Wondering what dental implants are and how they treat tooth loss? Your dentist has the answers. 

Has our Victorville, CA, dentist, Dr. Fahed Hattar, told you that you’re an ideal candidate for dental implants, a popular tooth restoration that replaces the roots of your missing teeth? If so, you may have questions. Here are some of the most common questions that we answer on a regular basis regarding dental implants:

What causes tooth loss? 

While it’s normal to lose teeth as a child, losing permanent teeth is a serious issue that may be caused by:

• Severe decay
• Traumatic injury
• Gum disease
• Systemic health problems

When are dental implants a good option for replacing missing teeth? 

As you will discover, most adults dealing with tooth loss could be candidates for dental implants. Implants are able to replace everything from a single missing tooth to an entire row of missing teeth. As long as you are a healthy adult with enough bone density to support the implant, our Victorville, CA, dentist can deem that you are an ideal candidate for implants.

How does an implant work? 

An implant is a small metal post that is no longer than 16mm. This titanium screw serves as an artificial tooth root, but in order to function like a tooth root, this means that our dentists will need to place the implant into the jawbone where the missing tooth used to be. This is done through minor in-office surgery and it usually only takes about 30 minutes to place a single implant.

How long do they last? 

You’ll be hard-pressed to find anything as durable as a dental implant. In fact, once the implant is placed into the jawbone it becomes a permanent part of the jawbone by naturally integrating with bone and tissue. Therefore, as long as you maintain good oral hygiene and keep your implant clean you could end up having your implant the rest of your life.

What is the success rate? 

Implants are incredibly successful, and while their success rates will be based on where they are placed along the jawbone, most implants offer a success rate of anywhere from 90-95 percent over a 10-year span.

How long will my entire implant treatment take? 

The length of treatment will vary from patient to patient and will be based on a variety of factors including your age, health, and the number of implants being placed. Implant treatment can range from about six to 12 months.

Need dental work? Give us a call

Dr. Hattar is your trusted dentist in the Victorville, CA, area. If you are dealing with tooth loss call our office today at (760) 243-3595 to find out if dental implants are right for you.