Your smile is the star of your face. When people look at you, they instantly know how you feel just by looking at your smile. Some people might worry that you're unhappy or even angry because you seldom smile, but you may not smile as much as you would like because of how your teeth look. While your dentist can fill a simple cavity for you and restore the look of that tooth, if you put off seeing the dentist, that cavity can grow so large that the dentist cannot salvage the tooth. That is when your dentist will recommend that you opt for implant.
Dentists use implants as a solution to a missing tooth or a significantly damaged tooth. A cavity may start out looking like a small splotch on the front, side or edge of your tooth. It occurs because of decay and bacteria in your mouth. As that splotch grows larger, it will weaken the tooth from the inside out. There is also a risk that you may not even know you have a cavity until you suddenly bite down and feel your tooth break in half. Implants are also a solution to teeth that your dentist extracts and those that fall out on their own.
A dental implant actually consists of two different parts. The first is a metal post that looks similar to a typical screw, which is the implant itself. The dentist will place this implant into the socket where your tooth once was and implant it directly into the jaw. Once your mouth heals, it will accommodate the implant in the same way it did your old tooth. The second piece of the implant is the crown, which is the natural looking replacement tooth that fits on top of the implant.
While getting a tooth replacement is one of the best ways to restore and change your smile, you might wonder how long it will take. The time frame depends on whether the dentist must extract your old tooth first. You generally need to make an appointment for the extraction and then a second appointment for the implant. The dentist will have you come back in a few weeks for the crown. If you have any questions about implants, schedule an appointment with a local dentist today.
When Do Dentists Use Implants?
Dentists use implants as a solution to a missing tooth or a significantly damaged tooth. A cavity may start out looking like a small splotch on the front, side or edge of your tooth. It occurs because of decay and bacteria in your mouth. As that splotch grows larger, it will weaken the tooth from the inside out. There is also a risk that you may not even know you have a cavity until you suddenly bite down and feel your tooth break in half. Implants are also a solution to teeth that your dentist extracts and those that fall out on their own.
How Do You Get an Implant?
A dental implant actually consists of two different parts. The first is a metal post that looks similar to a typical screw, which is the implant itself. The dentist will place this implant into the socket where your tooth once was and implant it directly into the jaw. Once your mouth heals, it will accommodate the implant in the same way it did your old tooth. The second piece of the implant is the crown, which is the natural looking replacement tooth that fits on top of the implant.
How Long Will the Process Take?
While getting a tooth replacement is one of the best ways to restore and change your smile, you might wonder how long it will take. The time frame depends on whether the dentist must extract your old tooth first. You generally need to make an appointment for the extraction and then a second appointment for the implant. The dentist will have you come back in a few weeks for the crown. If you have any questions about implants, schedule an appointment with a local dentist today.