At West Ashley Family Dentistry, Dr. James Dickert and Dr. Agatha Lynn provide comprehensive dental implant treatments for replacing one or more missing teeth. We offer all types of dental implants in Charleston, SC for restoring a stable and comfortable smile that will look and feel completely natural.
Before dental implants, the only options for people with missing teeth had been dentures and dental bridges. With advances in technology, dental implants are now the number one choice for replacing missing teeth.
With the invention of dental implants, patients now have the option to replace the entire tooth, including the tooth root. By replacing the entire tooth, including the root, it is possible to restore the look, feel, and function of the natural tooth you once had.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant actually refers to a small, biocompatible titanium post that is surgically implanted in the jaw bone. This post will serve as the artificial root for the prosthetic tooth. The dental implant is restored with a dental crown if you are missing a single tooth, with a dental bridge if you are missing several consecutive teeth, or with a denture, if you are missing a whole row of teeth.
A dental implant is made up of 3 parts; the implant post, the abutment, and a dental restoration.
Implant post – This is the bottom part of the dental implant that is surgically implanted into your jaw bone. It sits just below the gum line. It is cylinder-shaped and resembles a screw. It’s made up of bio-compatible titanium that will eventually fuse to the jaw bone creating a permanent and secure bond. This titanium post will act as the tooth root. Dr. Dickert or Dr. Lynn will coordinate the surgical phase of your implant procedure with a local Charleston, SC oral surgeon who will perform the implantation of the post.
Abutment – This is a small piece that connects to the implant post. The implant post requires 3-6 months to heal and fully fuse with your jaw bone. After that, an abutment will be connected to the implant post. The abutment will screw right onto the implant post and will sit right at the gum line. This part will support the dental prosthesis.
Dental Restoration – The prosthetic tooth can be a dental crown for a single missing tooth. The dental crown is typically cemented or screwed onto the abutment. A dental bridge or denture will be used for multiple missing teeth. They can be secured to the abutment by simply snapping them into place. The prosthetic tooth is the part that will look like a tooth (teeth) and will be color-matched to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
Types of Dental Implants
- Single tooth dental crown supported by a dental implant
- Dental bridges that are supported by dental implants
- Dentures that are supported by dental implants