Dental Implant Restorations

Dental implant restorations offer the chance to permanently replace one or more missing teeth. At the practice of W. Paul Burns, DDS, in El Dorado, Arkansas, Dr. Burns specializes in dental implant restorations. To learn more about improving your oral health and appearance with this service, call today to schedule a personalized consultation or book a visit online in just a few clicks.

Why replace missing teeth?

Most people only think about the aesthetic implications of missing teeth, but there are also serious dental health issues to consider. Each of your natural teeth securely anchor to the bone tissue beneath your gums.

When you bite or chew, that bone receives stimulation, which is necessary for the bone to remain vital and strong. Losing a tooth means losing that stimulation, and the bone beneath the lost tooth can begin to wear away. That weakens the connection between adjacent teeth and bone, increasing the risk of additional tooth loss. 

What are dental implant restorations?

Dental implant restorations can permanently replace all structures of your tooth. Unlike dentures, which only replace the visible portions of teeth, implants use a small metal post to replace the tooth root and an artificial crown to replace the visible portion of the tooth. 

You can have an individual implant to replace just one tooth or choose an implant-supported dentures system that secures an entire upper or lower span of artificial teeth using just four implanted posts.

Once in place, the post portion of a dental implant usually remains secure for the rest of your life. The crown portion may eventually need repairing or replacing, which is a  far more simple process than the initial procedure.  

What is the process for getting dental implant restorations?

The planning stage is arguably the most important part of the process. Your dentist uses advanced intraoral scanning technology to gather precise measurements of the size, shape, and alignment of your teeth and your bone structure. 

A special software program creates your customized implant plan, including the precise angle that offers the most secure anchor for the implant. On the day of your procedure, an injection of numbing medication ensures you remain comfortable throughout the process. 

Your dentist creates an incision in your gum tissue to access the underlying bone. A small pilot hole helps guide the post into the proper position. Once the post is in place, your gum tissue closes around the post, and your healing period begins.

You return after several weeks to have the crown portion of your implant attached to the post. This completes the restoration, and you walk out with your new smile ready to share. 

If you’d like more information, spend a few moments online to book a face-to-face visit or call today.