Missing teeth can have serious consequences. Even one missing tooth can compromise your ability to eat and speak, to say nothing of what happens to your smile. And that’s with only one tooth missing. Needless to say, the consequences are more severe with more teeth missing. Fortunately, dental implants provide a truly lifelike replacement. Dr. Paul Caputo is the dentist Naperville, IL, trusts for dental implants that look and feel natural.
Whether or not to replace missing teeth really isn’t a yes or no question. The answer must be yes. Not replacing teeth may lead to jawbone deterioration (hence that sagging face look in people without teeth), gum disease and a shift in position of the adjacent teeth.
The Dental Implant Process
What makes dental implants different from other tooth replacement options is the fact that with an implant both the crown—the visible portion of a tooth—and the root are placed. If Naperville, IL, dentist Dr. Caputo determines that you are good candidate for dental implants, then the first step is oral surgery to implant a titanium post in the bone beneath the open socket. And dental implants can be used to replace one tooth or to anchor a partial or complete denture. In this case, Dr. Caputo will strategically place the implants so the denture is secure and doesn’t slip.
With time, the post and bone will fuse in a process called osseointegration. This helps to prevent bone loss and provides a stable base for your tooth replacement. When you are fully healed, Dr. Caputo will attach an abutment and crown (or the irremovable denture) to the post, and your smile and your confidence will be renewed.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you would like to learn more about how dental implants can restore your smile, call our office and set up an appointment with Dr. Caputo, the dentist Naperville, IL, knows and trusts. We also serve patients from the areas of Bolingbrook, Aurora, Plainfield, Romeoville, and all of northwestern Illinois.