It used to be that the only way to replace missing teeth was with fixed bridges or dentures. Advances in medical and dental technology have made it possible to replace teeth with implants integrated into the jawbone. Acting as an artificial root for teeth, an implant can give your smile the look and feel of natural teeth.
A dental implant fixture is a small cylinder made of titanium that is inserted into your upper or lower jaw bone where tooth or teeth are missing. Through a process known as osseointegration, the implant fixture becomes permanently anchored to your jaw bone. At this point, a crown and abutment can be attached to the implant.
An implant allows you the same range of activity as your natural tooth. You can bite, talk, and chew without any issue. It also protects your remaining teeth, keeping them from shifting.
An implant requires that a certain amount of bone be available. If there is not sufficient bone, Drs. Harder and Pham might have to perform bone graft or sinus lift or both to replace the bone loss after many years that your tooth or teeth have been lost in your mouth.
Implants can also be used to hold full dentures in place. This allows for a more secure and comfortable hold than any other method available. This is one of the most natural-looking solutions for missing natural teeth.
Drs. Harder and Pham do offer dental implant services ranging from one tooth missing, multiple teeth missing to a full mouth reconstruction with implant supported fixed bridges, implant over partial dentures or full dentures or any combination thereof to our patients in Irvine and the surrounding areas. In case of an emergency or if you have any questions regarding dental implants, please call our office today for a free consultation and to see if dental implants are the right option for you.
