You don't have to live with an incomplete smile, and, in fact, you shouldn't. Gaps after losing teeth weaken surrounding gums and bone.
But, don't despair. Dr. Rujul Parikh offers dental implants in his state-of-the-art offices in Manteca and Stockton, CA. Chances are you're a candidate for this amazing tooth replacement option that's life-like, long-lasting and durable.
Different from traditional partials and bridges
Unlike conventional tooth replacements which just rest on the gums and jaw bone, the dental implant resides right in the bone, actually keeping it strong and dense. No other prosthetic offers this benefit--only the dental implant.
How does an implant work? A dental implant in Manteca and Stockton has three basic parts:
- A titanium metal screw, or cylinder, the part surgically placed in the jaw
- A metal alloy post, or abutment, which extends above the gum line
- A lifelike porcelain crown which covers and restores the dental implant, giving it natural appearance and function
The implant treatment
Dr. Parikh puts a dental implant screw into the jaw during a simple in-office oral surgery which normally needs no more than local anesthesia. He opens the gums and uses a high-speed drill to create a small pilot hole in the bone. Then, he inserts the titanium screw into the jaw and closes the site with sutures.
While healing at home, the patient's jaw bone and titanium implant bond to each other. This natural process is what dentist's call osseointegration. Osseointegration literally strengthens the jaw bone. No other tooth replacement can claim that benefit.
During the next appointment, the dentist reopens the site and attaches the post and crown, and the dental implant is complete. Patients report that their artificial teeth feel and function just like their natural ones, and their appearance is very natural.
Other ways to use dental implants
The American Academy of Periodontology states that skilled dentists such as Dr. Parikh often place multiple dental implants to support and anchor fixed bridgework or partial or even full dentures. Of course, the results are similar to single-tooth implants--bone preservation, natural oral function, and an outstanding smile appearance.
As with the single tooth option, Dr. Parikh ensures that the implant patient has sufficient bone in his or her jaw and has healthy gum tissue before actually starting the procedure. Additionally, implants thrive when patients have good oral hygiene habits at home and are nonsmokers. While tobacco usage doesn't preclude implant placement, patients should abstain from smoking for at least 3 days before and after implant placement and consult their primary care physicians about assistance with smoking cessation.
There's a better way
You can have a great smile again with dental implants in Manteca and Stockton, CA. For more information, please call Dr. Parikh's office at (209) 825-1030 or (209) 955-1800. Dr. Parikh is a fellow of AAID and ICOI (Fellow of American Association of Implant Dentistry http://aaid.com/ and Fellow of International Congress of Implantologists http://icoi.org/) and has been very experienced doing this procedure.