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After
more than 20 years of service, the vast majority of dental implants
first placed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons in the United
States continue to still function at peak performance. More
importantly, the recipients of those early dental implants are
still satisfied they made the right choice. If properly cared
for, dental implants can last a lifetime.
A dental implant designed to replace a single tooth is composed
of three parts: the titanium implant that fuses with the jawbone;
the abutment, which fits over the portion of the implant that
protrudes from the gum line; and the crown, which is created
by a
prosthodontist or restorative dentist and fitted onto the abutment
for a natural appearance.
Many people who are missing a single tooth opt for a fixed bridge;
but a bridge may require the cutting down of healthy, adjacent
teeth that may or may not need to be restored in the future.
Then there is the additional cost of possibly having to replace
the bridge once, twice or more over the course of a lifetime.
Similarly, a removable partial denture may contribute to the
loss of adjacent teeth. Studies show that within five to seven
years there is a failure rate of up to 30% in teeth located
next to a fixed bridge or removable partial denture. |
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Dental Implant Benefits : |
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• reduce the need to cut down adjacent teeth for bridges
• help preserve remaining natural bone structure
• support face shape and smile
• eliminate the need for removable partials and dentures – and the
sores that may go along with them
• convenience and no need to worry about denture adhesives or having
dentures slip, click or fall out when speak
• reduce the need for the roof of the mouth to be covered by removable
partials of complete dentures
• look, feel self-esteem and work just like natural teeth
• provide confidence when eating, speaking and smiling |
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