Dental Implants in Jackson, TN – Dental Associates

Did you know that over 100 million Americans are missing 11 to 15 teeth? Having several missing teeth may be common in the U.S. but it is a severe problem that shouldn’t be ignored! Missing teeth don’t just ruin your smile; they decrease the quality of your life in many ways.

At Dental Associates, we offer a revolutionary way to replace a missing tooth. We offer dental implants in Jackson, Tennessee for patients are suffering from missing teeth. This procedure is the ideal tooth replacement option because it matches the structure and permanence of a natural tooth.

We work with local surgeons who place implants and we restore with crowns, bridges, partials and dentures.

What is Implant Dentistry?

This is a tooth replacement procedure that is permanent. Unlike other tooth replacement options like dentures, which rest on the gum line, implants naturally fuse into your jawbone.

Implant dentistry consists of three phases:

Implant. The implant acts as the root of the tooth. This part is implanted into the jaw of your bone for a natural and extremely durable base.

Extension. The extension serves as the attachment site for the prosthetic tooth. It is attached to the tip of the implant and juts over the gum line.

Crown. The crown is the artificial tooth. It is create to match the surrounding teeth and attached to the extension.

The process is lengthy and involves some minor surgeries. Not all patients are candidates for this procedure- patients suffering from chronic disease or who smoke are not good candidates. Ask your dentist if implant dentistry is right for you.

How are Implants Made?

The procedure can take up to 9 months to complete. The majority of time allotted for this process is the healing time required in between surgeries. There are several steps required in the implant dentistry process:

The first step is a comprehensive exam with our dentists. This exam involves X-rays, reviewing your medical history, and inspecting your general health to ensure that the procedure is the best fit for your dental needs.

After our dentist ensures that this is the best choice for your needs, the implant must be inserted into the jawbone. First, the area is completely numbed using anesthetics. Then, an insertion point is made in your gums and the implant is drilled into the jawbone. After the implant is inserted into your jawbone, it fuses with the bone during the healing process. This is called osseointegration and can take several months to complete.

Once the osseointegration is complete, the insertion point is opened up again and the extension is attached to the tip of the implant. Sometimes, the crown is attached during this visit. Depending on the case, however, your dentist may want to wait for the site to heal before placing the crown.

The last step is attaching the permanent crown to the extension post. The artificial tooth is custom created to match the shade and shape of the surrounding teeth. It is attached to the extension using either a screw device or dental cement.

Although the process is time-consuming and invasive, a prosthetic tooth on an implanted post is permanent and provides a fit that closely matches the structure of a natural tooth.

Call us at (731) 423-4400 or visit our dentists at Dental Associates, Inc. to learn more about a permanent replacement for missing teeth.