If you want to permanently restore a missing tooth, then come to Cowles Dental Care so Dr. Lee J. Cowles, DMD can provide a dental implant. This restoration functions like a natural tooth with a post placed in the jawbone like a tooth root and a crown sitting above the gumline. Call us at 503-255-1506 if you want to learn more about dental implants in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver.
In the past, extracted or missing teeth could only be replaced by dentures that sat on top of the gumline. While these could provide the cosmetic appearance of a full mouth of natural teeth, they could not provide the function for adequate eating or even speaking. Today, dental implants are ideal replacements for teeth because they are situated below the gumline in the jawbone just like natural teeth.
A dental implant has two parts: the post and the restoration. Proper installation of the post in your jawbone at the site of the missing tooth is the first step of the dental implant process. The post is made of titanium, which is highly compatible with your body’s biology and should fuse comfortably with your jawbone. The post must fuse completely with your jawbone first before the next step can be completed. This is because the post will be acting as your new tooth, and it is crucial the post is stable so that you can use it for biting and chewing without risk of it falling out. The fusion will take a few months, and we will schedule follow-up appointments to check on its progress.
The second part of the dental implant, the restoration, is installed in the second step of the dental implant process. This may be a crown, bridge or set of dentures. The restoration is the part that everyone will see, so our dentist and team take special care to ensure that it looks as beautiful and natural as possible. It will be designed to match the color, shape and size of your other teeth. The restoration will have the strength and resilience you need to eat and speak, and combined with the strong foundation of the implant post, your dental implant restoration can serve as an excellent tooth replacement for many years to come or even the rest of your life. We recommend regular at-home care and visits with our team to ensure best results.
If you would like to learn if dental implants are a good option for your smile, please give us a call today!
