Have you lost a tooth recently? A dental implant can yield a quality restoration that both looks and feels like a natural tooth. To learn more about dental implants, try the following quiz from your Milford dentist, Dr. Mitchell I. Quintner, and see what you can learn about these popular restorative devices.
The Quiz
- True or False: Dental implants can encourage a healthy jawbone.
- True or False: Dental implants can only restore a single missing tooth.
- True or False: A typical dental implant restoration can take about six months.
The Answer Key
- True. One potential complication that can stem from a lost tooth is a decrease in jawbone density. As the bone loses density, it becomes brittle and unhealthy. The reason tooth loss can result in a deterioration in jawbone health is that a tooth’s root performs the vital function of transmitting the stimulating forces of biting and chewing to the bone cells in the jawbone. When a tooth falls out, the bone cells in the area no longer receive stimulation, resulting in decreased bone density. Thankfully, however, a dental implant’s post acts just like a tooth’s root, so when a dental implant is placed, the bone cells can once again receive the stimulation necessary to increase bone density and improve the health of the jawbone.
- False. Dental implants are very versatile and can aid in many different types of restorations. They can secure bridges, partial dentures, and even full dentures. In fact, implant-supported dentures are a popular way for denture wearers to improve the comfort and performance of their dentures.
- True. A dental implant restoration requires the implant’s post to fuse with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. This process is very important, and it takes several months for the jawbone to heal around the implant’s post.
Schedule a Visit with Your Milford Implant Dentist
Are you interested in dental implants? Contact your Milford implant dentist, Dr. Quintner, today by calling 203-878-6699. We proudly serve the 06460 area and welcome patients from Milford, Orange, Woodmont, West Haven, and all neighboring communities.