More on Dental Implants

Serving Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale, Arizona

Loss of teeth as we age isn't inevitable, but unfortunately it's very common. While most people still get along with traditional dentures, many also choose permanent replacement of their teeth through dental implants.

Dental implants consist of a titanium screw that is affixed directly into the jawbone. Then natural-looking dental appliances, such as a bridge or a full set of replacement teeth, are attached to the screw.

Dental implants not only give you a permanent, natural-looking set of teeth to replace those you lost, they also help maintain the health of your jawbones. Because the implants are fitted directly into the bone, they help stimulate bone growth when you chew, just as the natural roots of your teeth do.

By contrast, dentures do not supply stimulation to the jawbone, and can actually cause decrease in bone volume. If you've been wearing dentures for a long time and decide to get implants, you may need bone grafts to replace the bone you've lost so that the implants have sufficient support.

Placement of implants takes some time. After the implant itself is placed in the bone, it must heal for as long as a few months. This allows the implant to bond with the underlying bone. After this healing process is complete, Dr. LeSueur and Dr. Dodaro can add the appliances that will give you back a healthy, natural, permanent smile.

Dental implants can also be used to replace teeth lost in accident or injury. They can replace a single tooth or several teeth, or even all your teeth if necessary.

The number of implants necessary depends on how many teeth you need to have replaced, and can also depend on the structure of the underlying bone. Sometimes if there is bone loss, implants can be spaced slightly farther apart, so that more than one replacement tooth is supported by a single implant.

Dr. LeSueur and Dr. Dodaro will discuss these details with you during your initial dental implant consultation. To find out more about dental implants and how they can help you, please contact our Mesa, Arizona cosmetic dentistry offices. Dr. LeSueur and Dr. Dodaro serve the areas of Mesa, Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona.