Cracked, failing and missing teeth have plagued you for too long. You want your smile to look good and your health to be back on track, but traditional tooth replacement options such as fixed bridgework or partial removable dentures don't appeal to you. You don't like having to grind down healthy tooth enamel to anchor bridgework, and the unattractive clasps on partials would make you self-conscious.

What's your best alternative? Why not look into dental implants through Atwal Dental Care? Dr. Inderpreet Atwal, a cosmetic dentist in North Syracuse, offers the dental implant as a solid and beautiful way to give you a smile worth smiling about. Replace one or more teeth, or use implants to anchor removable or fixed dentures.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are artificial teeth. A titanium screw replaces the roots of the natural tooth. Surgically placed below the gum line into a small hole drilled into the jaw, the implant screw integrates with the bone through a process termed osseointegration.

After the bone has had time to grow over several weeks, the dentist puts an abutment or post onto the implant. Then, he glues on a customized, color-matched porcelain crown and adjusts it for fit and bite, completing the implant process. The resulting tooth is virtually indistinguishable in appearance, function and feel from its natural neighbors.

Do Implants Last?

With good at-home brushing and flossing and regularly scheduled professional cleanings and exams, dental implants literally last for decades. Success rates hover around 98 percent, but dentists caution that implants can fail from an infection called peri-implantitis which stems from poor dental hygiene.

What about Cost?

While the initial cost of this innovative tooth replacement option seems high, patients should realize that less costly bridgework or partials will need to be redone, having a far shorter "shelf-life" than dental implants. For the most part, implants are an aesthetically outstanding, permanent fix.

Who can get Implants?

People who are in good general health can receive implants. However, teens through senior adults must be free of extensive decay and gum disease. Even an individual with a skimpy alveolar ridge (the part of the jaw bone which supports the teeth) can have it modified and strengthened through grafting procedures before receiving implants.

Smoking does not disqualify someone from getting an implant, but people are encouraged to quit. According to the International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, cigarettes threaten the longevity of dental implants because the habit contributes to peri-implantitis.

Atwal Dental Care in North Syracuse

For excellent dental care that is truly personalized, call Atwal Dental Care. Dr. Inderpreet Atwal and his team deliver cosmetic and general dental services aimed at healthy and complete smiles for all their patients. Get all your questions about dental implants answered in a thorough but caring manner.

Why not contact the office today? Call (315) 451-1020!