What is dental implant?

• It's an artificial tooth root; made of titanium metal. Dentist places it into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. It is a permanent fixture in your mouth that has excellent long-term success.
• It also provides more advanced opitions for replacing a missing tooth than conventional removable partial denture or a fixed bridge.
• It helps to preserve healthy teeth and eliminate the risk or dental decay.

What are benefits of an implant?

• Replaces one or more teeth without affecting neighboring teeth. So basically, it keeps a one tooth problem a one tooth problem. Can eliminate putting stress or crowning on adjacent teeth as required for fixed bridge crowns.
• Prevents drifiting and shifting of the neighboring teeth which can cause unbalance bite.
• A long lasting solution (studies have shown that implant will outlast a root canal treatment).
• Helps prevent a bone resorption. Without having a root or implant in the bone, your extraction site will loss bone thickness and height.
• Unlike a natural tooth, there is no risk of dental decay.
• Improves your speech and overall self-image. Implant crown will look similar to your natural teeth.
• Most importantly, implant will increase your ability to eat an array of foods. Can chew in similar fashion as a natural tooth. Will improve your digestion and overall health.

Do I qualify for dental implant?

• Implant is more successful for a healthy patient who is a non-smoker and have good oral hygiene. Smoking, diabetes, or teeth grinding/clenching can affect the longevity.
• Without taking x-rays and doing a proper exam, it will be a guess work. Please call our office for an implant consultation to see if you are a good candidate for implants.  Dr. Joo has being performing implant procedure since 2003 and will be able to give you his experienced opinion.