Dental Implants Give You A Third Chance

byAlma Abell

A person is given two chances with his or her teeth; baby teeth which are expected to fall out and be replaced with the only set of permanent teeth anyone will get; up until now. It was not too many years ago that when a person lost one or more of their permanent teeth they were facing a dental appliance such as a bridge, partial plate or full denture.

A dentist in Northampton PA now has another alternative, dental implants. These implants look like and feel like the real thing, a third tooth or teeth. The other methods mentioned eventually result in a loss of bone mass in the jaw which changes the shape and appearance of the face, with implants, this is not the case.

An implant consists of a titanium screw that is imbedded directly into the bone of the jaw. After a period of time, a couple of months, the bone has grown around the implanted screw, making it one with the jaw bone. At this time, a crown is placed on top of the screw and the result is a perfectly natural looking tooth that acts no different than the real thing, it can stand up to the same biting and chewing forces as a natural tooth.

Dental implants can be a single tooth or an anchor for a non-removable bridge when more than one tooth is missing or anchors for full removable dentures. The key to a successful dental implant is the amount of bone the patient has left to insert the titanium implant and keep it in position. The dentist in Northampton PA will make this determination, in many cases, if there is insufficient bone, a bone graft can be made.

The procedure is not all that complex; once the dentist has determined that an implant is an acceptable form of treatment the gum is opened and the jaw bone prepared for the implant. Once the implant is in place, the gum is stitched and after a few months the crown can be placed on the implant, which by now is firmly fixed in the jaw. During the treatment period, a temporary tooth can be fitted as the implant heals. When the process is completed, the patient will have regained a healthy, attractive smile.

If you are looking for a dentist in Northampton PA that is skilled in dental implants then you are invited to contact Curmacia Dental. There is no longer a need to feel self-conscious about your smile. Visit