Did you know that implant dentistry is the second-oldest dental profession? It’s humorous to imagine people in the past using objects like seashells or gold to replace missing teeth, but that’s how implant dentistry evolved into what it is today! In our current day and age, we use titanium screws to secure restorations in place, mimicking the function of natural teeth. Implants act as artificial tooth roots, both securing your smile and providing the necessary stimulation to ensure your jawbone remains healthy. With dental implants, you enjoy a more stable bite, reliable function, and a beautiful smile! Visit St. Apollonia Dental in Sterling Heights today to learn if you are eligible for dental implants.
How Dental Implants Anchor Your Smile
Dental implants are post-like screws that are made of a titanium alloy. Many years ago, Per-Ingvar Brånemark accidentally discovered a phenomenon he called osseointegration—or the ability for titanium to fuse with living bone irreversibly. This discovery enabled incredible advancements in implant dentistry, as we now use biocompatible titanium posts to anchor your smile in place.
Traditional solutions to tooth loss, such as dental bridges or dentures, can replace teeth but often fall short in terms of stability. These restorations can’t bond with your bone, making dental implants a more stable alternative to traditional tooth replacement systems.
Once in place in your jawbone, dental implants fuse with the bone, forming a strong and stable connection. Utilizing these implants, we secure restorations like crowns, bridges, or dentures!
While there are various types of dental implants, the most common is the conventional implant.
Conventional dental implants are anything above 3 mm in diameter and consist of multiple pieces. To place these implants, we create an incision in your gums to reach your jaw. Then, we use a series of drills that increase in size to make a hole in your bone. After carefully inserting the implant body, we will stitch up the incision to facilitate healing. While your gum tissue heals, your implant is osseointegrating with your bone. Over time, it forms a strong bond that will keep your restoration secure!
In about 4-6 months, your implant will be secure enough to reopen the incision and attach the abutment to your implant. The abutment is the connector piece that secures your temporary restoration, allowing your smile to function effectively. When your final restoration arrives, we will remove the temporary and provide patients like you with a beautiful and secure smile.
Experience the Difference of Mini Dental Implants in Sterling Heights
Unfortunately, conventional dental implants aren’t suitable for all patients. These large implants require a vast amount of bone structure that many people don’t have. Additionally, their various components and appointments make them a potentially expensive solution. For those who are ineligible for conventional dental implants, we’re proud to offer mini dental implants as an alternative!
These narrow-diameter implants are smaller and have fewer components, but are just as strong. Like conventional implants, they are made of a titanium alloy that bonds with your bone, creating a stable foundation. In select cases, we may even prefer to use mini implants due to the incredible benefits they provide to our Sterling Heights patients.
These benefits include:
- Smaller diameter: Mini dental implants are less than 3 mm in diameter, requiring a much smaller hole. Because of their size, we need less jawbone material for placement, making those with bone resorption still eligible!
- Fewer components: These implants have a sleek, one-piece design, which reduces your risk of infection. Peri-implantitis often occurs because of the seams between components. Without seams, that risk is significantly reduced.
- Minimally invasive: Because of their small size, mini implants require a much less invasive procedure. With no need for incisions or stitches, we preserve the surrounding tissues of the implant, facilitating faster healing.
- Fewer appointments: With their single-piece design, we can place mini dental implants in just one appointment!
Because mini dental implants have fewer components and require fewer appointments, they are generally less expensive than conventional implants. While mini dental implants may not be suitable for every patient, they are a great alternative to conventional dental implants in Sterling Heights.
You Can Be You Again With Dental Implants in Sterling Heights, MI
Implant Dentistry has come a long way since the days of seashells. In Sterling Heights, we offer two types of dental implants that help secure your smile and keep your jawbone healthy. If you’re missing teeth, don’t rely on unstable traditional methods; trust dental implants to anchor your smile in place.
Book a free implant consultation at St. Apollonia Dental to determine if you are eligible for an implant procedure!
