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Dental Implants
Missing teeth don’t just do harm to your appearance — having missing teeth can have huge impacts on your total health as well. Dr. Sruthi Sasi Prakash, located at Tenth Street Family Dental in Indianapolis, Indiana, understands the importance of keeping your jaw healthy and your smile looking its best by using dental implants. Call the office for available appointments or book one online to discuss whether dental implants are the best choice for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are dental implants?
Dental implants act as replacement teeth for missing or badly injured teeth. The implant is a titanium post secured directly into your jawbone and below your gumline by Dr. Rogers. Dental implants anchor crowns, dentures, and bridges securely to your mouth for long-lasting use without Dr. Rogers needing to prepare adjacent teeth like with traditional bridges or crowns.Are dental implants right for me?
If you have at least one missing tooth and want to preserve your bone in your jaw, you’re generally a good candidate for dental implants. Other factors for dental implants include:
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Cancer
- Smoking
- Uncontrolled gum disease
- Alcoholism
- Amount of bone in the jaw
Dr. Rogers gives you a full assessment of your missing teeth and discusses if dental implants best suit your needs and your health. He may also recommend using mini dental implants instead of having a bone graft for surgical dental implants.
What are dental implants made of?
Dental implants are made of two parts: the post and the tooth. The post is made of titanium and the tooth portion is composed of porcelain, resin, or ceramic. The tooth portion is called a dental crown, bridge, or denture, and is designed for long-lasting use and can be colored to match your other teeth. Dr. Rogers explains the options of the best material for you and your needs.How are dental implants placed?
Dr. Rogers uses implants for replacing a single tooth, multiple teeth, or for dentures. He prepares your mouth before placing the post with a cleaning and anesthetic, where necessary to avoid discomfort. He drills a small hole into your jawbone and inserts the post into the hole. He secures the post with a small wrench.
Once the post is correctly placed, he measures the area for the tooth portion. Depending on the type of replacement used, the laboratory created tooth is usually ready in a week. Dr. Rogers may place a temporary crown in the area until the permanent tooth replacement is ready.
Dr. Rogers removes your temporary crown and inserts your permanent crown, bridge, or denture at a later appointment.
How do I take care of my dental implants?
Even though dental implants are laboratory created, they require regular brushing, flossing, and exams. Dr. Rogers monitors your implant post site, and crown, bridge, or denture for infection. He uses a specialized tool for cleaning the artificial tooth during cleanings and provides you with many tips for caring for your new tooth. With proper oral hygiene, your dental implant can last many years because of its durability.
Having a whole and complete smile gives you confidence. Speak with Dr. Rogers at Tenth Street Family Dental in Indianapolis, Indiana, about how dental implants can increase your quality of life and help extend your bone health. Call the office or book an appointment online and be on your way to a full smile.
Dental Implant Terminology
Abutment
An abutment is a component that attaches to the dental implant so a professional can place a dental crown to provide patients with an artificial, aesthetically pleasing and fully-functional smile.
Bridge
Multiple replacement teeth that are fixed in place via attachment to dental implants, natural adjacent teeth, or a combination of the two.
Dental Crown
A crown is an artificial tooth, usually consisting of porcelain, which covers the top of the implant to provide people with an aesthetically pleasing and fully-functional tooth.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.
Endosteal (endosseous)
Endosteal is a type of dental implant that a professional places in the alveolar and basal bone of the mandible that transcends only one cortical plate.
Osseointegration
Osseointegration is the process in which a titanium dental implant fuses with the surrounding bone over several months after an oral health professional places the implant in the jaw.
Periodontal
Literally “around the tooth”
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is the inflammation of gum tissue that results from plaque, other infections in the mouth and poor oral hygiene.
Resorption
Resorption is the process in which the body absorbs the calcium from the jaw since there are no tooth roots to cause the necessary stimulation and proceeds to use the calcium in other areas.
Transosteal (transosseous)
Transosteal is a type of dental implant that includes threaded posts which penetrate the superior and inferior cortical bone plates of the jaw.Tooth enamel is the protective visible outer surface of a tooth that contains the dentin and dental pulp.