Dental Implants in Flagstaff AZ

Sometimes the loss of a tooth or even a few teeth may happen to you or someone you know. There can be several reasons for this, but whatever the cause, it can affect not just your physical appearance, but even the way you speak and eat. One solution Mountain West Family Dental offers to the issue of missing one or more teeth is a dental implant.

A dental implant in Flagstaff AZ is a more recent development in dental surgical procedures. It consists of a “screw,” usually titanium, that is surgically attached to your jawbone. After this procedure has been completed, the screw is given time to fuse with the jawbone. Since your body doesn’t create an immune response thanks to the biocompatible properties of titanium, nutrients continue to be sent to that part of the jawbone to retain both size and health.

Once proper fusion has occurred, a “crown” is applied to the screw, which is just a custom-designed artificial tooth that sits on the now very stable implant that is fused to your mouth. With this final step, the procedure is permanent, complete, and will not require any additional maintenance on your part aside from a sensible oral hygiene regimen of brushing and flossing to protect the rest of your teeth and gums.  Dental implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth in your mouth.

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What are Dental Implants In Flagstaff AZ?

Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option available today in modern dentistry. Implants were created to provide the look, feel and function of a natural tooth. With dental implants, a person can regain their ability to eat virtually anything, and the esthetics of natural teeth can be replicated.

A dental implant consists of a titanium device that is surgically inserted below the gums into the jawbone in place of a natural tooth root. After the implant fuses/integrates into the bone, an artificial tooth (or crown) is secured onto the implant to replace the missing tooth. Because the implant is fused to your bone, dental implant restorations feel and function very much like natural teeth. Most people also find the secure fit of implants to be more comfortable than other tooth replacement options.

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The Dental Implant Process

The complete process for dental implants requires multiple visits to the dental office, and the whole treatment can take approximately 4-12 months depending on the complexity of the case. If your dentist recommends dental implants for your comprehensive care, a customized treatment plan will be created for you.

If you accept the treatment plan, an extraction and/or bone graft may be indicated. After the bone is healed at the proposed implant site, the dentist will combine a clinical evaluation of the site and 3D x-ray of the site to plan the dental implant. In some cases, a surgical guide will be recommended for precise placement of the implant. After the dentist has confirmed that you and the site are good candidates for a dental implant, the dentist will surgically place the titanium implant into the jawbone. The implant will then need approx 3-6 months to integrate into your bone.

After the integration process is complete, a connector, called an abutment, will be attached to the implant. This abutment will effectively hold the crown, which will then be attached to the implant system. When the implant crown is attached to the implant, the procedure is complete.

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Benefits Of Dental Implants

Aside from restoring a tooth into an empty space for aesthetic reasons, there are many other sound health benefits for getting a dental implant replacement.

CLICK HERE for more information regarding the benefits of getting a dental implant.

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If you’re interested in getting dental implants, the first crucial step is an examination by our Flagstaff AZ dentists to determine the health of your gums and your jaw. If you are a suitable candidate for a dental implant, you can move on to the next steps and go about getting one of the most comprehensive tooth replacement techniques available today. Call Mountain West Family Dental at (928) 774-4412 or contact us online to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists!