A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants are an option for people in good general oral health who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, or some other reason. The best candidates for implants have healthy gums and do not have periodontal disease.

Dental implants can:

* Replace a missing tooth without affecting bordering teeth.

* Support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture.

* Provide support for a denture, making it secure and more comfortable.

* Replacing a Single Tooth -- If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it.

* Replacing Several Teeth

-- If you are missing several teeth, implant-supported bridges can replace them. The number of implants for a single span is about half the number of missing teeth; each implant can support up-to two teeth per implant. Replacing All of Your Teeth -- If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant-supported full denture can replace them. Between two to four implants are required for each, top and bottom.

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Dental implants can be placed during a visit of several days. Once completed, the bone must heal for four to six months. Next, the implant will have the abutment attached, and then the crown, bridge or denture can be attached.

Implant

Crown