Cosmetic dentistry procedures are the key to helping patients face the world with smiles as bright as their vibrant personalities. There are procedures to correct every problem, including teeth whitening, bonding, veneers, reshaping, and crown lengthening. Perhaps one of the most life changing cosmetic dentistry procedures available, however, is the placement of dental implants.

Edentulous patients are much less common now than they once were. Only a century ago, about half of all adults in North America were toothless, but today less than 10% of adults over 65 have lost teeth. Those patients used to have only one recourse: dentures and partial bridges. Now, however, cosmetic dental procedures allow for the replacement of missing teeth at the roots. These implants are typically made from titanium and are remarkably durable.

The Basic Procedure

Essentially, dental implant procedures are all the same. A durable titanium implant is placed into the bone socket where the jawbone grows around it, anchoring the implant into place. An abutment is then attached to the implant and a crown, or replacement tooth, is attached to the abutment. The implants look and function exactly like teeth as they are permanent and do not need to be removed for eating or sleeping. There are also mini implants dental patients can have placed which are only two or three millimeters in size and that are typically used for patients missing only one or two teeth.

Variations on a Theme

Dental implant cosmetic dental procedures are amazing enough in and of themselves. However, certain advancements have been made within the field that have allowed patients to have even more convenience in their procedures. Some dentists offer teeth in an hour or teeth in a day procedures which expedite the process. In a standard dental implant procedure, six to 12 weeks pass between the time the implant is placed and the time the abutment is attached. In teeth in an hour treatments or teeth in a day treatments, that waiting time is skipped, allowing patients to leave the office with full implants in only one day.

Another variation is the placement of all on four dental implants. All on four procedures are only available for edentulous patients and allow the placement of full bridges using only eight total implants. Basically, four implants are placed on the top gums and four are placed on the bottom gums, each of which help support a full row of new teeth.

Of all the cosmetic dental procedures available to patients, dental implants are among the most life changing for patients. They restore the ability to eat, sleep, and function comfortably while providing the confidence only a great smile can bring. Though cosmetic dentistry procedures can be expensive, usually costing between $5000 and $6000, and are not usually covered by insurance, most patients receiving implants feel that the cost is well worth the reward. The restoration of comfort and confidence doesn’t have a price tag. See this link for more references: www.dentalimplantsventura.com