Dental Implants

When a patient is missing one or more teeth, dental implants offer the most natural look, feel, and function to replace a tooth. 

At Aurora Hills Dental, our dentist and team are proud to provide our patients with complete dental implant services — from consultation, preparation, and placement to ongoing care and restoration. 

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a popular option for replacing missing teeth. 

They consist of three parts:

• An anchor that looks similar to a metal screw that is implanted in the patient’s jaw, replacing and mimicking a natural tooth’s roots. 
• An abutment that connects to the anchor and supports the tooth replacement.
• A cap or crown that is permanently fixed to the abutment and looks and functions just like the patient’s missing tooth. 

The Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer the most natural feel, form, and function. Implants also provide patients with jawbone stimulation that prevents the bone deterioration that can occur when teeth are replaced with bridges or dentures that are not supported by dental implants. 

Without a dental implant replacement, the jawbone of a patient who is missing teeth eventually begins to deteriorate and shrink. This can change a person’s appearance and negatively impact the neighboring teeth. 

How Are Dental Implants Used?

In addition to replacing missing teeth, dental implants can also be used to support dental bridges, to permanently fix full dentures inside the mouth with all-on-4 dentures, and to support implant-supported snap-on dentures. 

What To Expect When Getting Dental Implants

The dental implant process begins with a consultation with Dr. Zalesky. During this consultation, he examines your oral structures and also takes digital X-rays in addition to a CBCT scan to evaluate your jawbone mass and density. 

Depending on his findings, Dr. Zalesky then recommends the best tooth replacement option for you. If dental implants are the right option, he can walk you through the process that will be required for you to receive a dental implant. 

Depending on your jawbone’s structure, the process might first begin with receiving a bone graft to strengthen your jawbone and ensure there is adequate bone mass for supporting an implant. 

On the day of your bone graft and/or implant surgery, Dr. Zalesky first administers an anesthetic to ensure you experience no pain or discomfort during the placement process. He then carefully attaches the implants to your jawbone. 

Over a period of roughly six months, your jawbone and the implant undergo a process called osseointegration, during which the jawbone grows around and attaches to the implant, fusing them together. 

Once you are fully healed, Dr. Zalesky then permanently fixes your new crown (tooth replacement) to the abutment of your dental implant. 

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

While dental implants are an excellent option for replacing one or more missing teeth, they are not right for everyone. 

Patients must be free from periodontal disease and willing to stop using tobacco throughout the implant placement process. Patients must also have adequate jawbone mass to support a dental implant and be healthy enough to undergo a surgical procedure under general anesthesia. 

Schedule a Tooth Replacement Consultation With Our Dentist in Aurora

To learn more about dental implants and other tooth replacement options, or to find out if you are a candidate for a dental implant, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Zalesky at Aurora Hills Dental today.