Dental Implants Specialist

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are tiny metal posts that stand in your jawbone to support restorations, which replace missing teeth. Common dental restorations include crowns, bridges, and dentures. 

The dental implants act like the roots of your natural teeth, supporting both the restorations themselves and the jawbone where they sit. Without dental implants or the original tooth roots, the bone can weaken and deteriorate. 

Over the course of a few months after your first implant surgery, a process called osseointegration happens. During this process, your natural jawbone fuses with the biocompatible titanium of the dental implant. 

Once this happens, you have a sturdy base for your custom restorations from Los Gatos Dental Specialists. 

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Before dental implants, removable dentures were the only option to replace missing teeth. Bridges without implant support are also an option but can compromise the structures and health of nearby teeth they rely on for support. 

With dental implants, you can enjoy a plethora of benefits for many, many years. Some of the most notable benefits of dental implants are:

• No dietary restrictions
• Easy to clean and care for
• Stability
• Durability
• A natural appearance
• A natural feel 
• Restoration of speaking and chewing abilities
• Prevention of bone loss in the jaw
• Prevention of facial sagging

Your dentists at Los Gatos Dental Specialists can tell you more about how dental implants will benefit you personally after a consultation and examination of your oral health. 

Am I a good candidate for dental implants?

Dental implants are an excellent option for replacing missing teeth, but not everyone can get them safely. 

To find out if you’re a candidate for dental implants, you must come in for a consultation with Los Gatos Dental Specialists first. They take X-rays and pictures of your teeth to check for any conditions that need treatment before you can consider getting implants.

Dental implants are often a choice for those who:

• Can diligently care for their teeth and oral health
• Have good bone density in the jaw
• Have a strong immune system
• Have lost teeth to breakage or decay
• Feel uncomfortable using removable dentures

If you have low bone density in the jaw because of tooth loss, you might be able to get a bone graft ahead of dental implant surgery to strengthen the underlying bone so it can securely hold an implant. 

To schedule a consultation for dental implants with the team at Los Gatos Dental Specialists, call the office or book an appointment online today.