703.478.9574Dental Implants
Reston and Arlington, VA
If you have a tooth missing, you can get an artificial tooth to fill that gap, and it will need an artificial root to hold it in place. That’s what a dental implant is: a metal root for an artificial (also called pontic) tooth.
If you’ve lost all your teeth, several implants can be placed to hold a complete set of pontic teeth.
The implant itself is a metal cylinder, or post, and they come in varying lengths, so that one can be chosen which fits well into the bone available.
Good candidates for implant dentistry
- You need to have good oral health.
- There needs to be enough solid bone available in the jaw to hold the implant(s). Although a shorter implant can be used, there’s a minimum length the implant must have in order to be stable.
Dr. Katz would look at the location of the gaps and consider your entire dental status before going ahead with any implant dentistry.
This patient had missing and decayed teeth that were midline and off-centered. He received full mouth reconstruction. His wife thinks he looks more handsome than ever!
How implants are done
It takes two visits, spaced several months apart.
- The first visit is for placing the implant in the jawbone
- Local anesthetic is used, as well as some kind of sedative if you feel extra anxious
- There’ll be some soreness and swelling afterwards, which will subside in a few days
- About 3 months will pass before the second visit, and in this time, the bone will fuse to the implant, creating a strong base for the new tooth
- In the second visit, Dr. Katz will attach the pontic tooth
- The entire process from initial examination to full healing could take up to 8 or 9 months
Click here for more information about dental implants.
The outcome will be a new tooth at least as strong as your natural teeth, and indistinguishable from them in appearance.
When the gaps caused by missing teeth are not filled, your surrounding teeth can gradually migrate from their proper positions, potentially creating a misaligned bite, which in turn can cause much discomfort and pain and lead to TMJ syndrome.
Several missing teeth can over time give your cheeks that sunken look. So don’t delay in having the gap filled.
Click here to read an article about dental implants.
If you live in the Herndon, Reston, or Fairfax area, please contact Dr. Katz and schedule a Free Smile Evaluation to discuss your dental implants.
