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Dental Implants
Woodland, CA
Finding a way to repair a missing tooth is a must, regardless of whether the tooth fell out or was extracted. Leaving an empty gap can lead to bone loss, shifting teeth, and painful gums. At Beautiful Smiles in Woodland CA, we are here to help you find the perfect solution, and should a dental implant be right for you, we can get you through every step to restore your beautiful and confident smile. This is a great and permanent solution that a large percentage of our patients are candidates for.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a titanium post that we can surgically install into your jaw that behaves in a very similar way to your natural tooth’s root.
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Post (Screw): The post (or screw) is the part of the implant that is surgically placed into your mouth. This acts as an anchor and physically replaces the structure of your missing tooth.
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Abutment: The abutment is what allows for the attachment of the post and final restoration. This allows greater flexibility as to what can be attached.
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Restoration: This piece is incredibly versatile and gives you the freedom to find the perfect artificial tooth appliance for your needs. For example, we can attach anything from a crown or a bridge to full sets of dentures. This way, you do not have to worry about the hassle that can come alongside a removable prosthetic. |
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No more removing dentures. When you have dental implants to replace your missing tooth or teeth, they feel as natural as your regular teeth, and you will forget you even have them! This also means that you are free to eat whatever you like and your flavor sensitivities do not change—both of which are options taken from you with a removable prosthetic.
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A long-term tooth loss solution. A dental implant is a permanent solution, whereas removable prosthetics can cause more damage over time to your gums and bone.
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No more bone loss due to missing teeth. Without a tooth root stimulating the bone as you chew, your jaw is subject to bone loss, which can not only be painful but can make it increasingly difficult to repair damage as time goes on. |
Dental implants have a very high success rate between 95% to 98% and it is extremely rare for patients to report severe risks. But it is always possible for dental implants to fail, although that rarely happens if the patient properly follows post-op instructions. As is always the case with surgeries, there are a few risks associated with a dental implant procedure.
What is the Dental Implant Process?
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Preparation: Getting a dental implant is a relatively straightforward process, but one major concern we have going into any operation is your bone density. Having too little bone mass in your jaw can have a significant impact on the ability of implants to properly integrate into the jaw. Without enough bone mass, you lack the necessary support that dental implants require. This can result in implants that are loose or that do not integrate at all, both of which can lead to implant failure. If you have had a missing tooth for quite some time, you may find that you have suffered significant bone loss. This can make it so that your jaw is simply not strong enough to support an implant. If this is the case, do not worry. A bone graft can solve that problem; it will simply add more time to your procedure.
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Surgery: When it is time for your implant, we will administer an anesthetic to numb the area (or a sedative if you so choose) and we will make an incision in your gums. This is how we will access the bone. Then, we will insert and install the titanium post, and that will be left to heal. Once the implant post is fully fused with the bone several months later, a permanent crown, bridge, or denture will be installed at our Woodland practice.
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Healing: Osseointegration is a natural process that occurs during your recovery following dental implant surgery. This is the process during which your natural bone fuses to the titanium posts, integrating them into the jaw. The process was discovered completely by accident in 1952 by a Swedish orthopedic surgeon by the name of Per-Ingvar Bråenmark. While Bråenmark was researching bone healing and regeneration, he implanted a titanium cylinder into a rabbit femur. When he went to remove it later, he found that the bone had begun to fuse to the cylinder. This sparked further research and development, which eventually led to the very first modern day dental implants. Even today, research and development are still being done, helping to improve the reliability of dental implants and make the process of osseointegration easier. |
Dental implants provide a much-needed dental makeover to clients that require tooth replacement. These implants work through tiny titanium posts that are fixed into the jawbone. The fixtures support the root of the teeth and lead to oral health. Regardless of the many benefits of dental implants, one can’t deny the long procedure and the recovery period in between. Dental implants are attached in multiple stages; one cannot proceed to the next stage without healing from the former procedure.
Why Should I Replace Missing Teeth?
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Missing teeth can affect your life and self confidence. You'll notice changes in your ability to eat, ability to speak, and in the appearance of your smile. This can make you more prone to avoid interaction with other people and affect your self esteem.
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Losing your teeth leads to the loss of bone mass in your jaw. The teeth are critical for maintaining jaw health and strength. When you chew, the roots of your teeth stimulate the jawbone. This triggers your body to send essential nutrients that your jaw needs. Tooth loss lessens the amount of stimulation the jaw receives. As a result, fewer nutrients are sent, and bone begins to grow weak.
