MULTIPLE TEETH REPLACEMENT WITH DENTAL IMPLANTS

WOODLAND HILLS, CA

There are several reasons why you might lose several teeth in your mouth. You may suffer oral or facial trauma that either knocks the teeth out or causes enough damage to require extractions. You may be missing all of your upper or lower teeth. Teeth can be lost due to gum disease. Tooth decay can also lead to tooth loss. No matter what the reason, losing multiple teeth has a serious impact on the appearance of your smile, your oral health, and your quality of life. Traditionally, sections of several missing teeth have either been replaced with bridges or dentures. At Woodland Hills Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we offer dental implants.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF TOOTH LOSS?

When you lose your teeth, several things begin to happen.

• It becomes more difficult to eat. It can often cause incomplete chewing, which makes your body work harder to absorb the essential nutrients the foods you eat provide.
• Speech is more difficult. You may develop a lisp, or you may have trouble speaking in general.
• Your smile is diminished, which can negatively impact your confidence.
• Your jawbone begins to grow weak without stimulation from the teeth you have lost. This causes your jaw to change shape. Your healthy teeth begin to shift out of alignment, causing other complications.
• Your facial appearance may also be affected. Your lips and cheeks can sink in. Without support, the skin sags and wrinkles form. All of these factors can age you several years.

DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dental implants are an alternative treatment for traditional bridges and dentures. This treatment uses titanium posts, which are surgically implanted into the jawbone, to support ceramic crowns. The posts integrate into the bone, becoming stable and secure, replacing the roots of your missing teeth. The ceramic crowns replace the visible sections of your missing teeth, restoring functions and aesthetics. The number of missing teeth, as well as the condition of your jawbone, factor into how many implants are needed to support your new teeth.

BENEFITS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS FOR MULTIPLE TEETH REPLACEMENT

Dental implants for multiple tooth replacement offer numerous benefits.

• The implants, and the crowns they support, look, feel, and function exactly like your natural teeth.
• Implants are more comfortable. The teeth are supported by the posts rather than your gums.
• The crowns can be brushed and flossed just like natural teeth.
• The crowns are secured on stable posts, so there is no worry about the teeth slipping or falling out.
• Improved confidence.
• The posts function like your natural tooth roots and stimulate the jawbone. This prevents the bone loss that follows tooth loss.

HOW DENTAL IMPLANTS ARE PLACED

Dental implants require a surgical procedure in order to place them. We first provide you with a local anesthetic and sedation. Next, incisions are made in your gums to expose the jawbone. Holes are drilled into the bone and the implants are placed inside. The last steps involve suturing the gums closed around the implants and placing temporary teeth. These temporary teeth provide you with function while you heal.

During your recovery, the bone begins to fuse to the implants. This is not an overnight process. It occurs over the course of several weeks, and it can take up to several months to fully heal from surgery. Your progress is closely monitored to ensure everything is going as it should. Once you have fully healed, the temporary teeth are removed, and impressions are taken. The impressions are used to create your final restoration, which is screwed into place on the implants when it is finished.

Dental implants not only restore the functions and aesthetics of your missing teeth, but they also work to prevent the bone loss that occurs when your teeth are lost. Call Woodland Hills Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery to schedule your consultation and find out if you are a candidate for dental implants today at (818) 999-0900.