Dental implants allow the team at KRB Dentistry to mount replacement teeth or a bridge in the area where you’re missing teeth.

If you’re missing teeth, Dr. Kauser Bari or one of her associates uses a titanium post as a replacement for the tooth’s root (which is the part of the tooth under the gums that holds it in place). Each post is surgically positioned into your jawbone beneath your gum line.

Dental implants serve as more stable alternatives to dentures because implants are fixed, meaning they don’t come on and off for cleanings or loosen the way dentures sometimes do.

The type of implant Dr. Bari recommends for you depends on your specific case. KRB Dentistry offers the following options:

• Endosteal implants: Endosteal implants are shaped like small screws and placed in your jawbone. Dr. Bari places the implant at the time of the extraction to prevent the need for an additional surgery or procedures.
• Subperiosteal implants: Subperiosteal dental implants are placed either on or above your jaw bone and under your gum. This type of implant is used when you don’t have enough healthy natural jawbone and are trying to avoid, or can’t undergo, a bone augmentation procedure.

The dental implant procedure often takes several months to complete and involves four main steps.

As the first step, Dr. Bari or one of her colleagues surgically places the implant into your jawbone. In the case of an immediate implant, the implant is placed in the socket, or in place of the root, or in the area where the tooth is removed from, as soon as it’s extracted.

The second step is the healing process. Also called osseointegration, this stage requires you to wait for your jaw bone to grow around your implant to hold your implant in place. On average, osseointegration takes several months to complete.

Dr. Bari often recommends a diet of soft, cold foods and warm soup during the healing process and prohibits smoking or drinking of alcoholic beverages during this time.

Once the healing process is complete, you’re fitted for your custom-made crowns, bridges, or dentures. It often takes around two weeks for your replacement teeth to be created in a lab. A temporary crown is placed to help you eat speak and function normally while you wait.

When your permanent crown arrives at KRB Dentistry, one of the dentists ensures it’s the right size, shape, color, and fit for a comfortable and natural-looking result. In this final step, it’s important to tell the dentist if the occlusion or bite is incorrect, so they can ensure you won’t have problems with chewing later.

Dental implants look and feel like your natural teeth. With proper care, your dental implants can last a lifetime and help you retain your natural face shape and smile. Notably, most crowns — appliances placed on top of the implant — require replacement after 10-15 years.