Are You a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Dental implants provide patients who are missing one or more teeth great smiles that look, feel, and act completely natural. Dr. Joseph Sullivan, Dr. Jeffrey Turner, and Dr. Rav Darji place these exceptional artificial teeth during simple, in-office surgeries in their Camden County office, producing results that make people feel good about themselves. Could you be a candidate for dental implants?

What is a dental implant?

A single-tooth implant has three basic parts: a titanium screw inserted into the jaw, a metal abutment which extends above the gums, and a lifelike porcelain crown to top it all off. Through a natural bonding process known as osseointegration, bone cells adhere to the implant, forming a super-strong foundation for the rest of the prosthetic tooth. Though osseointegration takes many weeks, it greatly improves jaw bone strength, size, and density, while also avoiding the bone loss which usually weakens the jaw after extraction.

Dental implants also stabilize full dentures and secure fixed bridgework. A healthy jaw readily accepts implants, and implant sites stay healthy provided that there is regular brushing and flossing alongside in-office check-ups/cleanings. The Institute for Dental Implant Awareness states that with proper care, most implants remain in place for a lifetime and do not adversely impact the position or integrity of surrounding natural teeth as conventional tooth replacements often do.

Do you qualify?

If you are missing one or even all of your teeth, dental implants could be just what you need. Your Camden County dentist will examine your overall oral health, existing teeth, gum tissue, and bone. Sufficient bone density is required, and if it's lacking, your dentist can build it up with donor tissue.

Additionally, non-smokers fare better with dental implant placement than tobacco users do, as cigarette smoke actually burns and degrades bone and gum tissue around dental implants, causing dangerous peri-implantitis. This infection resembles periodontitis, or gum disease, and may require the dentist to remove the implant.

Find out more

At Sullivan & Turner LLC, your dentists and support staff love answering questions about state-of-the-art procedures such as dental implants. Our Camden County office is a full-service practice, meaning that every step of your dental implant procedure will take place with the people you know and trust. Call the office today at (856) 784-3440 and arrange your personal consultation!