Dental Implants and You

Missing teeth: you’ve noticed the impact they have on your smile’s aesthetics, the way you speak and the way you digest your food. There’s an answer to your problem: dental implants. Tammy Perison, DDS Family and Cosmetic Dental Care in West Seneca, New York would like to help you with any questions you have. Here are some of the basics:

What exactly is a dental implant?

A dental implant is an oral appliance that combines a biocompatible titanium pin with a crown to replace both your tooth roots and your natural tooth. Dental implants are permanent and usually last for several years. Its development is one of the largest advances in dentistry in the past 40 years.

What is the process of getting a dental implant?

Depending on your needs, you may need some preparatory treatments. Dr. Tammy Perison will be able to assess what is right for you. When it comes time for the dental implant, this may be just one procedure, or it may need to be divided into two parts:

Phase One: Dr. Tammy Perison will implant the titanium pin into your gumline. Depending on a host of factors, we may be able to install the implant at the same time.

There may need to be an interim between the time the titanium is implanted and the time before your full, permanent dental implant can be installed. Why? Your body needs time for osseointegration. This means that the bone in your mouth needs to adapt to the titanium and tighten around it, or in other words, integrate it with your gums and jaw, as if it were a natural part of your body. We might be able to attach a temporary crown to the post to help with daily activities while you heal.

Phase Two: Dr. Tammy Perison will install your custom-made implant onto the post into your mouth.

Want more information? Give us a call at 716-674-5256.