Dental Implants

dental implants anchorageA lot of the time, dentistry seems like a relatively static field. This is probably because your dentist’s general dental checkup routine probably hasn’t changed much at all. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Dentists are constantly training and learning about newer and better ways to solve dental problems with the most minimal impact possible on your mouth.

One of the newer techniques that we at Mint Dental Alaska are quite excited about is the dental implant. Dental implants are a type of tooth prosthetics for patients who are missing teeth, but their attachment procedure is very different from that of their predecessors. If you ever need to replace a missing tooth while in Anchorage, be sure to visit Mint Dental Alaska to explore the possibilities offered by dental implants.

What is a dental implant?

Dental implants have become the most popular and most recommended type of tooth prosthetic in recent years, and it’s all because of the special way the false tooth is attached. Dental implants replace missing teeth in the most organic way possible, resulting in a fully functional and barely distinguishable permanent prosthetic.

anchorage dentist
Mint Dental 6/10/11

How does this work? The key to dental implants lies in a tiny piece of titanium that the dentist embeds in your jawbone. Titanium is a special type of metal that has the ability to fuse to bone, and the discovery of this property has revolutionized the fields of medicine and dentistry alike. Because the metal eventually integrates with the body and has been shown to not result in any allergic or otherwise adverse reactions, it is an ideal choice when it comes to replacing a tooth.

Because of its ability to attach and fuse to bone, the implanted titanium metal can act basically the same as a tooth root. Once the implant area heals, a dental crown can be fitted over the titanium, seamlessly hiding the stub and creating a beautiful and functional result.

Why should I choose dental implants?

So, you might be wondering, why dental implants? Dentures and dental bridges have been around for a longer time, and they work reasonably well. Why choose a newer, more expensive technique when the older ones are still functional?

The most important reason to choose dental implants is that they are a healthier option for the mouth as a whole. The most invasive part of the dental implant installation process is the attachment of the titanium rod to the jawbone, whereas with dental bridges, the nearby healthy teeth need to be shaved down to accommodate for a bridge. While neither procedure has direct impact on a patient’s oral health, dentists still lean toward the more organic, less harmful treatment because one can never be sure what unexpected future effects could result from willfully damaging a tooth.

dental_bridgeDental implants are also uniquely designed to take care of situations in which a patient is only missing one tooth. Dentures might be an inexpensive and functional treatment, but partial dentures are difficult to fashion and awkward to wear, making them only really useful in situations in which a patient is missing an entire row of teeth. Bridges have a similar problem and are typically only preferable when three or four teeth are missing in a row because the same procedure can take care of the whole row. Implants, on the other hand, are specially designed to replace single teeth without impacting the tooth’s neighbors.

However, bear in mind that these are only general guidelines. You’d need a dentist in Anchorage to give you professional recommendations for the best procedure for you. Not everyone’s mouth may be suited for every treatment possibility, and a professional evaluation is the only thing that can reveal the hidden details that can prohibit one of these choices.

Learn More About Dental Implants

If you’re ever looking for a dental implant or prosthetic while in Anchorage, make sure to drop by Mint Dental Alaska. We’re always happy to welcome new patients! Call us today at (907) 646-8672.