Restore Your Smile With Dental Implants

Losing a tooth is an unfortunate, detrimental occurrence which can cause several unfortunate side effects like sagging facial skin and bone atrophy. However, tooth loss no longer has to be permanent. Dental implants can replace a missing tooth, several missing teeth, or even hold an entire arch of replacement teeth in place. Find out more about dental implants and how they can help you with Dr. Stephen DeFusco and Dr. Heba Alani in Pittsburgh, PA and serving the Bloomfield area.

Understanding Dental Implants 
The easiest way to understand and visualize a dental implant is by understanding its three separate parts:

• Fixture: The implant’s fixture is the part of the implant which sits inside of the jawbone beneath your missing tooth. This titanium, screw-like object is small in stature but provides a super-sturdy foundation for your replacement tooth.
• Abutment: The implant’s abutment connects the fixture to the prosthetic tooth, securely holding them together and allowing for easy maintenance of the prosthetic.
• Prosthetic: The prosthetic is usually a crown, bridge, or denture, held in place with the implant fixture and attached to it with the abutment, The prosthetic is custom-made in a dental laboratory for your smile. This provides a natural look.

Who is a good candidate for dental implants? 
Losing a tooth may seem like its biggest effect is the gap in your smile. However, it comes with other, less obvious side effects, too. Missing teeth cause bone atrophy or the degradation of the bone in which your tooth once set due to lack of stimulation. Implants require an adequate amount of bone in which to sit, meaning patients with minimal bone atrophy make the best candidates for dental implants. Additionally, patients should have a strong at-home oral care routine to keep their implants safe and healthy. This should consist of brushing twice daily and flossing once between bi-annual dental visits. Since the number one cause of implant rejection is bad oral care, these few daily steps are crucial to maintaining the health of your implant.

Dental Implants in Pittsburg and Bloomfield
For more information on dental implants, please contact Dr. DeFusco and Dr. Alani in Pittsburgh, PA and serving the Bloomfield area. Call (412) 688-8446 to schedule an appointment with Dr. DrFusco or Dr. Alani today!