Dental Implant Basics

ody">can be a challenge as well but advancements in
A dental implant is an independent artificial tooth rootcosmetic dental implant procedures routinely produce
that is used to replace a natural tooth root that hasbeautiful, natural, esthetic results that patients often
been lost to accident or disease. Dental implants aredescribe as far more beautiful than their natural teeth
typically placed to secure bridges, partials, dentures andever where. One of the most difficult conditions to
crowns. Dental Implants don’t require supportovercome is actually a habit or an addiction rather than
from adjacent teeth and thus cause them no harm.a condition; cigarette smoking. This is an annoyingly
Better yet, teeth replaced with dental implants look,difficult addiction to overcome and many wonderful
function, and feel just like natural teeth.people who have extraordinary will power and a
2. Will dental implants be suitable for me?strong desire to quit simply can’t. That is
Advancements in dental implant design and placementunfortunate because as smoking is a strong
protocols have made dental implants the gold standardcontributing factor to tooth loss, smokers form a
for the replacement of missing teeth for almostdisproportionate number of those in need of dental
everyone. Patients with specific health conditionsimplants. The majority of the patients I see for the All
including uncontrolled diabetes, osteoporosis, oron 4 procedure are smokers. So though smoking is
irradiation of the mandible or maxilla for the treatmentnot a contraindication the patient and doctor must
of cancer, may be at increased risk but they are stillrealize that they will be faced with a higher than
candidates and can usually be managed by a highlynormal number of complications.
experienced practitioner. Certain cosmetic conditions