Prompt and effective tooth replacement is important for not only your dental health, but for overall quality of life. Although there are many options today for replacing one or more lost teeth, dental implants provide the most natural looking and functioning results with the highest rate of overall patient satisfaction. Other restorations may require costly touch-ups and replacement over the years. With proper dental care and good oral hygiene, a dental implant can last a lifetime.
Hunt Valley, MD dentist Dr. Roham Rafat can restore a functional, stable and lasting smile with dental implants. He is one of the most highly trained periodontists in the Hunt Valley area offering complete implant dentistry services. While many dentists restore dental implants, Dr. Rafat offers complete treatment from the surgical placement of the implant through the cosmetic restoration.
Dental Implant Procedure
Dr. Rafat will first perform a comprehensive evaluation then create a personalized dental implant treatment plan. The entire implant process usually takes six to eight months, and most patients don’t experience a disruption to their daily lives. For most patients, the dental implant procedure involves two parts:
Placement of the implant – The first step is the surgical placement of the dental implant. Dr. Rafat will place the dental implant, a tiny titanium post, into the jaw bone. A dental implant actually replaces the root of the missing tooth. Through the process of osseointegration, the dental implant fuses to form a stable bond to the bone. The healing process can take several months. Depending on your case and the position of the missing tooth or teeth, a temporary dental crown may be placed in the mouth while the dental implant heals.
Dental Implant Restoration – The second part of the dental implant procedure involves the implant restoration. Once the dental implant has healed and integrated with the surrounding bone, Dr. Rafat will uncover the dental implant and attach an abutment. The replacement tooth or teeth will be attached to the abutment to restore beauty and function. For a single missing tooth, Dr. Rafat will use a dental crown and for multiple missing teeth, he may use a dental bridge or denture.