.png)
Dental implants are screw-like devices placed into your jaw bone. The cylindrical device of a dental implant acts like the natural root of your tooth, which anchors it in place naturally.
When you lose one or multiple teeth, dental implants are the most permanent option for tooth replacement. Dental implants can support:
- A single crown
- Partial dentures
- Full dentures
Traditional implants are made of titanium, a metal that fuses easily with bone. The dental implants provided at South Coast Dental are made of Zirconia, a type of nonmetal crystal that is highly durable, biocompatible, hypoallergenic and resistant to erosion. Additionally, Zirconia implants are similar in color to your teeth and ceramic crowns, so you won’t see a dark line from the implant along the gum line of your crown or denture device.
Zirconia dental implants require two main steps: implant surgery and crown placement. Before the process begins, the team uses a CT scan to see under your gum line and plan a precise surgery.
During the procedure, the periodontist makes an incision in your gums to access the jaw bone. They then remove any remaining part of your original tooth before screwing the implant into the bone below. After step one of the process is complete, you must wait several weeks as the implant integrates with your bone and becomes sturdy enough to support your prosthetic. If you’re getting full or partial implant-supported dentures, you’ll need two or more implants.
The team takes impressions of your mouth to use in the design of your crown or denture. Once the prosthetic is ready and the healing process is complete, you return to South Coast Dental for the team to attach the prosthetic to your implant or implants. A dental crown stays on the implant semi-permanently, while full or partial dentures can be removed from your implants at will for easy cleaning and care.
To learn more about dental implants and to find out if you’re a good candidate for them, call South Coast Dental or book an appointment online today.