A dental implant is a tooth replacement for cases of loss teeth due to trauma, infection, decay or naturally missing teeth. The screw-like post bonds with the jawbone and supports an artificial tooth just like a natural tooth’s root, so you can eat, brush, and floss normally for the rest of your life.

When Should You Consider a Dental Implant?

1. Missing Teeth

The facial bones that support teeth need stimulation (via chewing) to keep re-building healthy bone. The bone near missing teeth resorbs over time, so gaps should be filled with dental implants as soon as possible. If bone loss has already occurred, oral surgeons place bone grafts to increase volume, density, and stability.

2. Teeth Broken Below the Gumline

When a tooth’s root structure is fractured or compromised – this could be from trauma or severe decay - it is unsalvageable and must be extracted. An experienced oral surgeon can often place the implant immediately after the extraction. The implant begins to osseointegrate or bond or fuse with the bone, saving months of healing time.

3. Pain After a Root Canal Treatment

In a root canal treatment, the nerve in the center of the tooth is removed and then filled. This should prevent the tooth from having any sensation, but occasionally the treated tooth still has recurring pain. When all options are exhausted, the tooth should be removed and replaced with a dental implant.

4. High Risk for Decay

Gaps are sometimes filled by a bridge, where neighboring teeth are filed down to support a unit with a floating tooth. For someone prone to decay, it’s likely a bridge will develop a cavity underneath it and need a replacement. When you make an investment in your smile, you want it to last as long as possible. With proper placement and oral care, a dental implant can, in 95+% of cases, last a lifetime.  The average life of a fixed bridge is 5 to 7 years.

5. Full-Mouth Dentures

Dental implant supported over-dentures provide an excellent alternative to conventional dentures.  Two to four strategically placed implants serve as anchors that secure the denture in place. The implant-supported denture also stimulates bone to maintain maxillofacial structure and shape.

Lyle C. Yanagihara DDS, MS and his team have ample experience providing affordable, quality oral and maxillofacial surgical care in Honolulu, HI. Specializing in wisdom tooth removal, bone grafting, and dental implants, they make sure their patients receive the most up-to-date, comfortable treatment possible. Schedule a consultation online or call them at (808) 973-1433 to see how they can serve you best.