Dental Implants

Dental implants can replace one or more missing teeth to complete your smile and help you regain full function. At Conshohocken Dental Care in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, Neemi Lama Sherpa, DMD, and the experienced team specialize in implant dentistry and can help improve your oral health. To see if you can benefit from implants, call the office or book an appointment online today.

Why is it so important to replace missing teeth?

Missing teeth can affect your self-confidence but also your oral health. Since your natural teeth stimulate the underlying bone tissue through chewing and biting, it can cause problems if that stimulation is lost. 

Stimulation is important to keep your bones healthy and strong. Without it, your jawbone can start to wear away (a process called resorption). This process can cause tooth loss, shifting teeth, and oral infections. 

If you have one or more missing teeth, it might also affect your quality of life. You might not be able to enjoy your favorite foods and find yourself changing speech patterns to accommodate missing teeth. 

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are metal posts that are surgically inserted into the underlying bone where you have missing teeth. You can have one implant or use a system like All-on-4®, which can replace your upper or lower arch with artificial teeth using just four implanted posts. 

The implants act as your tooth root and provide a foundation to support restorations like crowns, bridges, and dentures. 

Many people choose dental implants over dentures as it allows them to speak and eat confidently. Dentures can slip and slide and may cause a lisp. 

What is the process for getting dental implants?

Dental implants require planning in order to be successful. Your dentist at Conshohocken Dental Care uses digital imaging to view the structures of your bone tissue and teeth in detail before letting you know if you’re a candidate for implants. Some people may not be candidates for the treatment. 

Getting dental implants requires you to have adequate bone density to support implants. You might also need a dental procedure such as bone grafting or gum disease treatment to ensure the process is smooth.  

If you proceed with dental implants, your dentist creates a personalized treatment plan with specialized software that helps them efficiently plan for implant placement.

On the day of your procedure, you receive numbing medication and your dentist makes an incision in your gums. They create a small pilot hole to place the metal post into your jawbone, and finish by closing your gums around the implants. Your bone tissue fuses with the dental implants after a few weeks later, and you return to the office for custom restorations to complete your treatment. 

To learn more about dental implants, call Conshohocken Dental Care or book an appointment online today.