Tooth loss can have a significant impact on your appearance and your self-esteem. If you are missing a tooth, speaking, smiling, and laughing with others can make you feel uncomfortable.
Tooth loss can occur as a result of severe decay, gum disease, or trauma. If you are missing a tooth, Dr. John Lynch, Dr. Sheila Lynch, and Dr. Frances Lynch of Lynch Dental Center in River Forest, IL or Chicago, IL can help. The dentists at this practice can treat your tooth loss with dental implants, which is the most convenient and natural-looking treatment option.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants in River Forest, IL, consist of a titanium implant drilled directly into your jaw and fuses to your jawbone. Your dentist will place a crown on the implant that looks like your natural tooth.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
The most common treatments for tooth loss are partial dentures or dental implants in River Forest, IL Dental implants provide more benefits than partial dentures, making them the better option.
- Natural appearance: Partial dentures often have metal brackets to hold the denture in place, and the metal is often visible. Dental implants are drilled directly into the jawbone, and metal brackets aren't necessary. Unless you tell them, nobody will know you have a dental implant.
- They are permanent: Partial dentures need to be removed at night before you go to sleep. Also, you will need to replace your partial every five years. Dental implants are permanent. The implant will fuse to your jawbone and never need to be removed.
- Easy cleaning: Partial dentures need to be soaked and scrubbed daily. Caring for dental implants is much easier. You brush the implant the way you do your natural teeth, making cleaning the implant simple.
- No food restrictions: Certain foods can damage partial dentures and need to be avoided. Dental implants in River Forest, IL, fuse to the jawbone and are strong and sturdy; therefore, you can eat anything you want.
What Is the Dental Implant Process?
During your consultation, your dentist will examine your teeth and the health of your gums. They will also take x-rays to ensure you have enough bone to hold the implant securely. If you don't, your dentist will need to perform a bone graft before placing the implant.
The dentist will use a local anesthetic to numb the area so that the implant can be drilled into the jawbone. When the implant is placed, you will need to wait four to six months for the implant to fuse to the bone.
When the implant has healed completely, your dentist will take an impression of your mouth so the crown can be placed.
If you are thinking about getting dental implants, contact Dr. Lynch, Dr. Lynch, or Dr. Lynch of Lynch Dental Center. To reach our River Forest, IL office, call (708) 366-6411. To contact our Chicago, IL office, call (312) 263-3235.
