Dental Implants Specialist

Coral Bay Smiles

Dentist located in Fort Lauderdale, FL

A missing tooth is not only unsightly and embarrassing, it increases your chances for gum and bone infections. It can even cause problems with properly chewing and digesting your food. Replacing your missing tooth with a dental implant makes your smile whole again and protects your health. Dr. Grace Lopez and the dedicated staff at Coral Bay Smiles service residents in the Ft. Lauderdale area who need dental implants. Call or email today to replace your missing tooth and smile confidently again.

Dental Implants Q & A

Why do I need to replace a missing tooth?

Dental implants have changed dentistry and the life of many patients! Today’s dental digital technology makes implants very easy to place, pain-free and with a rate of success as high as 98%.

Missing teeth are not just an aesthetic problem. When a tooth is removed or falls out, it leaves the gum and dental bone open to bacterial infection and abscess, which can affect the rest of the teeth and may lead to the loss of more teeth. Missing teeth also cause the physiological effect of causing dental bone and gum to shrink over time.

Missing teeth can cause other problems, such as:

  • Jawbone loss: without the stress of a tooth pressing against the jawbone during chewing, the bone begins to deteriorate
  • Misalignment of remaining teeth: the vacant space allows other teeth to shift position
  • Indigestion: food is not chewed thoroughly enough to promote proper digestion

They can also impair your speech and cause facial distortions.

What are my options for replacing a missing tooth?

Depending on your needs and the health of your remaining teeth, gums and dental bones, you can replace your missing teeth with:

Dentures: Replace the entire upper and/or lower teeth; or, overdentures are fitted over any remaining teeth and implants.

Dental bridges: “Bridge” the space left by missing teeth and are connected to the teeth that are adjacent to the vacant space.

Dental implants: Surgically implanted, biocompatible, natural-looking tooth replacements can last for years and a lifetime.  

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is made of three connected segments:  a strong, biocompatible material, such as titanium, that is implanted into the bone; a connecting metal piece called an abutment; and a prosthesis - a crown, bridge or denture - that replaces your missing or extracted tooth or teeth.  

The metal implant, inserted into the bone, “heals” or bonds with the bone itself, to provide the strength and stability to support the new prosthetic tooth or teeth. The process takes several months, but you’ll have a temporary prosthesis for the healing period.  

What are the advantages of a dental implant?

Conferring many benefits over other tooth replacement types, the dental implant:

  • Completely fills the empty space, thereby preventing infection
  • Looks and feels more natural
  • Keeps your remaining teeth in alignment
  • Causes normal stress on the jawbone to keep the bone healthy
  • Doesn’t damage surrounding teeth, as bridges and overdentures may
  • Can be treated and cleaned like a natural tooth
  • Does not develop cavities
  • Can last years, decades, or a lifetime

If you have a missing tooth and are ready to replace it with a dental implant, call Dr. Lopez and her caring staff. You can also use the convenient email form to contact her office at any time.

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