Dr. Adrian Acosta is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Dental Implants.
Q. What are Dental Implants?
A. Dental implants are artificial tooth root substitutes that are designed to replace missing teeth, or can be used to anchor removable appliances to make them more secure.
Q. What are the benefits of dental implants?
A. If you want to find out the best way to replace a missing tooth all you have to do is ask a dentist what technique he would prefer to have a missing tooth replaced in his own mouth.
Far and away the preferred method by dentists for replacement of a tooth is the dental implant. Dental implants have been in use for over forty years. They are one of the most researched treatment options and have an exceptional track record. They offer some very key advantages over the dental bridge. The implant allows each tooth to be separate from the others. Bridges typically anchor onto the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. This means that all those teeth and the missing tooth are one piece. This makes flossing almost impossible and hygiene suffers. Also when a tooth is missing the jaw bone "melts away" over time in the area of the missing root. This wasting of the bone creates a gap between the bridge and the gum which causes an annoying food trap and a focus for gum infections.
Another reason implants are better is economics. When one tooth is missing, the bridge anchors to the two teeth on either side of the space creating a three unit bridge. When something happens necessitating the replacement of one of those three teeth, all three have to be replaced because the bridge is one piece. This can get expensive. If dental implants are used and a problem develops, it is a one tooth problem instead of a three tooth problem. A one tooth problem is always less expensive than a three tooth problem.
Unfortunately not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. Dr. Acosta can help you determine that. Ask Dr. Acosta if implants would be right for you. If your current dentist doesn’t place implants get a referral to one that does, and always seek a second opinion if all options, including dental implants, are not discussed with you.
Q. How long does an implant last?
A. Implants don’t decay and very rarely break. If they are properly cared for all indications are that an implant can last a lifetime.
Q. What are implants made of?
A. The root form is made of titanium and the crown or visible portion is made of porcelain.
Q. Who is a candidate for implants?
A. Almost anybody with missing teeth is a candidate for dental implants.
Q. How are dental implants placed?
A. Dental implants are gently placed in the jaw bone in a surgical procedure. Because we use a laser, our patients report little to no discomfort after the procedure.
Q. How long does it take?
A. From start to finish a single implant surgery can be completed in less than an hour. Usually the surgical portion of the appointment takes about 20 minutes.
Q. How to contact Dr. Acosta if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
901 W. Whittier Blvd.
La Habra, CA 90631
Phone: (562) 905-8338
Fax: (562) 905-3202
Email: Doc@AdrianAcostaDDS.com
Website: AdrianAcostaDDS.com
