Dental Implants

Dental implants – “nearly natural” tooth replacement in Louisville, CO

Have missing teeth left a noticeable gap in your smile or a lisp in your speech? Have you struggled with the stability of a partial denture or the task of keeping a bridge clean? You deserve the natural look, feel, function, and freedom of dental implants. This long-lasting choice for missing teeth replacement is available in Louisville, CO at Boulder Valley Dental Center.

What Is A Dental Implant?

Dental implants can be used to replace one tooth, anchor a dental bridge, or as part of a comprehensive dental reconstruction plan, to secure a cosmetic hybrid denture. Results are permanent and stable and can be cared for just like your natural teeth.

When replacing a single tooth, a dental implant serves as a prosthetic tooth. It consists of three basic parts – implant, abutment, and crown restoration – which together mimic natural tooth structure.

One of the key elements of a tooth implant is the titanium post. (Zirconia implants are also available for patients who prefer a metal-free option.) The screw-shaped device is placed into and becomes fused with jawbone, effectively replacing the tooth root. This is beneficial in several ways:

• Stabilizes bone tissue in the jaw and reduces bone loss
• Maintains the shape and appearance of the jaw
• Supports a permanently secured dental crown for normal function

Implants can also be used to provide superior stability for a denture. Full mouth dental implants attach to points on the denture to hold it in place. The implants also stimulate healthy bone growth in the jaw, essential after losing a full arch of teeth.

What is the dental implant procedure?

Placing dental implants is a multi-step process. The integrity of your result is highly dependent on treatment planning and optimal healing of tissues between stages.

Dr. Hughes meets with you to create a personalized treatment plan that takes into consideration your oral health and cosmetic needs. The Boulder Valley Dental Center team coordinates surgical placement and follow-up (to ensure proper healing) with a local oral surgeon.

Once gum tissues and bone have healed completely, which typically takes three to six months, a connector or abutment is attached, and impressions are taken for your dental crown. In many cases, a temporary crown can be placed to help you adapt to your new implant and resume a normal diet if it has been adjusted or restricted.

When the lab has finished fabricating your porcelain dental crown, Dr. Hughes permanently attaches it, sending you home with a beautiful new smile.

Why do Louisville, CO patients love dental implants?

Although dental implants represent an initial investment of time and money, most patients agree that the long-term advantages and overall comfort of their restorations far outweigh these costs.

• The success rate is over 95 percent
• Reduces bone loss in the jaw
• An implant bridge does not require grinding down adjacent teeth
• No special daily maintenance – just brush and floss daily
• Allows normal diet and speech

The development of dental implants has transformed tooth replacement. Today, patients in Boulder, Broomfield, and Lafayette have an option that is as secure and comfortable as a natural tooth.

At Boulder Valley Dental Center in Louisville, CO, dental implants are definitely something to smile about. Call 303-732-5388 to book a consultation with Dr. Hughes.