Dental Implants

A dental implant is a replacement for a missing tooth root. It is surgically anchored to the jawbone, creating a stable base to hold an artificial tooth or bridge in place. Implants can also be used to act as an anchor for loose dentures.

Implants have gained wider acceptance and are now a popular solution to replace missing teeth. Implants have the following advantages:

• Do not rely on neighboring teeth for support
• Are permanent and stable
• Have the look and feel of natural teeth

The most common type of implant, a root-form implant, is a screw or post made of titanium or bone-like ceramic material, which is embedded into the jawbone.

The implant procedure is as follows:

1. The implant (screw or post) is placed in the jawbone
2. There is then a healing period between three and six months, during which time the bone grows in and around the implant creating a very strong support
3. After the implant has "taken" and healing is sufficient, a natural-looking crown is placed on the implant

Dental implants have a very high success rate and can last a lifetime.  If you are interested in learning more about dental implants and implant dentistry, please call Bethany Dental  – serving Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro metro area.