Dental Implants

If you have missing teeth and gaps in your smile, it is always better for you and your long-term oral health to replace them as soon as possible. Maybe you have even considered tooth replacement but aren’t convinced that removable dentures will give you the secure fit and feel you want.

Fortunately, there is another option: dental implants.

Dental implants have become the standard of care for tooth replacement, and with good reason. An implant tooth has all the strength and stability that a natural tooth has, and it functions in the same way.

Using dental implants, our Eugene, OR dentist can replace a single missing tooth, multiple teeth in a row, or a full upper or lower arch of missing teeth. With as few as four implants (All-on-4®), we can also design implant-dentures that won’t ever move or shift unexpectedly.

Dental Implants Help Prevent Bone Loss

When you lose an entire tooth—including the root—the bone in your jaw no longer has anything to support it, and it starts to shrink or resorb back into the body. This is a problem because jawbone loss threatens the stability of neighboring teeth and can even lead to further tooth loss.

A strong, healthy jawbone also supports your facial features and helps you avoid a sunken or hollow facial appearance that ages you.

The only tooth replacement available that replaces both a missing tooth and its root is a dental implant. The presence of the titanium implant in your jaw helps promote healthy bone regeneration to keep it strong and healthy and keep surrounding teeth in their places.

Steps for Getting a Dental Implant

Many patients who want dental implants are good candidates, and the first step is an evaluation with Dr. Susie or Dr. Tyler at our Eugene, OR dental office. If you're a good candidate, our dentists will coordinate with a top specialist in our area who will place the implant surgically in your jaw bone.

We allow the implant to heal in place for several months, giving it time to integrate with bone and tissue around it. This process takes several months to complete, and we know that it can seem like a long wait. But it is during this time that your dental implant is becoming part of your dental anatomy, and with proper care, it can last a lifetime.

Restoring Your Dental Implant

After the implant post heals, a piece called an abutment is added to it. This is the attachment for your new tooth restoration, which could be a crown, bridge, or denture, and it is the part of the implant that you see and that you use for chewing.

If you need to replace an entire arch of missing teeth, ask us about All-on-4 dentures, where we can place as few as four implants to hold your full denture securely in place. You will be able to confidently show off your beautiful smile and chew comfortably again.

Schedule a Dental Implant Appointment

Have you been thinking about dental implants and wonder if you’re a good candidate? Please call PNW Dental and schedule an appointment with Dr. Susie or Dr. Tyler to learn more.