Best Tooth Replacement: Dental Implants in Westhampton

If you’ve got missing teeth, there’s one thing I don’t have to tell you: you’ve got to get them replaced. Gaps in a smile cause real problems, like difficulty eating, speaking and sometimes even making you reluctant to smile in public. Don’t let your missing teeth rob you of life’s smallest pleasures — learn about your replacement options with dental implants in Westhampton today.

Dental Implants Are The Most Natural Tooth Replacement

You’ve got options in tooth replacement, but nothing comes as close to replacing your natural tooth as dental implants. Fixed bridges and dentures only replace the visible portion of your tooth — but what about its root? Without a root replacement, your new teeth are less sturdy and the jawbone will continue to deteriorate over time, meaning even more tooth loss later on.

Dental implants are tiny posts made from titanium. It may help you to think of them as a golf tee: your gum is the grass, and the bottom part of the implant is surgically implanted into the gum. Once the surgery is complete, you’ll have a recovery period of anywhere from two to six months, during which your jawbone will fuse to the implant — a process we call osseointegration.

After osseointegration has taken place, your implants are super-secure and you’re ready for the next step. In a second visit to Westhampton Dentistry, your dentist will expose the top of your implant — or the head of the golf tee — and place a special collar which will support your tooth replacement. Either in that same visit or a follow up, your new teeth will be securely placed.

The result? Something you’ll love: a beautiful, secure, natural-looking smile. We promise.

What Makes a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

If you’re wondering if dental implants are right for you, we’d love to help you find out. It’ll take a consultation with Dr. Way to know for sure, but the following is what we look for to verify that you’re an excellent candidate for dental implants.

• Adequate jawbone structure. In order for your dental implants to be successful, you must have enough supporting bone structure to start with. Sometimes too much deterioration has already taken place due to missing teeth — if that’s your case, Dr. Way will happily discuss your alternative options.
• Good overall and oral health. Additionally, a patient must be in satisfactory oral and overall health to start with. Some conditions, like gum disease and diabetes, can inhibit the dental implant recovery period. You and Dr. Way will discuss your current health and your health history in your first appointment — it’s important you share any relevant information during this initial consultation.

Request Your Appointment in Westhampton Today

If you’d like to know more about how dental implants can complete your smile, don’t hesitate to call us to schedule your appointment. We’re the dental team so many in Virginia already trust with their smiles — won’t you let us help you complete yours, too?