enters into a waiting period which can be as short as six weeks or up to several months, during this time the titanium insert becomes one with the bone. This integration ensures that the insert remains stable for the life of the patient. Although the implant actually does duty as a root it is different than the root of a real tooth as there is no periodontal ligament involved. The periodontal ligament is the key feature in tooth to bone attachment which allows the tooth some freedom to move. An implant cannot move so it does not act like a natural tooth. The dentist must take this into account when planning multiple implants.
The second stage is the restoration that eventually goes on top of the implant. If the restoration is only one tooth the dentist removes the healing cap and replaces it with an abutment which is screwed into the implant. A crown is then placed on the abutment and fixed in place with very string dental adhesive. The finished product is a tooth which is every bit as natural looking and strong as the tooth it replaced.
It is possible to have several dental implants in Bergen County, NJ placed adjacent to one another or in select locations throughout the dental cavity. If the span of missing teeth is too great the solution is to place two or three implants and span them with a fixed bridge. Due to the width of the span the bridge will have more teeth than there are implants; this is no different than placing a fixed bridge on natural teeth.
In the event the patient has lost all his or her teeth the solution is to use implants to act as the support for a removable denture. The denture locks onto the multiple implants and is extremely stable which is very much different than traditional dentures which often slip and shift position.
If you have missing teeth you may want to consider dental implants in Bergen County, NJ. To discuss the possibilities you are invited to call on Advanced Dental Care of Englewood.