Though we all desire a bright, beautiful smile full of brilliantly white teeth, attaining such can be quite the chore. One thing that can set you back in your goal to have a beautiful smile is a missing tooth. In fact, millions of Americans are missing at least one tooth, which can make it difficult to eat or chew, let alone feel comfortable smiling in public. Luckily, a lot of dental implants information has been shared, making it easier to replace a missing tooth.

At North Atlanta Aesthetic Dentistry, we have helped restore many patients’ smiles with dental implants. Not only can dental implants make your smile beautiful again, they can also help restore functionality to the affected tooth. Before you give our Alpharetta, GA dental office a call, let us fill you in on some of the most important dental implants information.

Basic Dental Implants Information

A lot of patients don’t understand the repercussions a missing tooth can cause. The most obvious effect is decreased functionality, making it difficult and uncomfortable to chew with the affected area. While this is true, the effects of a missing tooth extend far beyond decreased functionality. In fact, a missing tooth can cause halitosis, also known as bad breath, decreased jaw bone strength, and periodontal disease.

One of the most common causes of a missing tooth is decay. This makes it possible for the infection to spread to other teeth, even once the tooth that was originally infected has fallen out. Over time, this can slowly cause all the surrounding teeth to fall out, increasing the need for dentures.

The Dental Implants Procedure

One of the most important pieces of dental implants information is understanding the procedure it takes to install them. Dental implants are made of a titanium alloy. This allows the implants to bond to the jaw bone naturally through a process called osseointegration.

The first part of the procedure is to remove the gum tissue from above the jaw bone and drill a small pilot hole into the bone. Dr. Gurley will then slowly increase the size of the hole until the hole is wide enough, he will install the implant and cover it with the gum tissue to recover.

Once the dental implant has had time to bond to the jaw bone, you will come in for a second surgery. We will then attach the abutment to the piece and install a temporary dental crown atop that. Finally, once the permanent crown has been manufactured, you will come in one final time to replace the temporary crown with the permanent fabrication.

Contact Us Today!

As you can see from the dental implants information above, missing teeth are not something to take lightly. Not only can they affect the functionality of the affected teeth, but they can also bring a host of unfortunate health issues, including periodontal disease. If you are missing a tooth, you can contact us today or give us a call at 770.664.1244 to schedule an appointment with our Alpharetta, GA dental office.