Get Back Your Smile with Dental Implants

If you are living with missing teeth, you probably know that it affects more than just the way you eat. Not only are you limited in the foods that you can enjoy, but your speech may also be affected, as well as your self-confidence. Dentures have long been a popular option for replacing teeth, but a better one may be dental implants as they look and feel like natural teeth. NovaCare Dental offers this solution in Langley to help restore your smile.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small titanium posts that are surgically inserted into the jawbone. When a dental prosthetic is attached to the implants, they act as tooth roots to allow full usage of the teeth.

Additional benefits of dental implants

In addition to restoring the look and function of your smile, dental implants can save your facial structure. When teeth are lost, the remaining teeth can shift along the gum line and eventually alter your bite and facial structure. There can also be bone loss in the area where teeth have been lost. Dental implants can help with both problems.

How are dental implants placed?

It normally takes a few visits to NovaCare Dental to have dental implants placed. During the initial surgery in Langley, the implants themselves will be placed into the jawbone, then left for three to six months to allow them to fuse completely with the surrounding bone. Your dentist may provide you with temporary dentures to use during this period. Once your dentist determines that the implants have completely fused with the bone, he or she will attach posts to the implants that protrude through the gums. The dental prosthetic will be fixed onto these posts to restore the look and feel to the implants.

What do I do after the implants are placed?

Following the implant procedure, you may be required to eat only soft foods for the first few weeks. After a while, however, you will be able to fully return to your normal eating habits. Dental implants do not require any special maintenance as dentures or bridges do. You will simply have to brush and floss your teeth as normal and keep regular appointments for cleanings and exams with your dentist at NovaCare Dental in Langley.