Complete your dental implants restoration with your Columbia, MO Dentist
Dental implants are considered the gold standard for tooth replacement. By replacing the missing tooth root and fusing with the jawbone, dental implants provide a stable foundation for dental crowns to fully restore functionality to the smile.
Dental implants explained
At the office of Chase Patton D.D.S. in Columbia, MO, we are here to help you navigate through your tooth replacement options after tooth loss to determine whether dental implants are right for you. There are several factors that go into determining the best type of tooth replacement for each patient, including the number of teeth that have been lost, their current oral health and quality of bone, budget, and overall treatment preferences.
Getting implants placed is a multi-step process that takes several months, but in the end, patients find that the strength, functionality, and natural appearance of their final restoration is well worth the wait! The first step is to get your dental implant surgically placed in your mouth. The implant itself is a small piece of titanium that looks much like a screw. We will refer you to a local specialist in the area to perform this step of surgically placing the implant. After it has healed, you come back to our office for the final stages of the dental implant process, where we will complete the restoration with a beautiful, natural-looking dental crown.
Restoring the Implant After healing
After your dental implant is placed by a local oral surgeon, your mouth will go through a healing process known as osseointegration. During this time, the bone fuses around the dental implant to allow the final restoration to be fully functional. This is what makes dental implants so much more effective than alternative tooth replacement options. Dental implants truly mimic the strength and functionality of your natural teeth.
After osseointegration has been completed, you will return to the office of Chase Patton D.D.S. to be fitted for a dental crown restoration that is placed on top of the implant.
The dental crown process after implants
The first step in the restoration process is the removal of the healing abutment which was placed on top of the dental implant during the initial procedure. This can be done using local anesthetic. Once the abutment has been removed, an impression post is placed to support the fibers that were surrounding the abutment. An x-ray is taken to ensure that there is no tissue caught between the impression post and the implant. Once this is confirmed, standard dental crown impressions can be taken. Afterward, the impression post is removed, and the healing abutment is put back in place.
The impressions are then sent off to a dental laboratory along with information on the size and type of dental implant. Once the final dental crown is ready, you will return to the office where we will remove the healing abutment and place the final abutment. Dr. Patton will then cement the dental crown in place to fully restore your smile.
The office of Chase Patton D.D.S. is committed to fully restoring smiles
If you are considering dental implants to replace missing teeth in your smile, we encourage you to give us a call at (573) 875-7040 to schedule an appointment. We’ll explain the dental implant process and how we’ll work together with an implant specialist to return beauty and functionality to your smile.
Dental implants are titanium roots, that are replaced with in the jawbone to resemble a tooth or group of teeth. A screw is inserted through the gums and into the jawbone. A porcelain crown is then attached to the screw to become the new tooth or teeth. They can be used to support dental prosthesis including crowns, dentures, and bridges. Today’s treatments are so natural looking, no one will know you had surgery. There’s approximately a 95% success rate for all implants. With modern advances in dentistry, some implants can be restored immediately with life like all porcelain crowns. For more details ask your dentist.