Buck Dental Health Associates FAQs

Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. There are many advantages to dental implants. Some of those advantages consist of improved appearance, improved speech, improved comfort, convenience, easier eating, and overall improved oral health. To get the dental implants Lancaster, PA loves, contact us today.

In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered a candidate for dental implants in Lancaster, PA. Generally, the patient should have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. Most importantly, the patient MUST be committed to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Dental implants require the same care as real teeth, including brushing, flossing, rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash, and regular dental check-ups. Heavy smokers and people suffering from uncontrolled chronic disorders or people who have had radiation therapy to the head/neck area need to be evaluated on an individual basis.

After you and your dentist establish the appropriate treatment plan that is best for you, the dental implant is placed. The tooth root implant, which is a small post made of titanium, is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post, anchoring it securely in the jaw. This healing process can take between six and 12 weeks, or even longer.

Once the implant has bonded to the jawbone, a small connector post called an abutment is attached to the post to securely hold the new tooth. The new tooth is prepped by making impressions of your teeth. This creates a model of your bite, capturing all of your teeth, their type, and their arrangement. The new tooth, called a crown, is then attached to the abutment. Instead of one or more individual crowns, some patients may have attachments placed on the implant that retain and support a removable denture.

Get the dental implants Lancaster, PA residents trust by contacting us today.

Because dental implants are designed to fit the structure of your natural teeth, they provide a highly stable support, resulting in the following benefits:

• They replace one or more teeth without affecting adjacent teeth
• They support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture
• They provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable

If you're looking for the affordable dental implants Lancaster, PA recommends, turn to Buck Dental Health Associates.

For your dental implants in Lancaster, PA, treatment will usually be performed by a general dentist, oral surgeon, prosthodontist, periodontist, or a team of these doctors.

To devise the best treatment plan for you, we first complete a medical and dental history and a thorough oral examination with x-rays.

Once that is complete, a member of your team surgically places the implant in the jaw with the top of the implant just above the top of the bone. Generally, three to six months or more is allowed for the bone tissue to grow around the implant and hold it securely in place.

Immediately after surgery, we will give you specific post-surgical instructions to assure the best possible healing. In addition, we may prescribe pain medication and in some cases antibiotics to aid in the healing process and help alleviate any discomfort. At this time, you may be fitted with temporary dentures or natural-looking teeth to help you function as normally as possible. You will need to follow important dietary and oral hygiene instructions. Once the jawbone has firmly healed around the implant, a small post is attached to each implant. The post protrudes through the gum line and serves as an anchor for the replacement tooth. After your gums have fully healed, the replacement teeth or dentures are securely attached to the posts.