Dental Implants for Brookfield and Milwaukee Area Patients
The patients who have received dental implants at Brookfield Dental Care near Milwaukee have found them to be an ideal solution for gaps in their smile caused by lost teeth. The dental implants that Dr. Ralph Pamenter provides to his patients are extremely strong, permanent, and natural-looking replacements for teeth that are missing due to injury or disease.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants restore the strength to your bite and the beauty to your smile. Missing teeth not only take away from the attractiveness of your smile — they can trigger bone loss and the shifting of your remaining teeth, leading to further problems. The placement of dental implants helps our Milwaukee and Brookfield area patients avoid these problems, providing increased structural support and function. Additionally, the dental implants used at our practice are custom-fabricated to complement your surrounding features to provide the most natural-looking results possible. You may want to combine your dental implants treatment with a teeth-whitening procedure or other cosmetic dentistry treatment to maximize the beauty of your smile.
The Dental Implants Procedure
Dental implants are fixed to your jaw using a titanium alloy anchor that integrates with the bone and gums. Placed atop this strong foundation is a custom-made artificial tooth with the strength and looks of your lost tooth or teeth. Properly crafted and installed dental implants can last for decades and are indistinguishable from natural teeth. They literally become part of your jaw. You and your family will forget you ever had a gap in your smile! Unlike dentures, dental implants require no special maintenance; and unlike bridges, the risk of breaking dental implants is very low.
The dental implants procedure is generally a three-step process. First, the placement of the titanium anchor is performed surgically. After the surgery, you may experience some swelling or tenderness in the jaw or gums for a few days; Dr. Pamenter can prescribe pain medication to alleviate any discomfort. The gums and bone will then begin to grow around the anchor of the dental implants. This growth will continue for three to six months. Eventually, the anchor will be held in place permanently by the bone.
With some types of dental implants, a second step is necessary. A second procedure is performed to attach a post to each anchor. The posts hold the replacement teeth. With other types of dental implants, the post and anchor are one unit and can be placed in the mouth at the same time.
After several weeks have passed to allow the bone and gums to heal sufficiently, the final step of the dental implants procedure is performed. The replacement tooth or teeth ("crowns") are made and then fitted to the titanium post. Several fittings may be required to get the fit exactly right and perfectly comfortable, so this step can take one or two months to complete. The replacement teeth will match your existing teeth in size, shape, and color.
If you have lost one or more teeth, it's imperative that you look into solutions such as dental implants right away. Time is of the essence when replacing missing teeth because your remaining teeth can shift to fill the gap, and unnatural gaps make dental hygiene difficult to maintain. Dental implants are often your best option for replacing missing teeth. Excellent alternatives to dental implants are bridges and dentures. For more information about dental implants, or to schedule a consultation at our Brookfield office near Milwaukee, contact our cosmetic dentistry practice today.
Dental Implants and Smoking
After your dental implants are in place, Dr. Pamenter will give you instructions regarding their care and hygiene. In a study reported by the American Dental Association in 2006, researchers found that smoking significantly increases the risk of dental implant failure. A carefully controlled study followed 165 patients for five years after they received dental implants. The implant failure rate for the smokers was nearly 15 times the implant failure rate among the nonsmokers. As Dr. Pamenter will attest, smoking does nothing good for your dental health, and it presents several problems and risks for your oral health as well as your general health.
Find Out More about Dental Implants
You can learn more about dental implants when you contact Brookfield Dental Care , near Milwaukee , for a consultation with Dr. Pamenter. He will give you a full explanation of the benefits of dental implants, and he'll be able to tell you whether dental implants are right for you.
