How Do Dental Implants Work and Can They Be Used For Front Teeth?

It’s estimated that 5 million dental implants are placed each year. And that kind of popularity speaks volumes about what an outstanding option they are for tooth replacement! But while implants are often used to replace missing back teeth, what if you’ve lost your front teeth from an accident or other issue? Can a dentist in Salinas use implants to restore your smile? In this blog, you’ll get the answer to these questions and also learn the basics of how dental implants work.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants work by replacing both the root and crown of a missing tooth. This key feature distinguishes them from options like dental bridges and traditional dentures which only replace the crowns of missing teeth. It’s also responsible for the superior results you get from implants as well as their natural look and feel.

The “root” portion of the implant is a surgical-grade titanium post that’s placed in your jaw where the root your tooth once was. After this initial procedure, the post is given several months to integrate, or fuse, with your jawbone. This makes it very solid and allows it to function just like the roots of natural teeth.

Next, the implant is restored with either a single dental crown, bridge, or denture, depending on how many teeth you’re missing. The color and shape of your new teeth are precisely matched to the rest of your smile so that no one would guess they’re not real.

Can You Get Dental Implants On Your Front Teeth?

Absolutely. Dental implants are often a great choice for replacing missing front teeth. Compared to a dental bridge that requires the adjacent teeth to be ground down for dental crowns, implants don’t affect your other teeth at all. They also provide far more chewing strength and stability than a partial denture and have the added benefit of preserving the jawbone. Not to mention that they can last 30 years or more with basic maintenance, which is much longer than other options.

With that said, one potential concern of placing dental implants in the front is the amount of bone that’s present in that area. Implants require plenty of healthy jawbone for support and, in some cases, this area has less bone “height” than what’s present around the back teeth. To evaluate your needs, a dentist will take detailed images of your teeth and jaws. If necessary, they may recommend a bone graft to strengthen the jaw before placing an implant.

If you’d like to know if implants are right for you, start by scheduling a consultation with an experienced dentist. They’ll create a customized treatment plan to restore both the health and appearance of your front teeth so you can enjoy a beautiful smile for many years to come.

About the Author

As a dentist in Salinas with decades of experience and advanced training in implant dentistry, Dr. Gary Klugman was awarded a Fellowship by the International College of Oral Implantologists. He’s known for providing outstanding care and can use implants in a wide variety of situations to restore his patients’ smiles. If you’re interested in dental implants for your front teeth or have any questions, you can reach Dr. Klugman via his website.