Missing teeth can impact your ability to chew your food, speak clearly, and smile with confidence, leaving you looking for a solution. By coming to our dental clinic in Fort Collins, Colorado, you can get those teeth replaced with dental implants. With the implants in place, you’ll be able to move on with your daily activities without worry about missing teeth impacting your life.

What are Dental Implants?

Unlike dentures that sit on the gums, dental implants replace the entire tooth, root, and all. The process starts with the placement of a metal post that anchors into the jawbone. This post serves as the foundation for the prosthetic tooth and provides all the support it needs.

After the jawbone heals around the post, an abutment attaches to it and holds the crown in place. The dental crown serves as the replacement tooth to complete your smile and let you use your teeth as intended.

You can get just one implant to replace a single missing tooth or have your full set done. The total number of teeth you have replaced will determine how many posts you need placed in the jawbone. A single implant uses one post, while a full arch might have four to six.

When to Get Implants at Your Dentist

Since your jawbone, gums, and other structures must heal around the implant, the placement process can take several months to complete. In most cases, it’s best to start the process immediately after losing a tooth.

Otherwise, your nearby teeth could shift out of place, resulting in additional tooth loss. In addition, the jawbone starts to deteriorate as soon as the tooth comes out of the socket. If that happens, you may need to have bone grafts done to build up the material enough to support the metal post.

Even so, it’s never too late to get dental implants. Whether you’ve recently lost your teeth or have lost several over the years, you’re welcome to reach out to us to discuss this tooth-replacement option. As your dentist, we’ll help you determine if dental implants are the right choice for you. We can discuss your other options, like dental bridges and dentures, to help you make this important decision.

Learn More About Dental Implants at Radiant Dental Health

If you’d like to explore whether dental implants will work for your needs, call 970-422-1122 to reach our team at Radiant Dental Health. We’re always here to care for your teeth and keep you smiling brightly through the years. So, please feel free to call anytime to set up a visit to our dental clinic.