A dental implant is an option if you don’t want to wear a crown or a conventional bridge because of missing teeth. A dentist can provide you with a consultation to determine if implant dentistry is right for you. An implant is made from metal, called titanium that is secured into and eventually fuse with your jawbone, anchoring an artificial tooth or bridge. There are some advantages to dental implants that include:

Implant dentistry does require careful planning to ensure a successful and comprehensive treatment plan that includes surgery. If you are a candidate for dental implants, you will undergo two stages in implant therapy.

1. Surgical Phase – The implant is surgically placed into the jawbone and allowed to heal for 3-6 months. A conventional restoration is used temporarily until the implants are integrated during the next phase.

2. Restorative Phase – The implant is uncovered, impressions are taken and the final restoration is fitted.

If you opt for dental implants, you must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. Otherwise, you must consider other tooth replacement options. From start to finish, it can take up to nine months to complete, but implants are well worth it because it has a high success rate and feels like natural teeth. A thorough evaluation by the dentist is needed to ensure that implants are right for you.