Dental Implants
If you have one or more missing teeth, dental implants are the closest you can come to duplicating the strength and stability of your original tooth. Thanh Lam DDS, FAGD at North Rockville Dental has helped many patients regain a bright smile and the ability to bite and chew properly with dental implants. To learn whether they’re a good option for your dental health, call the office in Rockville, Maryland, or book an appointment online.
Dental Implants Q & A
What is a dental implant?
Dental implants replace one or more missing teeth by anchoring a crown, a bridge, or dentures. The implant consists of a small titanium rod that’s placed in your jawbone and a second metal piece called the abutment that goes on top of the rod.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants restore your smile and boost your appearance by replacing missing teeth. Beyond cosmetic improvements, however, implants also:
Provide long-lasting and secure tooth replacement
Implants provide the same strength as your natural tooth. When they’re used to anchor a crown or bridge, you regain full dental functioning.
Preserve alignment of surrounding teeth
When a tooth is missing, the surrounding teeth tend to move toward the empty space. As teeth shift, they become misaligned, throwing your bite off balance, causing uneven wear and tear on your teeth, and leading to tooth damage and decay.
Maintain a strong jaw
Your jawbone stays healthy by continuously eliminating old bone and replacing it with new bone. It only regrows bone, however, with stimulation from your tooth root.
When you lose a tooth, the jawbone starts to deteriorate. Since implants essentially serve as a tooth root, they keep your jaw strong.
What should I expect when getting an implant?
Dr. Lam uses digital X-rays to evaluate your jaw and make sure the bone will support an implant. If your bone is too thin or weak, he may perform a bone graft to strengthen your jaw.
When you’re ready for your implant, Dr. Lam uses a small incision to access the jawbone and then screws the implant rod into the bone. You’ll need to wait about 3 to 4 months as the bone around the implant regrows. Once the bone heals, the rod is firmly anchored in the bone.
In the next step, Dr. Lam attaches the abutment to the rod, takes an impression of your mouth, and sends it to the lab making your crown or bridge.
When your restoration is ready, you’ll come back to the office so Dr. Lam can permanently bond your crown or bridge to the implant. Implant-retained dentures aren’t permanently attached: They’re made to snap on and off the dental implant.
Don’t continue to live with missing teeth — implants offer a replacement that’s long-lasting and just as strong as your original tooth. To schedule an appointment, use online booking or call North Rockville Dental.
