Dental implants look, feel, and function more like natural teeth than bridges and traditional dentures. Dental implants restore your smile by replacing both the root and the crown of missing or extracted teeth.
To receive dental implants, your oral surgeon will place a titanium post — also called the screw — directly into your jaw bone, where it will fuse with the bone beneath your gums. This process creates a solid foundation to securely hold the implant in place. It also protects your oral health by stimulating new bone growth, which prevents bone loss. As with natural teeth, the long-term success of your dental implants require that you are attentive to your oral hygiene and attend regular cleanings and exams.
Our staff will work as a team with you and your dentist to complete your dental implant treatment. The oral surgeon at Lakeside Oral, Facial and Dental Implant Surgery, Dr. Forrest G. Bale, has many years of experience performing dental implant procedures and will place your implants at our practice in Russellville, AR.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
There are many reasons why dental implants are such a popular tooth replacement option. Some of the key benefits include
- A long-term tooth replacement solution. Dental implants can last a lifetime and will replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or even an entire arch of teeth. Because the medical-grade titanium post fuses with your jaw bone securely and permanently, you can enjoy eating the foods you love.
- Most like natural, healthy teeth. Dental implants are true tooth replacements — they won’t slip or fall out like dentures — and you may even forget that your implant is not a natural tooth at all! The crown that is attached to the implant is fabricated to look and function like your other teeth, allowing you to smile with complete confidence.
- Restores oral health. Bone deterioration is a common consequence of missing teeth. Losing a tooth or having an extraction can create other complications over time, such as dental shifting, jaw misalignment, speech and eating difficulties, gum disease, and more. Dental implants help prevent bone loss and protect the natural shape of your jaw for good facial aesthetics.
- Many patients are candidates. In most cases, a patient who is healthy enough to undergo a minor dental procedure, such as a tooth extraction, is healthy enough to receive dental implants. Sometimes, for a more secure attachment to the jaw bone, a bone graft is necessary before receiving dental implants. See our section on Bone Grafting for more information on this innovative procedure.
Dental Implants in Russellville, AR
If you are interested in learning more about dental implants, we encourage you to contact our practice in Russellville, AR. Dr. Bale will review your tooth replacement options and create a treatment plan tailored just for you.