Dental Implants
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Deca Dentistry
General Dentists & Cosmetic Dentists located in Gresham, OR
Dental implants provide a secure anchor for crowns and bridges, allowing them to function just as well as your original teeth. They’re also used to retain dentures, so you’ll finally have a comfortable fit. Dr. Beatrice Deca provides the dental prosthetics that are anchored to metal rods surgically implanted in your jawbone. If you have any questions or want to learn more about dental implants, call her office, Beatrice Deca in Gresham, Oregon, or schedule an appointment online for a dental consultation.
Dental Implants Q & A
What are dental implants?
Dental implant refers to a metal rod that’s inserted into your jaw to anchor a dental prosthetic. However, “dental implant” is also broadly used to refer to the crowns, bridges, and dentures that are attached to the metal rod. Dr. Deca provides the prosthetic part of a dental implant; a specialist surgically implants the rods.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth. You can replace one missing tooth with a dental crown secured to a single implant or get two implants to hold a bridge. You can also have several rods inserted to support full dentures. Since the implants are anchored to your jawbone, the dental prosthetics feel and perform like your natural teeth.
Dental implants have the advantage of being independent. In other words, you don’t need to use other teeth to anchor dental prosthetics. That's important when you need a bridge because enamel must be removed from healthy teeth when they’re used to hold a bridge.
When you lose teeth, you also begin to lose bone because the jawbone needs stimulation from teeth to stay robust and healthy. Implants take the place of teeth roots, so they serve the same function, help preserve bone, and maintain the overall structure of your mouth.
What types of prosthetics are secured to implants?
Dr. Deca provides the original dental prosthetics if this is your first implant. She also restores old prosthetics that have become damaged or discolored. If your metal rod was recently implanted, you’ll need to give the bone time to heal before being fitted with your crown, bridge, or denture.
Crowns and bridges are made from different materials, depending on where they’ll be placed in your mouth. Porcelain and resin crowns look like your natural teeth, and they’re made to match the color of your existing teeth, so they’re preferred for front teeth. Porcelain is more durable and resists staining better than resin, but resin is less expensive.
Crowns and bridges can also be made from gold and metal alloys or porcelain bonded to a metal shell. Metal is significantly stronger than resin or porcelain, by itself, so it stands up to pressure placed on back teeth during chewing.
