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How Do Dental Implants Work With Your Body?

August 25, 2017

Filed under: Uncategorized — indianapolisteam @ 5:58 pm

dental implant modelMany people take their teeth for granted, but if you’re missing a few pearly whites, you know the value of having a complete smile. You and your dentist can discuss options for replacing your missing teeth, and one of the possibilities you might talk about is dental implants in Indianapolis. They offer numerous advantages over traditional dentures and can get your smile back to its peak potential. They can even work with your body and become a permanent part of your life.

Osseointegration Keeps Your Jaw Strong

One of the drawbacks of conventional dentures is that they do very little for your jaw. After your teeth and their roots are gone, the jaw can begin to weaken over time. With implants, your dentist inserts small titanium posts into your bone. There might be one implant for each tooth your missing, or just a few implants to support a bridge or denture.

Once the implants are in, osseointegration begins. It’s a big word, but it actually refers to a simple process wherein your jawbone bonds to the implants as if they were your natural tooth roots. This helps keep the jaw strong and shapely.

Bone Grafts Can Help Implants Be More Successful

Before you embark on the implant process, your dentist in Indianapolis will assess whether you are a good candidate for the procedure. It’s important that your jawbone is dense enough to support the titanium posts. However, if it has been a long time since you lost your natural teeth, your jaw might be too thin or too weak to keep the implants in place. In these cases, or if for some other reason your jaw isn’t able to undergo the implant surgery, a bone graft might be necessary.

In a bone graft, your surgeon will place bone in your jaw, and eventually the jaw will integrate that material and be stronger for it. The bone might come from another part of your body, such as your shin or chin. However, it could also come from other sources, such as an animal. Synthetic bone is also a possibility.

Depending on the extent of the surgery, it might take you a few weeks or several months to heal. Then, you’ll be ready to receive your implants.

Implants Act Like Natural Teeth

Not only do dental implants replace the roots of your missing teeth, but the artificial pearly whites that are attached to them can act like your natural teeth. They’re extremely sturdy, so you’ll be able to snack on all your favorite foods without worry. You’ll also be able to brush and floss according to your normal routine. You might even forget that you have the implants!

Dental implants in Indianapolis work with your body to give you a complete, gorgeous set of teeth. They might be the way for you to get back the smile you’ve been missing.

About the Author

Doctors Mark Farthing and Armin Tepner are proud to serve the Indianapolis area. They provide comprehensive dental services to their patients, and both of them have experience with implants. If you have questions about how you can replace your missing teeth, reach out to our office at 317-898-3384.

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