Your smile gap is embarrassing, but did you know that losing a tooth causes gum and bone recession? Loss of multiple teeth impacts how you eat and speak, never mind how it ages your face. Donald Marks DMD and John A. Marks DDS recommend modern dental implants to restore your teeth for a beautiful, youthful smile that lasts.
Explaining the dental implant
A dental implant is an artificial tooth. Made up of 3 parts–a titanium implant screw, a metal alloy post, or abutment and a porcelain crown–an implant resides right in the individual’s healthy and dense jaw bone. A procedure which takes several steps and many months of healing, dental implant restoration results in a natural-looking and functioning tooth that remains in place for decades.
The secret to its success lies in titanium metal. Through a fascinating natural process called osseointegration, human bone wraps around the implant screw, firmly anchoring it in place. Osseointegration takes several weeks to months and requires that the patient and his or her jaw be in optimum health.
After the implant fully integrates, Dr. Marks or Martin re-opens the surgical site and bonds a metal alloy post to the dental implant. He also affixes a custom-fabricated porcelain crown to the post. Color-matched and perfectly shaped to blend in with surrounding teeth, the crown is the finishing touch in the tooth replacement process.
Caring for the State College dental implant restoration
The American Academy of Implant Dentistry states that your dental implant may be the last restoration you’ll ever need. Implant procedures succeed more than 90 percent of the time, and their retention rate is similar. Contrast that with traditional bridgework which only lasts an average of 7 to 10 years and does nothing for the integrity of the jaw bone.
Care for your State College dental implant just as you do your natural teeth. Floss around your implant daily, and brush twice a day with a soft-bristled brush. Eat a healthy diet, and if you smoke, stop. Tobacco contains toxins linked to an infection called peri-implantitis. Similar to advanced gum disease, peri-implantitis is a leading cause of implant failure.
Additionally, implant patients should eat a tooth-friendly, low-sugar diet, and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day to hydrate oral tissues and reduce plaque build-up around the implant. See the friendly team at Donald Marks Family Dentistry semi-annually for your routine exam and hygienic cleaning.
Finally, dental implants are so versatile that dentists such as Dr. Marks and Dr. Martin use them in multiples to support full or partial dentures. As a result, smiles are youthful-looking and function amazingly well.
Bring your questions
Could dental implants help your smile? Find out with a restorative dentistry consultation at Donald Marks Family Dentistry. Call today for a convenient appointment time.
