Dental Implants Provide a Permanent Solution to Replacing Missing Teeth
Dr. Jeffrey Van Hook can restore dental implants at our Canton, MI, office for patients that need to replace missing teeth. His experience and resources allow him to refer you to a trusted oral surgeon in the area for dental implant surgery. Once you have fully recovered from surgery, Dr. Van Hook can then securely attach a natural-looking restoration to the implants to complete your smile. At The Village Dentist, we have worked with a local dental lab for almost 30 years to create custom, natural-looking restorations. These implant-supported replacement teeth will look and feel like your own original teeth.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts surgically inserted into your jawbone to mimic the natural tooth roots. Over a period of months, they fuse with the bone tissue and create a firm foundation for a dental crown or bridge. Because the implants replace and act like tooth roots, they are the only true permanent solution for replacing missing teeth. In addition, dental implants draw nutrients to the area and help prevent bone loss from occurring, which benefits your oral health and appearance.
The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth
When tooth loss occurs, it can negatively affect your ability to chew and to speak clearly. If left untreated, missing teeth can cause the remaining teeth to shift and loosen, which can eventually lead to dental misalignment and tooth damage. Eventually, you could lose even more teeth as well as experience additional jaw bone recession. Addressing tooth loss as soon as it occurs not only helps you avoid problems with eating and speaking, but it can help protect your remaining teeth and your long-term oral health.
Dental Implant Process
Dental implant surgery is generally performed as an outpatient procedure with local anesthesia and light sedation. Once you are comfortable, your oral surgeon will create one or more openings in your gums, and then insert the small posts into your jawbone. The length of your procedure will depend on the number of posts being placed.
In most cases, the healing period will take about four to six months. Your oral surgeon will monitor you carefully during this time to determine you are healing properly. When the posts have fused with your jawbone, a second surgery will be performed to attach the abutments to the implants. These small connectors allow your restoration to be firmly attached.
Having your implants restored by an experienced dentist such as Dr. Van Hook will ensure you receive the utmost care and excellent results.
Some patients require a bone graft or a sinus lift prior to having their implants placed. These procedures will add an additional two to three months to the overall recovery, but will ensure that you have sufficient healthy jawbone structure to support the dental implants.
Once you have fully healed, Dr. Van Hook will take impressions of your mouth for our state-of-the-art dental lab to use in designing your customized restoration. In about one to two weeks, Dr. Van Hook will permanently affix your device to the implants for a beautifully restored smiled.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Patients who choose to replace missing teeth with dental implants can enjoy:
- Natural-looking results
- Permanent tooth replacement
- Maintenace of jawbone integrity
- Improved dental function
- Ease of care
- Superior comfort and support, especially when compared to traditional dentures
Having your implants restored by an experienced dentist such as Dr. Van Hook will ensure you receive the utmost care and excellent results. Dr. Van Hook takes great pride in his work and will guide you every step of the way through the dental implant process.
Learn More About Dental Implants
Dental implants are the state-of-the-art solution for missing teeth. If you would like to find out more about dental implant treatment or your financing options, please contact our friendly staff today.
"I had a great first experience. Both my hygienist and Dr. Van Hook were very friendly and explained everything well. I also appreciate the text-message reminders!"
Linda V.
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