Dental Implants

Our dentists at Saba Road Dental Center in Richmond, use dental implants to replace missing teeth and restore the function and appearance of your smile. 

How Dental Implants Work

Dental implants are small titanium replacements for the roots of a missing tooth. An artificial tooth is attached to the top of the implant to restore the look and function of your smile.

Dental implants can help to:

• Improve the ability to chewing, speech and digestion
• Prevent surrounding teeth from shifting
• Restore the 'sunken face' look associated with missing teeth
• Prevent bite and jaw joint problems caused by teeth shifting
• Resolve jaw joint pain or bite issues 

The Implant Procedure

There are three parts to a dental implant: a metal root, an abutment, and a tooth replacement such as crown or bridge. 

First, your dentist will surgically place the dental implant into your jaw bone. This stage generally takes four to six months to heal before the artificial tooth or teeth can be placed.

Next, once healed, your dentist will attach the abutment and tooth replacement to the metal root. This is what gives the implant the appearance and function of a natural tooth. 

In patients where there is not enough bone to support an implant, advanced surgery to restore bone may be required. 

FAQs About Dental Implants

Find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about implants. 

• How successful is the implant procedure?

  Over half million patients have been treated with dental implants. Now, more than thirty years of clinical data has proven the success of the cylindrical implant system.

  Cylindrical implant systems continue to lead the world in dental implant treatment, with one of the highest success rates in dentistry.

• How long will dental implants last?

  It has been more than 30 years since the first cylindrical-type implants were put in place. We're delighted to report that those original implants are still functioning perfectly.
  
  There is no time limit regarding the life expectancy of successful cylindrical implant systems, and dental implant systems have continued to improve over time.

• Is the dental implant procedure painful?

  You're unlikely to experience any major discomfort either during or after the operation. Dental implant placement is done using local anesthesia. Your dentist will review anesthesia options with you and plan your procedure based on your unique situation.

• Will I be able to eat normally?

  Yes! Following a brief adaptation period, chewing efficiency has actually been shown to significantly improve after treatment with cylindrical implant systems. In fact, chewing with dental implants is comparable to the chewing efficiency of natural teeth.

• Do dental implants look like natural teeth?

  Dental implants look and function just like natural teeth.

  Implants are designed to blend in perfectly with the surrounding natural teeth, and you even care for dental implants just like you care for your natural teeth.