Dental Implants

Replacing missing teeth is important, and dental implants are a wonderful replacement option to blend in with the rest of your smile. Ramiro Esparragoza, DDS, and Jorge Fornaris, DMD, of Gables Sedation Dentistry in the Coral Gables neighborhood of Miami, Florida, specialize in implant dentistry. When you’re ready to explore dental implants in more detail, book a visit online or by phone today. 

Why do missing teeth need to be replaced?

When you lose a tooth, you also lose the bone stimulation that occurs each time you bite down or chew. Without that stimulation, the bone in your jaw slowly wears away, eventually weakening the connection between adjacent teeth and bone. 

Missing teeth also make it hard to enjoy a rich and varied diet. When you find yourself avoiding foods like lean proteins, nuts, and seeds, you run the risk of nutritional deficiencies. 

A gap in your smile might also create problems in your speech patterns. Replacing missing teeth restores normal speech function, and also helps you feel more confident when interacting with others. 

What are dental implants?

Dental implants offer a permanent option to replace one or more missing teeth. You can have an individual implant to replace a single tooth or choose a system like All-on-4® that secures an entire upper or lower arch of teeth using just four implanted posts. 

With individual implants, a metal post replaces the root portion of your tooth, while an artificial crown replaces the visible portion of the tooth. Some options use a small piece called an abutment to connect the post to the crown. 

Dental implants are a form of oral surgery. It takes several office visits to complete the process, but the result is a strong, attractive restoration that lasts a lifetime*. 

What happens when you get dental implants?

The first step involves digital imaging and a thorough oral exam to learn more about the precise size, shape, and alignment of your natural teeth. This information guides both the fabrication of your crown and the implant placement. 

On the day of your procedure, your dentist creates an incision in your gums to access the underlying jawbone. A small pilot hole guides the post of the implant into your bone tissue. Once the post is properly positioned, your dentist closes your gum tissue around the post. 

It takes a couple of months for your gum tissue to fuse to the implanted post. At that point, you return to the office, and your practitioner secures the crown to the post, which completes the implant procedure. 

When you’re ready to learn more, call Gables Sedation Dentistry to book a visit or schedule online in just a matter of moments. 

*Individual results may vary