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What Do Dental Implants Look Like?
If you’ve lost teeth, dental implants offer an excellent solution. They restore your smile, improve oral health, and mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Achieving this through:
Do Dental Implants Look Real?
Mimicking Natural Teeth Shape and Size
We craft dental implants to blend with your existing teeth. Dentists match the implant crown’s shape, size, and color to your surrounding teeth. This matching ensures a natural appearance.
“The advancements in dental technology are incredible. Our patients are often amazed at how closely their implants resemble their natural teeth.” – Dr. Ronald Pham
Design With Look Natural Appearance
The Components of Dental Implants include three essential parts. Each plays a crucial role in achieving a natural teeth look:
- Implant Post: This is usually made of titanium, a safe metal for the body. The dentist will surgically place it into your jawbone. It fuses there by osseointegration. This creates a strong, stable foundation, like a natural tooth root.
- An abutment is a small connector piece. It links the implant fixture to the prosthetic crown. The jawbone embeds the fixture, and the visible tooth replacement is the crown.
- A Dental crown is a custom-made artificial tooth. It fits on top of the abutment, giving you back a full mouth that looks like natural teeth.
This combination of factors makes distinguishing between implants and natural teeth difficult, giving you a confident and beautiful smile.
Dental Implant Stages: Before, During, and After
Before: A gap in your smile marked the spot of a missing tooth.
During the Dental implant procedure, a dental specialist will place a titanium implant post in your jawbone. This post acts as a new root for your tooth. You might get a temporary crown based on the implant placement for looks and function.
After healing: Your jawbone will fuse with the implant over several weeks or months. This process creates a secure foundation.
Your dentist will attach a custom-made crown to the abutment, which sits on top of the implant, giving you a complete and natural-looking smile.
Is Implant Treatment Right for You?
Most people with missed teeth can have implants, but patients need to have healthy gum tissue integrated or bone grafting when necessary. A dentist consultation can assess your suitability.
Implants offer a significant visual advantage over some alternatives. They provide a more lasting and natural-looking solution.
Dental Implants: Before and After
The best way to understand implants is to see before-and-after pictures. Here are a few cases of real people with implants placed to replace missing teeth.
The “before” and “after” pictures show implant restorations that look like natural teeth and work well. They will leave you smiling again!
Thrilled patients like Cindy got a full-arch implant bridge. They shared:
“I can finally eat all my favorite foods again! I haven’t felt this great in years – getting implants was the best choice I made.”
Some of the considerations
It’s essential to be aware of some critical factors when considering implants:
Cost: Implants may be more expensive than alternatives. But they last a long time and need little maintenance. This can make them cost-effective in the long run.
See more: Why do dental implants cost so much? Analysis from experts
Surgical procedure: Getting implants involves surgery and a healing period. The complexity of your case can influence recovery time.
Potential risks: While uncommon, possible risks include infection, bleeding, pain, and implant failure. Consulting dental professionals can help you understand and manage these risks.
Myths and Facts About Dental Implant Appearance
Myth: Dental implants always look fake.
Fact: Modern dental implants are very realistic. They are often impossible to tell from natural teeth.
Myth: Dental implants are only for seniors.
Fact: People of all ages can enjoy dental implants to restore their smiles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does getting implants take?
Dental implants are a transformative solution for replacing missing teeth. The process takes longer than some other cosmetic procedures.
But the results are well worth the wait! Here’s what you can expect:
A Strong Foundation: The initial healing period (around three months) is crucial. It allows your implants to merge with your jawbone. This creates a strong base for your new teeth.
Customized for You: The timeline can vary. It depends on your needs and the number of implants you need. Your dentist will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your smile goals.
The Reward: Dental implants are a long-term investment. They improve your oral health and confidence. Dentistry implants offer a durable, natural-looking solution that can last a lifetime!
Is the Surgery Implants Painful?
The implant procedure itself is designed to be as comfortable as possible. You’ll be thoroughly numbed. This will ensure you won’t feel pain while placing your implant.
While some soreness afterward is normal, it’s managed. Rest and over-the-counter pain medication provide effective relief for most patients. Your dentist can offer extra comfort and guidance to help you recover smoothly.
Remember, any brief discomfort is a small step toward the lasting benefits. They are for your beautiful new smile!
See more: What Type of Sedation is Used for Dental Implants?
How long do implants last compared to alternatives?
With optimal dental care (good oral hygiene) and maintenance, implants have a 30+ year lifespan. They also preserve your facial bone structure well. Dentures and bridges need replacing every 5-10 years.
Can implants still decay or need root canals?
The implant post and abutment fused in bone do not decay. But, bacteria can still infect the gum line around them, requiring antibiotics. The restoration anchors onto the implant. It may suffer rare chips or cracks. But it can’t ever need a root canal.
Are dental implants removable? What if they break?
Implants are made to be non-removable and permanent. But they can be removed with oral surgery if needed. Thankfully, implants are made out of titanium or zirconia. They are very crack-resistant and rarely fracture.
Dr. Ronald Pham, DDS, is a Doctor of Dental Surgery who graduated from the USC Ostrow School of Dentistry in 2015. With over 8 years of experience in general dentistry, he specializes in Dental restoration, Root canal treatment, and Dental implants…
Dr. Pham has restored the smiles of +2,000 patients and is committed to providing professional dental care focused on patient comfort. He achieves this by combining a welcoming space and state-of-the-art dental technology.
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