If your teeth are missing, dental implants are the best solution for replacing them. If you have currently been wearing dentures but are tired of how they fit, are worried that they may become loose or are tired of avoiding certain foods – now is an excellent time to consider this secure alternative. While we do replace teeth right away, we can also replace them over time after you have been wearing dentures for a while. The only thing to consider is that after you have lost a tooth, your jaw will go through the process of resorption where the body begins to leach calcium from your jaw to be used elsewhere. This is due to your jaw no longer receiving the stimulation necessary to alert the body that it is doing its job. The sooner you replace your teeth with implants, the less resorption that will occur.Why are implants more secure than dentures?In short, osseointegration. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement that is placed surgically. To complete the procedure, a titanium post is inserted under the gums and secured to the jawbone. The body responds to titanium like it would natural matter so the two will eventually fuse together through the process of osseointegration. This means that the jawbone will be providing the same level of support to your new tooth as it did to your natural one. As a result, you can eat all of your favorite foods, bite down with confidence, run a marathon and even eat a plate of ribs without worrying about your teeth (something that could not happen with dentures).How long does the process take?If you are ready to get started, we encourage you to schedule a dental exam. We will conduct a physical examination to determine if you have any oral health problems that need to be treated first. For example, if you have gum disease, we will need to treat it before getting started. Next, we will take x-rays to determine if you have enough bone density to support an implant. If you do not, we may recommend that you have a bone grafting procedure to strengthen your jaw or that you consider an alternative type of implant. When you are ready for the procedure, we will schedule you for the surgery. It can be completed in a couple of hours and will be done under anesthesia. Understandably, the more implants you need, the longer the surgery will take. Afterward, you will need to recover by being careful of what you eat, taking ibuprofen and using an ice pack to reduce swelling. Once your gums have healed, you can wear a temporary denture until osseointegration has been completed. This can take a couple of months but is worth the wait because it ensures the permanency and stability of your new tooth, which is then attached in our office. Essentially, the total process can take several months to complete but each individual step only takes a couple of hours or less.Dental implants are an ideal solution for tooth loss and we encourage you to learn more if you are struggling with your dentures.[recent-blogs count=4 layout="horizontal" category="dental-implants-cat,dental-implant-candidate-cat,post-op-care-for-dental-implants-cat,the-dental-implant-procedure-cat,dental-implant-surgery-cat,dental-implant-restoration-cat,implant-dentist-cat"]