Dental Implants

If you need dental implants, contact Brian Francis DMD, a Billings Dentist here to meet your dental needs.

Dental implants, for those healthy enough to have them, are a wonderful option for the patient with a missing tooth or teeth. Dental implants are perfect for people who have lost a tooth or teeth because of an injury, or periodontal disease. If just one individual tooth is missing, a single implant may be put into place, but, if several teeth are missing, an implant supporting bridge may be constructed to fill the missing teeth. If all of the teeth are missing, an implant supported bridge or a full set of implanted dentures can replace the missing teeth.

The two types of implants are Endosteal and Subperiosteal. The Endosteal implant is planted into the jawbone by a screw, a cylinder, or a blade. The Endosteal implant is the most common type of dental implant used today. The Subperiosteal implant is placed on top of the jaw, and metal posts protrude through the gum into the prosthesis to hold it in place. The Subperiosteal implant is used in patients who are unable to wear traditional dentures, or those patients who have little bone weight capacity in their jawbone and they are unable to hold up an Endosteal implant.

Dental implants are a wonderful addition for those people that need them, but they are not for everyone. A good candidate for a dental implant is in both good physical health as well as good dental health. While periodontal disease may have been the factor that caused the tooth or teeth in question to fall out, the disease should be managed before implants are put into place. This is because the implants do much better in the mouth if they are placed into healthy gum tissue. Also, the jawbone must be in a healthy state to support the implant.

Dental implants require the same amount of care as regular teeth. Because dental implants can accumulate plaque, remember to brush and floss on your regular schedule. Also, after the implants are put into place, regular visits with your dentist will be required to ensure that the dental implant and the gums and jawbone which are supporting it are all in good health.