Dental implants are used to replace a missing tooth or teeth. An implant is like an artificial tooth root, and is placed into the jawbone where a tooth has been lost. One or more implants can be used, depending on how many teeth have been lost and the size of the space.
After a time of healing (usually a few months) an artificial tooth is attached to the implant. This can be an excellent way of replacing a missing tooth or teeth, because other teeth are not involved in the treatment. Implants can also be used to make dentures more stable and stay in the mouth better so that they behave more little natural teeth. Treatment takes between six to twelve months to complete.
Not everyone has the right jaw structure for implants, and you will need to be checked by your dentist to see if this is the right option for you.
How much do implants cost?
Because of the variety of options available there are also considerable variations in price. Your dentist will be happy to discuss the options with you. Although they are expensive ($4-5,000) there are now hundreds of thousands of implants that have been in place for 25 years, and techniques are improving all the time to increase the lifespan.