Living in or near Birmingham, AL, and looking for the best tooth replacement solutions? Consider paying a visit to Fulton Dental, located at 1000 Chestnut Street, Suite 100, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. Our restorative dentist in Birmingham, AL, will analyze your oral health and determine if dental implants are an ideal option for you. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that provide a permanent base for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth. Dental implants in Birmingham, AL, are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants replace tooth roots and provide a strong foundation for permanent or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. Once the dental implants are in place, your dentist in Birmingham, AL, will be able to restore them with crowns, bridges, or dentures. If you are missing all your teeth on either the upper or lower arch, your dentist in Birmingham, AL, can even place a full arch of teeth that are permanently attached to the implants with no need for messy adhesives or removal for cleaning.
Patients will need to have healthy gums and enough bone in the jaw to support the implant placement. Your dentist in Birmingham, AL, can talk to you about your options if you are missing teeth and are interested in finding a dental implant dentist near you. If patients don’t have sufficient bone to support an implant but would like to get the implant placed anyway, a bone grafting procedure may be performed to create more space for the implant post.
Dental implants can provide a strong and stable anchor for artificial teeth that allow you to chew and eat your favorite foods without embarrassment. They can help you feel confident about your smile again and allow you to speak clearly and smile broadly. Talk to your dentist today to see if dental implants are right for you!
Implants vs. Dentures
While both of these replacement options will fill the gaps in your smile caused by tooth loss, they do so in very different ways. A dental implant is a small titanium post that is surgically placed into your jawbone in order to support a replacement tooth or bridge. Implants in Birmingham, AL, look and act just like natural teeth and allow you to eat the foods you love without worrying about slippage. They are durable and can last several decades or even a lifetime with proper care. Dentures are removable devices that can be either full or partial. They sit on top of your gums in order to replace missing teeth and are a great solution for patients who do not have enough healthy bone to support an implant. However, they do require special cleaning and storage techniques in order to be maintained properly. Most patients in Birmingham, AL, find the maintenance involved with wearing dentures to be unrealistic and choose a more permanent solution like dental implants. At Fulton Dental, our dentist in Birmingham, AL, can help you determine which of these options is the best fit for you based on your unique oral health situation and budget. Contact us today to learn more!
Benefits of Dental Implants By The Dentist in Birmingham, AL?
Dental implants offer several benefits over traditional dentures or bridges:
- They look like real teeth! The implants are surgically implanted into the jawbone, where they fuse with the bone tissue in a process called osseointegration. This creates a strong, durable tooth replacement that looks and feels natural.
- They function like natural teeth! Once they have integrated into the jawbone, the artificial teeth will function as naturally as the rest of your teeth. You can eat, speak, and laugh without worrying about slippage or other complications.
- They are long-lasting! While bridges and crowns have to be replaced every five to ten years, dental implants can last a lifetime if they are properly cared for.
- They offer better oral health than bridgework or dentures! Traditional removable dentures can cause chronic irritation due to rubbing against the soft tissues of the mouth. Bridges require abutments on either side of the gap created by the missing teeth, placing pressure on the healthy teeth and creating weakened areas in the jaw over time. Implants are inserted into the gaps where the roots of the teeth used to be, not affecting the surrounding teeth and offering a perfectly stable tooth replacement.
Want to learn more about booking an appointment with the best implant dentists in Birmingham, AL? Call our office to schedule a consultation with our doctors. We would be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have regarding the benefits of dental implants for you. You can also request an appointment online. We look forward to helping you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile!
