Top 5 Questions Patients Have About Dental Implants

Less than half of American adults between the ages of 20 and 64 have a full set of permanent teeth. Because tooth loss is so common, it’s no surprise that dental experts have come up with some excellent solutions. 

Take dental implants as an example. These teeth get rooted into your jawbone to give you a natural-looking way to restore your smile and preserve your oral health. At DentAlign NYC, Dr. Kenn Kakosian offers these implants to people from our office in Midtown East Manhattan, New York. 

If you’re considering this option for yourself, you probably have some questions. Here, we answer some of the queries we hear most often. 

How do implants work?

Your implant consists of three components. First, there’s the titanium post, which Dr. Kakosian surgically implants into your jawbone. Then there’s the abutment cap, which securely holds the visible portion of the replacement tooth (the crown) on the post. Finally, there’s the custom-made zirconia restoration crown. 

You can replace just one missing tooth, several teeth, or all of your teeth with dental implants.

Do dental implants look natural?

Absolutely. Dr. Kakosian creates the crown of your implant to match the color, size, and shape of your natural teeth. 

Plus, dental implants can’t slip out of place once they're in your mouth. The titanium post fuses into your jawbone to create a secure root for your false tooth. That means they feel as natural as they look. 

Do implants play a role in oral health?

Yes. When you chew, it sends pressure from your teeth into your jawbone. That constant, daily pressure tells your jawbone to replace old, dead bone cells with fresh, new cells. 

With replacement teeth that don’t extend into your jawbone, it doesn’t get as much pressure as you eat. Over time, this can cause the size of your jaw to atrophy. With an implant, though, the titanium root of your dental implant stimulates your jaw to create new bone cells. This helps your jawbone to stay healthy and maintain its shape and size. 

Dental implants also help keep your other teeth properly aligned. Your other teeth may migrate toward it without something to fill the gap in your smile.

Do dental implants require special care?

No. All you need to do is brush them at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. When you brush, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and regular toothpaste.

Like natural teeth, implants should be examined and cleaned every six months. At your twice-yearly appointment, Dr. Kakosian checks your implant and jawbone to ensure everything’s healthy and functioning as it should. 

What’s the process for getting a dental implant?

Getting an implant requires several appointments over a few months. Before you get started, Dr. Kakosian evaluates your jawbone. He may recommend building up your bone with grafts before placing your implants.

After you get the titanium post implanted, you wait a few months while your jawbone fuses to the post. You can wear a temporary crown to hide your missing tooth during that time. Once your jawbone heals around the post, Dr. Kakosian affixes your customized crown in place. 

To find out what a dental implant could do for your, call our office or request an appointment online today.