Dental Implants 101: What You Need to Know

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Dental implants are used to fill in gaps that are left behind in your mouth from missing teeth. Missing teeth can create voids that act as magnets for bacteria and food residue. If left untreated these areas can lead to tooth decay, or even shift your teeth, as they are not held in place from neighboring missing teeth. Dental implants differ from dentures in that while dentures are removable, dental implants are permanently affixed to your jawbone. What you need to know about dental implants:

Question: How long can dental implants last?
Answer: If properly cared for, implants can last an entire lifetime.

Question: Can implants be customized?
Answer: Yes, each individual implant can be customized based on your needs. This includes size, shape, color, and proper fit.

Question: Do implants affect the surrounding natural teeth?
Answer: They positively impact the surrounding teeth by filling in the void of what would be an empty space left from the pre-existing tooth. Because implants are installed directly into the jawbone, they will not pull on the nearby teeth.

Question: What are some of the other benefits of dental implants?
Answer: Dental implants can keep the jawbone strong. They can also act much like natural teeth and provide stability when eating. When you complete a full set of teeth by replacing any missing ones with implants, you can fill out your face back to its normal appearance. A patient is also much more likely to smile after implants are installed.

We strive to give you the best treatments, whether it is dental implants or any other service you require. A member of our team will be happy to schedule an appointment with Dr. J. Scott Thompson, DMD to seek the customized plan you need. Please call 802-879-7811 in Essex Junction, Vermont, today, and let us get you started on the road to a brighter, whiter smile!