Should I Consider Dental Implants?

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kaniaimplantsDo you have one or more missing teeth? Do you wonder, “Should I consider dental implants?” Replacing a lost tooth can restore health, function, and beauty to your smile. Otherwise, you may continue to encounter problems eating or speaking. Fortunately, dental implants provide a secure and long lasting method of achieving a complete smile.

San Diego, CA Dental Implant Quiz

  1. True or False: Advanced gum disease can lead to tooth loss.
  2. True or False: Missing teeth hurt the health of your smile.
  3. True or False: Dental implants replace every part of your lost tooth.
  4. True or False: The process involves careful planning.

Answer Key

  1. True. Over time, periodontal disease can reach the advanced stages. Known as periodontitis, the connective tissue between the gums and teeth may actually deteriorate, leading to adult tooth loss.
  2. True. When you lose your permanent teeth you may develop misalignment, which affects your appearance and health, increasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, TMJ disorder, and bruxism. In addition, the loss of jawbone tissue as a result of tooth loss can cause patients to appear older. You may also have trouble eating or communicating.
  3. True. While bridges and dentures replace the visible part of your teeth, implants also replace the roots. The post inserted into the jawbone acts as a new root, bonding with the bone tissue and acting as a natural tooth. We then add an abutment, which holds the restoration in place and completes the new tooth.
  4. True. Using impressions, intraoral cameras, and digital x-rays, the dentist or periodontist will carefully plan where to place the biocompatible posts. Placement helps ensure the teeth remain strong and in place and that they also look natural.

ABOUT YOUR SAN DIEGO, CA, LASER PERIODONTIST:

To learn how to keep your teeth and gums healthy for life, subscribe to this blog, and visit Dr. Kania for a consultation. As a board-certified periodontist, Dr. Ann M. Kania is specially qualified to diagnose and treat issues concerning periodontal tissue and the supportive structures of a patient’s smile, as well as place dental implants to restore teeth lost to dental disease or trauma. Dr. Kania also offers the Pinhole® Surgical Technique (PST) for minimally-invasive, scalpel-free gum grafting. To seek Dr. Kania’s expertise, contact her office today at (760) 642-0711.