Many patients who have lost a tooth or multiple teeth know about standard tooth replacement options—historically dentists have used dentures or bridges to replace the look and functionality of a patient’s smile. More recently dental implants have been implemented to replace missing teeth—this dental innovation actually mimics the structure of natural teeth so they look and feel natural. What many patients don’t know is that dental implants can actually be used with conventional tooth replacement options—dentures and bridges—to increase the effectiveness of these treatments.
Dental implants are small titanium rods that are surgically implanted into the jawbone. Over time the titanium bonds to the natural bone, forming an effortlessly stable tooth-root. After the titanium is implanted it is capped with a natural looking dental restoration. Our Elmhurst dental implant dentists use dental implants individually to replace a singular missing tooth. Additionally, we use dental implants in conjunction with dentures and bridges to make them more stable, comfortable and long lasting.
Dental implants can be used with dentures to anchor the dentures more securely to the jawbone. In many cases, existing dentures can actually be retrofitted to attach to new dental implants. Most patients find that it’s easier to eat, speak, and smile without their dentures shifting after dental implant attachment.
Additionally, dental implants are implanted to anchor bridges. Bridgework is traditionally anchored to neighboring teeth for stability. Unfortunately, this can cause unnecessary strain on healthy teeth. By inserting a dental implant to anchor the bridge piece, you can preserve natural teeth by taking the strain off of them.