Losing one or more teeth can feel devastating for several reasons. You may find that chewing, eating, and enjoying the foods you always loved becomes more difficult. You may also feel embarrassed about talking, smiling, or interacting with others because of the gaps in your smile.
The cost of losing your smile can impact all aspects of your life. For some people, this can lead to anxiety and even depression.
The great news is that there are solutions, and your trusted dentist in Doylestown, Dr. Elyce Link-Bindo, can help you reclaim your smile and confidence with dental implants! Here's everything you need to know if you're choosing tooth implants to restore your smile.
Step 1: The Evaluation
If you're considering tooth replacement, you have options. Dr. Link-Bindo will gather information about your teeth and dental health during an evaluation, where she'll take x-rays and 3-D images of your teeth and jawbone to determine if dental implants are right for you.
You need to be in good general health and have enough healthy jawbone structure to support your dental implants successfully. So Dr. Link-Bindo will be looking for these things, and she'll talk with you about alternative tooth replacement options if it seems like dental implants are not suitable for you. The next step is implant placement surgery if you decide to proceed with a Doylestown dental implant.
Step 2: The Implant Placement Procedure
Dr. Link-Bindo works with a trusted oral surgeon to place the dental implant carefully into your jawbone. The surgical procedure is simple and straightforward; most patients report less discomfort than a tooth extraction.
After your implant's been placed, it needs time to heal and integrate with your bone. An implant is made of biocompatible titanium, which naturally fuses with your bone over three to six months through a process called osseointegration. Once it completely heals, it's ready to support your new tooth or porcelain crown, as it actually takes the place of your root.
Replacing your root is essential because without it, your jawbone is not stimulated to regenerate, and it will deteriorate over time, eliminating support for neighboring teeth and even changing the appearance of your facial structure.
Step 3: The Restoration Process
Another of the excellent benefits of dental implants is that they can replace a single tooth with a porcelain crown, two implants can replace multiple missing adjacent teeth by anchoring a bridge, or four dental implants can successfully support a denture, which restores an entire arch of missing teeth.
Along with being a general dentist, Dr. Link-Bindo is also a prosthodontist, which means that she specializes in creating dental restorations and appliances like dentures and bridges. She will design a tooth replacement option to suit your needs, which means you'll regain the chewing function and aesthetics you lost with your compromised teeth.
Dr. Link-Bindo designs your porcelain crown to bridge to blend flawlessly with your smile. At the same time, your denture is made of acrylic and held securely in place by the dental implants, so there's no embarrassing movement or slippage when you talk, laugh, or eat food.
The Advantages of Dental Implants Over Alternative Tooth Replacement Options
Dentists consider dental implants the gold standard in tooth replacement for several reasons.
- Implants replace both your tooth and your root.
- A dental implant provides a natural tooth's look, function, and feel.
- Dental implant placement surgery has a 95 percent success rate.
- Implants have excellent longevity with the potential to last for a lifetime, with good home care and regular dental checkups.
- A dental implant is often a more cost-effective, long-term option for replacing a tooth over something that will need to be replaced.
- Dental implants are easy to care for as you can brush and floss around them as you usually would around your natural teeth.
Dental implants can be an excellent solution for restoring your smile if you're living with tooth loss or compromised teeth. Dr. Link-Bindo would love to talk with you about your options if you're looking for a "dentist near me" in the Doylestown, PA, area who is an expert at smile restoration.
We invite you to contact Doylestown Dental Group at (215) 345-1155 if you have questions about tooth replacement or would like to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Link-Bindo to learn more about the possibilities for your smile.