Many people don’t realize that almost every adult will lose a tooth or have one extracted at some point, and an incomplete can result in a few serious complications over time. In addition to impacting the appearance of your smile, missing teeth will also increase your risk of many different oral health problems. Those are just a few of the reasons why dental implants are more popular than ever. Those devices will fully restore the look and functionality of your teeth, and they often last for decades. If you are currently missing teeth or planning on having teeth extracted in the near future, then you will most likely benefit from dental implants. Read on to learn more about what to expect during a dental implant procedure.

An Overview of Dental Implants

While this procedure is very advanced, the implants themselves are relatively simple. An implant is made up of three different components, and each part plays an important role. The first component is a metal rod that is anchored into the patient’s jaw. When the rod sits in place for a short period of time, it forms a powerful bond with the bone in a process known as osseointegration. Once the bonding phase is complete, an abutment is attached to the rod, and that device acts as a platform for the crown. The crown itself is made custom for the patient so that it matches the size, shape, and color of the nearby natural teeth. 

Your Multi-Step Restorative Procedure

This procedure is typically carried out over the course of two or three visits to the dental office, but some dentists also offer same-day implant procedures to patients who want to immediately benefit from dental implants. An exceptional dentist in Ocala FL, highly recommends dental implants to people with missing teeth due to extraction or trauma.  For the average patient, the first procedure will involve the extraction of the tooth before the rod is put in place. If the tooth is already missing, then the rod can immediately be anchored in the mouth. Over the coming weeks, the rod is going to fuse with the bone to create a stable platform. Once the mouth has completely healed, the patient can head back to the office to have the abutment and custom crown put in place.

What About Minor Tooth Damage?

In some cases, a tooth won’t need to be extracted if the damage is relatively minor. For smaller chips and cracks that haven’t completely destabilized the teeth, dental bonding is often suggested. Dental bonding is nothing more than a small amount of plastic resin that is placed over the damage. Once in place, it can be sculpted and stained so that it practically disappears. For most patients, the bonding material should last for at least four years, but some patients enjoy their beautiful new smile for eight years or longer. Some of the other restorative treatments that can be used for relatively minor damage include veneers, composite fillings, and crowns. 

The Importance of Treating Tooth Damage

Many people ignore oral health problems for years, and that can result in some serious problems. When a tooth is severely damaged, an infection can take place, and that is going to damage the soft tissue, jaws, and nearby teeth. If an individual is already missing teeth, then the surrounding teeth could begin to shift over time. After the teeth shift, it will greatly increase a patient’s risk of dental fractures, jaw deformations, and chronic headaches. Luckily, all of those complications can be avoided as long as you head to an experienced cosmetic dentist as soon as you notice any signs of damage.