If you find yourself with a missing tooth, or one that has become so damaged and decayed that it requires extraction, which root (pun intended) do you go? To put your mind at ease, the best and most comprehensive solution is offered by Colorado Springs dentists. Dental implants are essentially artificial tooth roots made from titanium, which are surgically placed into the jaw bone by specially trained and qualified Colorado Springs dentists.

There are a great number and diversity of advantages and benefits afforded by Colorado Springs dental implants. Not only do they promote the health of the underlying jaw bone and prevent infection from settling into the exposed tooth socket, but they are also virtually indistinguishable from any natural healthy tooth. Furthermore, Colorado Springs dentists explain that the jawbone at the site/s of the missing tooth is prevented from atrophying (shrinking from a lack of stimulation by the tooth root). As a result, that aged, caved-in appearance around the mouth is prevented from developing… oral aesthetics we typically associate with the elderly and denture-wearers.

When Colorado Springs dentists place implants, the adjacent teeth are not affected as they are with the use of crowns and dental bridges. Furthermore, because Colorado Springs dentists place these devices in the jaw, where they subsequently form a strong biological bond with the bone, dental implants feel just like natural healthy teeth, and function like them too! With all these benefits, patients are able to smile again with the confidence they thought they had lost along with their missing tooth or teeth!

In order to have implants placed, X-rays and molds are taken of the jaw and teeth. This aids in the detailed planning of the procedure used to place Colorado Springs dental implants. The dentist will then determine how much, if any, bone loss has taken place and whether bone grafting is necessary. Once a surgical guide has been made based upon a model of your mouth, the implant/s will be placed into a predrilled socket at the site/s of the missing tooth or teeth. Patients are generally anesthetized for the placement of Colorado Springs dental implants using intravenous sedation.

Post-operative healing can take anywhere between five weeks to six months for the jaw bone to grow tightly around the implant (a process called ‘osseointegration’). While this is taking place, Colorado Springs dentists will place temporary crowns so that you don’t leave the practice with any embarrassing gaps in your smile! Once osseointegration has successfully occurred, you will be required to return to the Colorado Springs dentists to have your permanent implants placed and advised as to how to care for your new replacement teeth.