Answers to Your Dental Implant Questions
What is a Dental Implant?
What exactly is a dental implant? Dental implants are actually a name dentists use for an artificial tooth root that replaces any teeth that have gone bad from decay, cracking, grinding, or other oral health issues.
If you think of your teeth as spark plugs or light bulbs, we replace the burnt out ones and “plug” in new, fresh ones.
The fact is, dental implants are an extremely common procedure. They can replace just one tooth, several in a partial denture, or your entire mouth.
This article will explain how the experts at Madison Prosthodontics in Madison, Alabama, recommend them for a wide variety of patients.
Why Should You Consider Implants?
Dental implants are the most permanent solution for missing or damaged teeth. They’re convenient, durable, and attractive.
If your dentist or prosthodontist examines your mouth and sees a broken or badly decaying tooth, he or she will determine if you need an endosteal (in the bone) implant –– the most common and includes screws, cylinders or blades surgically placed in your jawbone, or a subperiosteal (on the bone) implant – placed on top of the jaw.
Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
We can determine if you’re a possible candidate if you have both good overall health and good oral health with no major gum or jaw problems. Next, we:
- Select the right type of implant for your mouth from several choices, including “All-on-4”.
- Determine the correct placement and angle of each implant for a perfect fit and function.
- Select the best materials for your replacement teeth based on your preferences, typically titanium because it’s non-toxic and biocompatible.
How Long Does a Procedure Take?
A procedure can take from 45 minutes to a few hours or more, depending on how many implants you may require. But since we have our own in-house lab, we can fabricate the implant denture.
The length of time typically is determined by the type of implant you’ll need. It can be to replace one tooth with one implant and a crown, replace several teeth with implant-supported bridges, replace all of your teeth with a full bridge or full denture, perform a sinus augmentation by raising the floor of your sinuses and developing bone for dental implant placements, or perform a ridge modification by correcting deformities in your upper or lower jaw.
How Does a Dental Implant Work?
The non-clinical answer is very, very well. Each dental implant is a small metal anchor that we surgically place in or on your jawbone to replace a missing tooth root to support a crown, a large bridge, or new dentures.
Your jawbone bonds with the new implant, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Once your new dental implant has healed and the crown, bridge, or denture has been attached, your implants will be securely in place and you never have to take out any artificial teeth or bridge before you eat or go to bed.
The best thing about dental implants is that they look and feel just like your natural teeth. They also help to preserve your facial structure and prevent further deterioration of your bone when you have missing teeth.
Want To Meet a Dental Implant Specialist?
Most dental clinics don’t have an onsite lab to create teeth for dental implants. But Madison Prosthodontics does. In fact, as a prosthodontist and certified lab technician, Dr. Cramin Wiltz controls and designs every aspect of your 
dental restoration plan with his onsite dental lab enabling him to create implant dentures customized for your needs.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please give us a call at (256) 319-3256 or contact us online.
Dr. Wiltz serves as the architect of your treatment plan and collaborates closely with your dentist or other medical providers to ensure you get the amazing, long-lasting results you deserve. You can follow him on Linkedin.