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When you replace missing teeth with dental implants, osseointegration will occur. Successful osseointegration turns the titanium posts into strong, stable roots that provide support for your new teeth. These new roots imitate the functions of the roots of your natural teeth, down to the stimulation of the jawbone. |
Permanent vs. Removable Tooth Loss Solutions
Tooth loss occurs for a variety of reasons. No matter how you lose your teeth, however, the effects are all the same. Eating and speaking, basic functions you barely spend any time thinking about, become difficult. Your smile is affected, which can deteriorate your confidence. You also begin to lose bone mass in the jaw, which then leads to your healthy teeth shifting out of alignment and throwing off your bite. Replacing your missing teeth is essential to restoring the functions of your mouth, your oral health, and your smile. There are both permanent and removable solutions for tooth loss. Beautiful Smiles can help you to decide the best option for your needs.
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 Bridges are a traditional solution for replacing one, two or three missing teeth in any given area of your mouth. There are a few different types of bridges, the most common being a fixed bridge. This bridge, typically made from ceramic or porcelain, consists of the replacement teeth set between two dental crowns. The crowns are used to anchor the bridge in place on the healthy teeth on both sides of the space. A bridge requires the removal of some of the enamel from these teeth to create the necessary space. The bridge is then cemented into place, making it a non-removable option. While considered permanent, bridges do not stop bone loss in the jaw, and therefore may need to be replaced over time as the jaw weakens underneath the replacement teeth.
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 Partial and full dentures are traditional, removable solutions for replacing missing teeth. Partial dentures replace sections of missing teeth while full dentures replace an entire arch. These restorations consist of an acrylic base that supports your replacement teeth. The base is designed to sit directly on your gums and relies on the gums for support. They are meant to be removed each night for special cleaning and should be left out of your mouth, soaking in a denture cleaning solution, while you sleep. This gives your gums, the tissue that was not made to support the pressures put on them by dentures, a chance to rest and recover. Dentures also do not stop the bone loss that occurs following tooth loss, and therefore need to be replaced periodically to accommodate the changing jaw.
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Dental Implants:  Dental implants are a more recent option for replacing missing teeth but have quickly become the most popular. They can be used to replace any number of missing teeth, whether you need a single tooth implant because you are missing only one or you are missing all of them. Implants use small titanium posts that are surgically implanted into the jawbone. The bone fuses to the posts as you heal, integrating the posts into the jaw. Successful fusion turns the posts into stable roots that hold your replacement crowns securely in place. Dental implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss. The posts stimulate your jawbone just like your natural teeth, which restores the delivery of essential nutrients. This aids in stopping and preventing bone loss in the jaw, keeping the jaw strong and healthy. |
 Why is Titanium Used for Dental Implants?
The posts that are implanted into the jawbone are typically made of a titanium alloy. The first implants that were placed were made of pure titanium, but this material proved too soft. A titanium alloy is exceptionally strong.
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Biocompatible: Titanium is a biocompatible material and one that is tolerated well by the jaw. In fact, it has a 98% success rate. As you heal, the bone in your jaw fuses to the titanium posts, integrating them into the jaw, which aids in turning them into stable roots.
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Versatile: Titanium is also a versatile material. It can be made in single piece posts as well as two separate pieces. With two separate pieces, the posts can be implanted at an angle, and the replacement teeth will still sit properly aligned in your mouth. This is especially helpful in situations such as the All-on-4® treatment concept, where implants need to be placed at an angle to maximize contact with the jawbone. |
When is Zirconia Used Instead of Titanium?
While titanium is a strong material, there is research being done into alternative non-metal, options. One of the most promising materials for dental implants is Zirconia, which are mostly ceramic implants, even though they do contain trace amounts of metals in them for strength.
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Allergies: This material is ideal for those with metal allergies. Like titanium, zirconia is also biocompatible, and the bone fuses with it while you heal.
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Color: It is white in color, unlike titanium, so it can look more natural if you have thin gum tissue or experience gum recession. The biggest disadvantage of Zirconia is that it is only available as single pieces, and therefore needs to be placed very precisely. |
Among the most effective ways of replacing missing teeth is a dental implant procedure. Apart from that, it is found as the best choice that you can get for missing teeth. In the field of dentistry, many specialists at Beautiful Smiles will suggest their patients go for the most effective and functional solution which is a dental implant.
Curious if Dental Implants are Right for You?
Beautiful Smiles in Woodland CA is here to help you through whatever help you need. If you have any questions at all concerning an upcoming procedure, or if you want to know if you could be a potential dental implant candidate, feel free to call us at (530) 206-9211.
Learn More About Dental Implants
Replacing missing teeth is essential for restoring the functions of your mouth and the appearance of your smile. Traditionally, missing teeth have been replaced with bridges and dentures. Today, however, the popular option for replacing missing teeth is dental implants. At Beautiful Smiles, we proudly offer this option for your tooth replacement needs, whether you are missing one tooth or you are missing all of your teeth. One of the major components of dental implants is titanium posts.  |
