An implant dentist does so much more than just perform the required surgery. Scottsdale patients who visit an implant dentist will see that the procedure goes well beyond just implanting restorations to fill holes in their smile.

The first thing an implant dentist will do is determine if a Scottsdale patient is even a good candidate to receive dental implants. In order to be a good candidate, the patient must be in good overall health, especially regarding his or her teeth and gums. If there is a health concern, or the gums and surrounding teeth are in need of attention, they must be addressed before moving forward with the procedure. Additionally, if there is not sufficient jaw bone to support an implanted root, the Scottsdale implant dentist will recommend that the patient receive a bone graft before continuing. This will supplement the existing bone, providing a strong foundation for the restoration.

Next, the surgery will be performed to install one or more titanium “roots” which will support the final restoration(s). Titanium is used not only for its strength and durability, but because of its unique ability to fuse with bone. These roots will act like the roots of your natural teeth, anchoring an artificial tooth to the jaw and making it a permanent part of your smile.

Once the roots are in place and sufficient healing has taken place, the restorations can be placed. These are carefully crafted to match your existing teeth in both color and shape, which ensures that they look as natural as possible. Whether you receive an individual restoration or a bridge (several artificial teeth attached to one another), your Scottsdale implant dentist will ensure that it is a flawless fit and that you are completely satisfied with the results.

Phoenix patients who have lost their teeth may believe that dentures are the only option available to them. This is incorrect. Dental Implants are not only an alternative to dentures, but they are in most cases a better option for people in Phoenix.

Dentures are removable, and that poses a couple potential problems. They can easily get lost, which can be frustrating and costly if they need to be replaces. They can come loose and slip around (or out!) at inopportune moments, which can be embarrassing. Dental implants, on the other hand, are permanent oral fixtures. They won’t come out, so the chance of misplacing them or accidentally spitting them out mid-sentence is extremely small.

Because dentures have the capacity to shift around if they are not perfectly fitted and effectively adhered to the gums, chewing ability is diminished. Biting down on your favorite foods can force dentures to slide around, making chewing difficult if not downright impossible. Dental implants, on the other hand, do not have this problem. They are attached firmly to your jaw bone, just like natural teeth are. With strongly anchored restorations that can chew just as well as your original teeth, you are not limited to eating only liquids and soft foods.

One problem with dentures that people in Phoenix aren’t always aware of is that they can contribute to bone loss in the jaw. The roots of your natural teeth require a stable foundation. Once these are gone, your body senses that there is no longer a need for that foundation, and your jaw may begin to atrophy. Having dental implants secured to the bone like the roots of natural teeth signals to your body that the bone mass is still necessary.

So why deal with the hassle of dentures? Contact Harris Dental in Phoenix to schedule an appointment to begin the dental implant process.

An implant dentist does so much more than just perform the required surgery. Scottsdale patients who visit an implant dentist will see that the procedure goes well beyond just implanting restorations to fill holes in their smile.

The first thing an implant dentist will do is determine if a Scottsdale patient is even a good candidate to receive dental implants. In order to be a good candidate, the patient must be in good overall health, especially regarding his or her teeth and gums. If there is a health concern, or the gums and surrounding teeth are in need of attention, they must be addressed before moving forward with the procedure. Additionally, if there is not sufficient jaw bone to support an implanted root, the Scottsdale implant dentist will recommend that the patient receive a bone graft before continuing. This will supplement the existing bone, providing a strong foundation for the restoration.

Next, the surgery will be performed to install one or more titanium “roots” which will support the final restoration(s). Titanium is used not only for its strength and durability, but because of its unique ability to fuse with bone. These roots will act like the roots of your natural teeth, anchoring an artificial tooth to the jaw and making it a permanent part of your smile.

Once the roots are in place and sufficient healing has taken place, the restorations can be placed. These are carefully crafted to match your existing teeth in both color and shape, which ensures that they look as natural as possible. Whether you receive an individual restoration or a bridge (several artificial teeth attached to one another), Harris Dental, your Scottsdale implant dentist will ensure that it is a flawless fit and that you are completely satisfied with the results.

When Phoenix residents choose to get dental implants, they may not always know what their dentists are talking about when they throw out terms like “osseointegration” or “bone graft.” Here are some important definitions to help you better understand your dentist when discussing dental implants.

Bridge: A bridge is a group of several artificial teeth that are connected to one another. If a Phoenix patient wants to replace or restore a group of teeth, the use of a bridge is usually recommended. This way several teeth can be attached to a smaller number of implanted roots.

Bone Graft: Occasionally a patient will not have enough healthy bone in his or her jaw to support dental implants. When this happens, the patient will need to receive a bone graft. It is a type of transplant, where additional bone (synthetic or natural) is surgically connected to the existing bone to create a more stable foundation for the implant.

Osseointegration: The prefix “osseo” means “bone,” so when we talk about osseointegration, we are referring to something—in this case a titanium screw—being integrated or included into a bone. Bone can grow so closely around titanium that they actually merge together. This is what makes your dental implants permanent.

Restoration: Sometimes when we talk about artificial teeth, we call them restorations. And that is essentially what they are: something to restore your teeth to their most beautiful state.

Titanium: Most metals do not fuse well with living bone tissue. Titanium does. In fact, it fuses so well that it effectively becomes a part of the bone that would be extremely difficult to remove. Titanium is an excellent material to use to create strong roots for individual restorations and bridges.

Harris Dental is proud of the quality implant dentistry work we have done for our patients in the Phoenix area, but don’t take our word for it, read what our patients have to say by visiting our testimonials page. Find out more about dental implants by calling Harris Dental in Phoenix today!