Dental implants are small rods or posts made of titanium, which are surgically implanted into your jaw bone and gum tissue in the location where your missing tooth used to be, acting as an artificial tooth root. Then, an implant restoration like a dental crown can be used to replace one missing tooth, or several implants can be used to support dentures or a dental bridge to replace more than one missing tooth. Contact Dogwood Family Dental to explore your options for smile restoration in Cookeville.
Dental implants can last 30+ years with proper care, and also have the unique ability to strengthen and support your jaw bone, preventing it from weakening after tooth loss. They also require minimal special care, and they look and feel completely natural. Dental implants are also very easy to clean, and will never become stained or discolored.
Book Now
Getting a dental implant can take up to 6 months or longer. Here’s a quick guide to the process and what to expect.
Once you’ve been approved for an implant and Dr. Taylor has created your implant plan, you’ll come into our office for surgery. Your mouth will be cleaned and numbed, and Dr. Taylor will make an incision into your gums and jaw, place the implant, and then suture the area shut to heal.
You’ll be sent home to heal and recover. It will take about 1-2 weeks to heal from surgery, but it takes between 3-6 months for your implant to bond with your jaw bone (osseointegration).
You’ll come in for several follow-ups as you heal so that Dr. Taylor can check your progress and begin building your implant restoration, like a dental crown. When you’re fully healed, you’ll come back for your final appointment, and your implant restoration will be permanently attached to your implant.
Before you can get a dental implant, you must have good overall oral health. For example, you’ll need to get treatment for gum disease, cavities, and infected or broken teeth. This ensures minimal complications when healing.
Your jaw must be healthy and strong to get an implant. If your jaw is weak because of tooth loss, you may be able to get a bone graft to strengthen it, but you should note that this will add time and expense to your implant treatment.
Smoking can interfere with your healing and even cause implant failure. You should not smoke or use tobacco products of any kind after your implant surgery, so non-smokers are preferred for this treatment.
