Oral Surgeon

Dental implants are one of the most common procedures in tooth repair and replacement. An implant is generally made of titanium and actually replaces the root of a lost or diseased tooth. The tooth is first removed from the jaw and then the implant is placed into the bone. This procedure allows for the placement of a new artificial tooth or even a series of teeth that look completely natural. The increased use of Dental Implants in Brentwood has allowed endodontists and oral surgeons to create beautiful and natural-looking tooth replacements.

The history of dental implants dates back hundreds of years. It is believed that the Maya civilization and the ancient Egyptians used portions of shell to replace broken or missing teeth. The 1950s saw increased testing of the implantation process using rabbits as test subjects. Implants were integrated with femur bones in the rabbit test subjects. The practice of implanting metal like titanium into the jaw of a patient has led to the ability to create new and more comfortable artificial teeth. The bone that encases the titanium “root” will cause osseointegration with the metal. Although they might not feel exactly like your own natural teeth, dental implants are as close as you can get to your original smile.

Dentists who place Dental Implants in Brentwood have the ability to use these implants as an anchor-point for other orthodontic corrections. Because the tooth that is attached to the implant does not pull against other teeth, providing a straight and uniform smile is achieved more quickly. Since it does take a bit more time for implanted areas to heal, dentists usually allow six to eight months for complete recovery from larger implantation surgeries. The surgery is accomplished in several stages and does require some sedation of the patient. Dental implants are beneficial to patients with severe tooth damage or decay. They provide the necessary replacement teeth without the use of dentures or "partials".