Even with the best dental hygiene practices and ongoing professional care, it’s entirely possible to break or chip a tooth, or to experience another problem with your teeth that requires one to be removed. There are a variety of solutions when it comes to making up for missing or broken teeth; dental implants provide some of the best long-term benefits.

While they aren’t right for every situation or every patient, your dentist can help you determine if a dental implant is the best procedure for you. Dr. Chris Leong has helped many patients through the dental implant process in his Cochrane office, and his team will make sure you fully understand the procedure before any work begins.

How a Dental Implant Works

While a general practice dentist can advise and recommend prior to a dental implant procedure, and will secure your final denture, crown, or bridge into place, the actual implant procedure will be performed by a periodontist—a doctor who specializes in the gums and bones surrounding your teeth. The implant itself requires minor surgery performed on an outpatient basis, generally giving patients no more discomfort than the placement of a filling.

During the implant surgery, a titanium post will be set into the bone that formerly held your natural tooth’s root. It can take three to four months for the implant to heal properly in place, and the periodontist who performed your surgery will ensure that the post is properly secured and ready to support the chewing and biting functions you’ll need.

Once your implant has been approved as fully-healed and ready, you can return to Bow View Dental Care’s Cochrane office, where an impression of the post and the surrounding teeth will be taken. This impression will be used to make a custom denture, bridge, or tooth, which Dr. Leong will affix to the post and ensure a comfortable, fully-functional fit. This will give you the longest-lasting, most natural feeling replacement for a lost or broken tooth that is currently available.

Talking to Your Dentist About a Dental Implant

Your dentist should be able to answer any questions you have regarding a dental implant, especially if you’re already a patient at Bow View Dental Care. If your current Cochrane-area dentist doesn’t perform dental implant procedures, or if you would like to speak to another dentist to get their opinion on the matter, please feel free to contact our office for an appointment. We can evaluate your missing or broken tooth, go over the details of an implant, and make sure you know all of your options before you bite the bullet.

From general dental care to more advanced procedures, including dental implants, you can always count on Bow View Dental Care for an approachable and understanding dentist and dental hygienist team. Please contact us today if you’re experiencing any oral health issues, would like to learn more about any of the services we provide, or if you’re due for a dental checkup. We’re here to help with all of your dentistry needs!