Dental Implants

Missing teeth ruin your smile, interfere with chewing, and impact your dental health, but take heart because dental implants restore your appearance with a beautiful replacement that looks and acts like your natural tooth. Laura Llanos, DMD, at Llanos Dental Group in Miami Lakes, Florida, recommends dental implants whenever possible, skillfully replacing teeth with a long-lasting solution. Don’t let missing teeth stop you from smiling. Call the office or book an appointment online today to learn if you’re a good candidate for dental implants.

When would I need a dental implant?

Dental implants replace one or more missing teeth. The implant is a small cylinder-shaped post that Dr. Llanos inserts into your jaw. Then she places a dental crown on the implant, creating a new tooth that looks and functions like your original tooth. Dental implants are intended to be a permanent solution.

If you have multiple missing teeth or need a full arch replacement, Dr. Llanos may recommend attaching a bridge to the dental implant or implant-retained dentures.

What are the advantages of dental implants?

Dental implants do an exceptional job of restoring your smile, but they do more than improve your appearance. They also protect your dental health by:

Replacing the tooth root

After Dr. Llanos inserts the post, the jaw bone naturally grows around it, creating a bond that holds it firmly in place. The implant replaces the root, allowing your new tooth to bite or chew with as much strength as the original tooth.

Maintaining jaw strength

Your jaw bone stays strong by slowly removing old, damaged bone and replacing it with new, strong bone. But it takes pressure from your teeth and their roots to stimulate new bone growth.

If you lose a tooth, the jaw bone gradually weakens, leading to loose teeth and affecting your facial shape. Dental implants restore bone regeneration and maintain a strong jaw.

Preserving tooth alignment

When a tooth is missing, the remaining teeth move toward the empty space. Dental implants prevent that misalignment.

What happens when I get a dental implant?

Dental implants at Llanos Dental Group are usually performed over two office visits. During the first visit, Dr. Llanos makes a 3D model of your teeth, which is used to plan your implant and create your customized dental crown.

Dr. Llanos also X-rays your mouth to be sure your jaw is strong enough to support the implant. She may recommend a bone graft to strengthen your jaw if needed. Then she implants the post into your jaw, positioning it so the top of the post is just below your gum line.

After your jaw bone has time to heal and the post is secure, you return to the office. During this visit, Dr. Llanos secures your new crown to the implant.

Once you have a dental implant, the only maintenance needed is the twice-daily brushing and flossing you use to protect your natural teeth.

Dental implants offer the most secure way to restore missing teeth. Call Llanos Dental Group or use the online booking feature today to learn if you’re a good candidate.