Implants Specialist
-
- Tweet
Claire V. Williams, DMD
General Dentist & Family Dentist located in St Louis, MO
Are you missing a tooth and want to replace that tooth with one that will last you decades? If so, make your appointment with skilled general dentist Claire V. Williams, DMD, at her comfortable office in Creve Coeur in St. Loius, Missouri. She can replace your missing tooth or teeth with dental implants. Implants are stronger than a natural tooth root and will never require a root canal or filling. If you have any questions regarding dental implants, call the office or schedule your appointment online today.
Implants Q & A
What are dental implants?
Dental implants provide an exceptional way to preserve your dental health by replacing a missing tooth with a durable ceramic crown that’ll help mimic the look, feel, and structure of a natural tooth. That crown is mounted on a metal post that’s implanted in your jawbone. That post serves as the root for the replacement tooth so that it looks and feels just like a natural tooth.
Whether you’re missing a tooth or have a broken or decayed tooth, dental implants could be the key to improving your oral health.
There are multiple advantages to having dental implants, including:
- Improved ability to speak
- Aesthetically pleasing smile
- Durability: they can last a lifetime
- Bone health: they protect your jaw bone from atrophy
If you don’t replace your missing tooth or teeth, your surrounding teeth can shift and become misaligned. Additionally, 25% of your supporting jaw bone structure is lost within the first year; over the years this progressively worsens.
What can I expect during the dental implant procedure?
Dr. Williams uses a local anesthetic around your surgical site to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure. Following this, she makes a small incision into your gum pocket where she inserts a titanium rod into your upper or lower jaw bone. She then stitches up the incision, and it takes 2 to 5 months for your bone to fuse with the rod.
Once the implant and jawbone are fused, Dr. Williams places an abutment onto your implant. This is where your new tooth, called a crown, will be permanently attached.
What can I expect after receiving dental implants?
You should take care of your implant the same way you would your natural teeth through daily brushing and flossing in addition to semiannual dental check-ups. By doing this, your implant can last a lifetime.
Dr. Williams recommends you rest and don’t engage in any strenuous activity for the first 24 hours following your procedure. Some side effects of this procedure may include minor bleeding, swelling, pain, or bruising of your gums. Nonetheless, these symptoms should subside within the first two days.
If you’re missing teeth and would like to learn more about dental implants, call Claire V. Williams, DMD, today.
