If you are looking to improve your smile, you are not alone. Every year, thousands of Americans seek to improve the appearance of this aspect of their personality. While some turn to over the counter (OTC) remedies, others opt for a professional. They plan to visit a cosmetic dentist. In Oklahoma City, New York, Hollywood and Dallas, many turn to these professionals to help them recover or obtain the ideal smile.
If they decide to do so, clients are faced with several options. They range from teeth whitening to braces. While teeth bleaching remain one of the most popular means of gaining white, perfect pearly teeth, this may not be what you require. What you may need is dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a piece of metal, frequently titanium placed into your jaw. It is essentially a replacement for a tooth root. It acts as the foundation or anchor for a permanent (fixed) or removable tooth. A dental implant is considered an option for those who require replacements for teeth lost through trauma or periodontal injury.
Types of Dental Implants
If your cosmetic dentist, after examining the affected teeth decides a dental implant is your best option, he or she may then discuss the two basic options: endosteal or subperiosteal. What is used will depend upon your specific condition.
- Endosteal (in the bone): This type of procedure is very common. The procedure may place screws, blades or cylinders into the jawbone to acts as the anchor for the specified number of prosthetic teeth. This method is implemented as an alternative for those who have removable dentures or bridgework.
- Subperiosteal (on the bone): Less common than the endosteal procedure, subperiosteal nevertheless is employed to help clients regain their smile. It employs metal posts as part of the overall framework. They sit atop the jaw bone with the posts, protruding through the gum, holding the prosthetic tooth in place. A cosmetic dentist will use these if the client cannot wear conventional dentures and has a bone mass so minimal as to make the endosteal or other options infeasible.
Before you decide on a specific method, always talk to a professional. A cosmetic dentist Oklahoma City can advise you as to what the best options are. An informed consumer is the best means of early protection. Be sure, prior to visiting the cosmetic dentist, you understand your choices. This will help you know whether dental implants are truly the best choice you can make to get back a healthy, hopeful smile.
