Dental Implants Specialist

General Dentistry & Cosmetic Dentistry located in Englewood, CO

Dental Implants services offered in Englewood, CO

If you have one or more missing teeth, dental implants might be a great treatment option. Implant dentistry is an area of specialty for Christopher Henes, DDS, of Meridian Dental Care in Englewood, Colorado. If you’d like more information about what implants can do for you, call the office to schedule an appointment or request one online today.

Why replace missing teeth?

If you’re like most people, you probably think about the aesthetic aspects of missing teeth. It’s true that a gap in your smile can make it hard to feel confident, but there are also serious dental health issues to consider.

Each of your teeth are anchored securely within the underlying gum tissue. When you chew or bite down, you stimulate that tissue, keeping it healthy and strong.

Losing a tooth means losing that stimulation, which can cause your bone tissue to break down in a process called resorption. That can weaken the connection between your remaining teeth and bone, creating additional tooth loss.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are a permanent replacement for missing teeth. Individual implants consist of a metal post that replaces your natural tooth root and an artificial crown that replaces the visible portion of your natural tooth. Some systems use a small piece called an abutment to connect the post and crown.

There are also dental implant systems that anchor an entire upper or lower arch of missing teeth using just four implanted posts in the top or bottom jaw. This approach is a good fit for people who lack sufficient bone tissue to anchor numerous individual implants.

What are the steps involved in getting dental implants?

The planning stage is arguably the most important part of the dental implant process. Advanced imaging guides the entire process, and proprietary software uses the information gleaned from that imaging to create a customized treatment plan.

On the day of your procedure, your practitioner administers an injection of numbing medication to keep you comfortable from start to finish. Your dentist then creates an incision to access the underlying bone tissue.

A small pilot hole guides the placement of the post portion of the implant. Once in position, your dentist closes the gum tissue around the post, and a period of healing begins.

After a couple of months, you return to the office to have the crown portion of your implant attached to the post. This completes the implant process, and your new implant looks and functions just like your natural teeth, only it won’t be subject to decay.

To learn more about dental implants and what to expect, call Meridian Dental Care or request an appointment online today.

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