When you lose a tooth, not only does the tooth exit your mouth, but so does the generous amount of bone and gum tissue Nature gave you. The result is an unattractive gap and compromised speech, chewing, and biting. Can you avoid these problems? The answer is yes if you close that gap with a dental implant from Elliff Dental in Batavia, IL. Dr. Andrew Elliff, Dr. Laura Elliff, and Dr. Alexander Stokowski use dental implants to replace missing teeth from the roots on up. Read more here, and learn if dental implants are your best option.

Different from conventional tooth replacements

Bridgework and dentures made the traditional way rest on top of gums and bone. While they fill gaps and give a good measure of normal oral function, they don't preserve the jaw bone and gum tissue. Both the gums and bone around an empty tooth socket shrink in size after extraction.

However, a dental implant resides right in the jaw bone. So as a patient bites and chews, the implant exercises that hard and soft tissue, preserving it and keeping it healthy.

Also, because a dental implant is a stand-alone replacement, it requires no support from neighboring teeth. There are no clasps, no denture adhesives, and no need to shave down adjacent teeth. In fact, when a patient receives a dental implant, he or she has an artificial tooth that looks, feels and acts like the real thing. Furthermore, multiple implants firmly anchor fixed bridgework and partial/full dentures.

Implant placement

To see if an implant is right for you, your dentist at Elliff Dental in Batavia will examine your teeth and gums and take X-rays and other kinds of imaging. Adequate bone in the jaw is essential to dental implant success. If you have enough bone, the treatment starts with a simple oral surgery in which the doctor numbs the jaw, incises the gums and drills a small access hole. Then, the titanium implant is inserted, and the area closed with sutures.

Over the subsequent weeks, the implant site heals, and the device itself bonds with the bone through osseointegration. This incredible natural process makes the implant just as strong as a natural tooth. After healing is complete, the site is re-opened, and your dentist attaches a metal post (abutment) and custom-crafted porcelain crown. And yes, that smile gap is gone for good.

Caring for your new tooth

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry says that your implant can last for the rest of your life if you take proper care of it. Brush twice a day, and floss around it. Get six-month cleanings and check-ups at Elliff Dental, and stop smoking to avoid peri-implantitis, a destructive gum, and bone infection.

Enjoy a complete smile

The team at Elliff Dental in Batavia, IL would love to tell you more about dental implants. Bring your questions to a personal consultation with one of our dentists. Call today for an appointment: (630) 482-7200.