Missing teeth pose several challenges, including the ability to enjoy meals and to speak and laugh with confidence. Tooth loss also impacts your oral health.
At Gladnick Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer various tooth replacement options, but dental implants are considered the gold standard—for several reasons.
Dental Implants: The Gold Standard
Dental implants in Rockville, MD, are the only tooth replacement option that restores your tooth and its valuable root. Root replacement may stimulate your jawbone to remain viable—as jawbones tend to shrink away without the stimulation of a tooth root.
Implant dentistry also prevents tooth migration—this means shifting teeth when spaces open up through tooth loss. This can throw off your bite and promote tooth wear and future decay.
Unlike other tooth replacement solutions, dental implants do not require added steps for care. You brush your teeth, floss, and visit your dentist for exams and teeth cleanings—it is that simple. No adhesives. No relines.
Dental implant posts are sturdy as well—two to six dental implants can support an entire prosthetic to restore teeth on a low-profile denture. If you have full tooth loss, you do not need an implant for every missing tooth.
No other tooth replacement choice is as similar to a natural tooth.
These benefits make dental implants a permanent solution and a sound investment in the future of your oral health.
Breaking Down the Dental Implant Process
A dental implant is a small but strong tooth replacement root your dentist implants in your jaw. This new root integrates with the bone over several months, creating a durable underpinning for your replacement tooth.
In case you’re curious about how exactly implants come to work their magic, here’s a breakdown of the process:
- Consultation — A qualified dental implant specialist evaluates your oral health and takes x-rays and scans of your teeth and jawbone to confirm suitability for dental implants.
- Treatment planning — Based on the extent of tooth loss, remaining damage, and jawbone density, a customized treatment plan is created for each patient.
- Tooth extraction (if necessary) — If a damaged tooth is still present, it must be extracted before implant placement.
- Bone grafting (if necessary) — If an individual’s jawbone lacks density, bone material may be grafted to bolster it.
- Implant placement — Through an incision in the gum tissue, the dentist drills a tiny hole in the jawbone, into which the implant is placed.
- Osseointegration — Over a few months after placement, is a process called osseointegration, the implant fuses permanently with the jawbone, creating a stable foundation for a dental restoration.
- Restoration — Once the patient’s gums have healed, new impressions are taken to custom-craft a final restoration (often a porcelain dental crown) to be fixed atop the dental implant.
Dental Implants: Before and After
Dental implants can dramatically transform your smile. Before the procedure, missing or damaged teeth can cause discomfort and affect your outward appearance, self-esteem, and others’ perceptions. With dental implants in place, you'll once again enjoy a natural-looking, fully functional set of teeth — and the confidence boost that comes with it!
In addition to their self-confidence, patients often also report a significant boost in their oral and overall health. Dental implants provide vital jawbone preservation and support to prevent remaining teeth from overcrowding or shifting out of alignment. Finally, by fully restoring the ability to bite and chew without restriction, dental implants promote proper digestion and nutrient absorption, further enhancing your quality of life!
Contact Your Dentist in Rockville to Get Started
It all begins with a consultation in our dental office. Reach out today to Dr. Thomas B. Gladnick and the friendly and highly knowledgeable Gladnick Family and Cosmetic Dentistry team in Rockville, MD (but also serving Gaithersburg, Bethesda, Washington, DC., North Potomac, and Shady Grove) to schedule a potentially transformative dental implant consultation and exam!
