Missing teeth cause many dental health issues. Dental implants are increasingly popular for replacing missing teeth, but are they right for you? Read on to learn more.

Missing teeth can cause you not to chew your food properly or speak clearly, but it doesn’t stop there. It can also be a source of embarrassment, leading you to withdraw from social interaction.

While replacing missing teeth is a solution, the options can be confusing and frustrating, especially if you can’t or don’t want to wear dentures. Maybe it’s time to consider dental implants. In fact, the highly experienced team of dentists at Mowry Dental in Fremont, California, is dental implant experts. In this blog, our team shares its insights on dental implants, so you can decide whether they’re a good fit for you. 

Why replacing missing teeth is important

If you count yourself among the 120 million Americans who are missing at least one tooth or the 36 million Americans who do not have any teeth, you understand its impact on your dental health.

Aside from ruining your smile, missing teeth make it difficult to chew. In turn, it disrupts the digestive process.   

Furthermore, a missing tooth can cause the neighboring teeth to shift to fill the gap, making it challenging to properly brush and floss your teeth, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.

Missing teeth also cause bone loss and facial distortion. Tooth roots stimulate the jawbone, and when they are missing, the bone resorbs and deteriorates. Ultimately, the bone loss leads to a sunken, distorted facial appearance. 

The dental implant treatment process

Dental implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Here’s the process.

First, our team performs a thorough exam and X-rays to determine if you have enough jawbone density to support implants. If everything checks out, the treatment begins during an in-office surgical procedure.  

After administering anesthesia, our team makes an incision and places a titanium post in your gums. Each post replaces a missing tooth by providing a strong foundation for your replacement tooth.   

The surgery takes 1-2 hours per implant. Our team completes the session by suturing the incision. Then, we’ll send you home with post-op care instructions, and the healing process begins. Over the next 6-12 weeks, the implants fuse with your jawbone in a process known as osseointegration. Once osseointegration concludes, you’ll return to the office so our team can take digital impressions of your teeth and mouth. 

Our team sends this data and color-matching information to a dental laboratory to fabricate custom crowns. Once the crowns return from the laboratory, our team installs a crown on top of the implants.

At Mowry Dental, we use durable implants from Dentsply Sirona® to ensure your comfort. We also invest in the highest quality sterilization equipment to ensure your safety.

If you are missing teeth and want to learn if dental implants are right for you, call Mowry Dental at 510-794-7900 to schedule a consultation. You can also book your appointment online.