A dental implant is a tooth replacement option made of biocompatible titanium that is used to replace the roots of missing teeth.

The post is surgically placed into the jawbone at the site of the missing tooth. As it heals, the post fuses to the jawbone and becomes a permanent part of your mouth.

Once the implant is stable, we can restore it with a lifelike crown (or other restoration, including bridges and even dentures) to take the place of the missing tooth.

Dental implants are the tooth-replacement solution that is most like your natural teeth. Because the implant replaces the root as well as the visible part of the tooth, it has an advantage that isn’t available with other replacement options. The implant restores the symbiotic relationship between the roots of your teeth and your periodontal bone, which allows the bone to maintain itself and stay strong. This helps to protect the health of your remaining teeth – and even the shape of your face.

You can care for your dental implants and crown restorations just like your natural teeth. While they can’t develop cavities, they can build up plaque, which can affect neighboring teeth and gum tissue. Brush your crown just as you would your other teeth, and return to our office as directed for regular check-ups! 

If you are missing one or more teeth, you’ve probably been carefully considering your options.

Compared to bridges and dentures, dental implants do cost more, which can lead patients to wonder what makes implants so special and why dentists recommend them.

Dental implants have a key feature that makes them a big improvement over a bridge or a denture – the implant post, which is surgically placed in the jawbone. This post actually integrates with the bone and then functions similarly to your natural root. Bridges and dentures are only meant to replace the visible crown of the tooth, so while they complete your smile and help you look better, they don’t help you maintain your long-term dental health.

The root is an important part of your tooth and it actually works hard to help your bone stay strong. When the root is gone, the bone stops maintaining itself, becoming weaker and thinner. In time, this leads to more lost teeth and even changes to the shape of your face.

The dental implant stops this cycle. By functioning like your root, it helps the bone maintain itself and stay strong, protecting the long-term health of your bone and your other teeth. 

Dental Implants in Wausau, WI

Placing a dental implant requires the bone in your jaw to have sufficient quality and quantity. If you’ve been missing teeth for a long time or your tooth was lost to advanced periodontal (gum) disease, the bone in your jaw may be too weak to support an implant.

Don’t despair! This doesn’t necessarily mean that you can never have an implant; it simply means that some extra work is needed to build up the bone and make it strong enough to support an implant.

Bone Grafting

This can be done using certain surgical procedures, such as bone grafting. During bone grafting, donor bone is used to restore lost bone. As it heals, your own bone integrates with the donor bone, creating a stable base that can be used to support an implant.

Sometimes anatomy can make placing a dental implant more challenging. For instance, if we are placing an implant in the upper jaw, sinus cavities can sometimes get in the way. This is why we are so careful to use imaging to assess and evaluate your facial anatomy when we are considering implants. If this is true in your case, however, a procedure called a sinus lift could make you a better candidate.

Contact Us

The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants is to call and schedule an evaluation with Dr. James Kim. He’ll carefully assess your needs and provide you with all your options.