Dental implants are becoming a common way for patients with tooth loss to replace their teeth and restore their smile’s beauty, health, and function. Here at the Sultan Center for Oral Facial Surgery, Dr. Leslie Sultan has been performing dental implant placement for years. From simple cases to complex ones, he knows the ins and outs of placing and restoring dental implants to replace missing teeth. His practice is here to help you find a solution for your smile that fits your needs, and may often recommend dental implants to patients who are appropriate candidates with sufficient bone structure for successful placement.
What is a dental implant?
First and foremost, patients will want to understand what the dental implant is. This particular restoration is often made of titanium, a metal that is biocompatible with the body. The implant acts as a tooth root replacement. During oral surgery, it is inserted into the bone of the jaw and the gums are sutured. A healing process needs to occur over several weeks before a restoration is placed over the implant. This allows osseointegration to happen. Osseointegration is the natural building of bone around a dental implant to solidify it in place for proper form and function. Once healed, a dentist will restore the dental implant with a crown, bridge, or denture depending on the patient’s unique situation.
Are dental implants safe?
As with any type of surgery and implant procedure, many patients have questions about whether or not the placement of these restorations is safe. Placing a metal piece in the body might leave some patients unsure about undergoing the procedure. Titanium is a metal commonly used for other types of implants throughout the body for several decades and are considered safe and appropriate. Only 4% of the population will have an allergic reaction. In cases such as this, patients might be better suited for an alternative material known as zirconium which is just as effective at fusing to the bone as titanium implants are. The procedure is highly successful and extremely predictable, reducing the risk of complications in many patients.
Call Sultan Center for Oral Facial Surgery today to book an appointment
If you have been advised by your dentist that you could benefit from the placement of a dental implant to replace one or more teeth, it’s time to speak to an oral surgeon such as Dr. Leslie Sultan. The office is located in Fort Lauderdale, FL at 4800 North Federal Highway #201 and can be reached by calling (954) 771-8772.