Dental implants are an ideal way for people in Hopkins, Minnesota to replace missing teeth. Dental implants can replace one or more teeth to give you a healthier, happier smile. Dental implant technology has been in use since the 1970s, but has seen vast improvements during the past few decades. You may be wondering, “what are dental implants?” and you may wonder if that is a procedure that is right for you.

At its most basic, a dental implant involves your dentist from Gendler Dental Center placing a titanium cylinder into your jawbone. The replacement tooth will be placed on top of the titanium cylinder. When you have dental implants, you preserve the health of your jawbone.

There are myriad options in dental implant technology and they include:

  • Single-tooth replacement: With a single tooth replacement your dentist will place the implant into your jawbone and the tooth that is placed on top is called the “crown.” The crown will match the color of your other teeth, will be either cemented or screwed into place and is a permanent dental fix.
  • Multiple-tooth replacement: When a patient undergoes this procedure, we will be replacing more than one tooth. At the end of the dental process, a custom bridge will be cemented into place. With this procedure your remaining teeth won’t need to be replaced and they won’t be damaged.
  • Dentures: For some of our patients, dentures are a more viable option for them — based on their budget and their lifestyle. Our dentists can fit you with upper, lower or both sets of dentures. You can wear dentures that are more “permanent” by having your dentist use a number of implants. The implants are placed in your jawbone (this helps prevent bone loss) and the dentures will “snap” into place, but are removable for cleaning.

How do you care for implants?

When you opt for dental implants, your dentist will tell you that you care for them as you would your natural teeth. You will want to brush and floss regularly and to have regularly scheduled dental examinations because dental implants do require maintenance.

During your dental examinations and check-ups your dentist will monitor the condition of your dental implants as well as your overall oral health. Contact our dental office in Hopkins, Minnesota today to schedule a dental consultation. We will work with you to formulate a dental treatment plan that will get you on track to a healthy smile!