Our dental implants dentist in San Francisco wants our patients to know that implants are not only a way to improve a smile’s appearance. Dental implants are an important way to improve your dental health as well.
When you lose a tooth, the root will no longer send messages to the brain. Without this stimulus, the brain will stop sending nutrients to the area of the jaw that has a tooth missing. Over time, the area that receives no nutrition will begin to reabsorb into the body, and bone loss occurs. After enough bone loss, the face begins to look shriveled and sunken.
These unpleasant physical changes still occur with patients who get bridges or false teeth because the area impacted is below the gum line.
When you receive a dental implant, the problem of bone loss and changes in your facial structure return to normal. This happens because of the way the dentist places the implant in your jaw.
To place your dental implant, our dentist first inserts titanium rods into the empty tooth socket. These rods fuse to the jaw through a process called osseointegration. Normally, this process takes between six weeks and two months.
After the rods fuse to the jaw, the brain begins to get stimuli from the previously empty root socket. The brain will send nutrients to the area, and the bone loss stops. In most cases, there is a reversing of the bone loss and an improvement in facial structure.
For the final step, our dentist attaches the top of your implant to the rod. We match the color of the implant to your teeth for a natural look. At this point, your teeth will look and feel comfortable and natural.
If you are missing one or more teeth, consider reaching out to our office. Our staff can give you helpful information and set up a no-obligation consultation with one of our dentists. You can have an evaluation and get your questions answered at this time.
