Dental Implant Restorations in St. Petersburg, FL
Dental Implant Restorations
If you need to replace one or more missing teeth or are seeking to improve the fit of loose dentures, dental implants are an ideal treatment.
At Dental Dimensions, located in St. Petersburg, Florida, Dr. Olvera works closely with local specialists to plan implant placement and restoration. The specialist will provide the service of placing the implant with Dr. Olvera restoring the implant using a dental crown or other restoration, creating a tooth replacement that is both completely natural looking and fully functioning.
What Is a Dental Implant?
An implant is typically made of biocompatible titanium and is commonly in the shape of a cylinder or rod. In addition to the dental implant itself, your dental implant will also have a custom abutment to retain your crown and a custom dental crown.
Healing Caps
The implant post is surgically placed in the jaw and fuses with the natural bone over a period of about three to six months. We will monitor healing to determine when we can perform the next phase of treatment. Healing caps are placed over the implant to provide protection to the implant during the healing time and will be removed once we are ready to proceed.
Once the implant has fully fused to the jawbone, the implant is ready to be assembled. The next part, which attaches to the implant, is called the implant abutment. This component provides a connection from the implant to the dental restoration we will be using, which may include crowns, bridges, partials, and dentures, depending on your needs and treatment recommendations.
Custom Abutments
Many types of dental implant abutments are available, all of which are used under specific conditions. The following picture is an example of custom-made titanium abutments.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Restored dental implants have a number of significant benefits including:
- Preservation of natural tooth structure and elimination of the need to alter adjacent teeth
- High success rate
- Maintenance of bone height and width
- Retention of loose denture(s), which improves chewing efficiency and esthetics
- Reduction in the size of dentures
- Increase in dental restoration success
- The following pictures are examples of two spaces restored using implant-retained dental crowns.
Caring for Dental Implants
Once dental implants have been placed and restored, caring for them is as simple as taking care of your own teeth. Excellent brushing and flossing habits along with regular examinations and professional cleanings will keep your implants looking great and maintain the health of the rest of your mouth. With proper care, your dental implant can last for many years – even a lifetime.
Contact Our St. Petersburg Dental Office
To find out more about dental implants and whether they are the right choice for you, please call Dental Dimensions in St. Petersburg today!
