Dental Implants in Tacoma & Puyallup WA

What Are Dental Implants?

Implant teeth replacements look, feel, and function like natural teeth.

Dental implants are titanium screws that replace the roots of missing teeth. The roots give support and strength to your teeth when you chew. If you lose or severely damage a tooth, the roots die, and your teeth lose the power to support your bite force. Dental implants replace the comprehensive structure of missing teeth, from the crown to the roots.

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How do Dental Implants Work?

Dental implants are made of titanium, a biocompatible metal. The implant provides a solid foundation to support an artificial tooth or dental restoration when the bonding process is complete. After the implant placement procedure, it will create a permanent bond with the jawbone over a few months through osseointegration. Osseointegration is just a fancy way of saying the process by which an implant fuses with the jawbone.

Dental Implant diagram of the implant, abutment, and crown

Anatomy of a Dental Implant

A dental implant tooth replacement features three main pieces: the implant screw, an abutment, and an artificial crown. The abutment is a small titanium post that holds the artificial crown restoration. The crown is fabricated using digital impressions of your mouth to ensure a natural aesthetic and is usually made of a strong dental ceramic material, like porcelain or zirconia.

Surgical Advances in Dental Implants

Modern surgical advancements enable Dr. Wightman and Dr. Slovan to significantly reduce the traditional treatment timeline necessary for dental implant procedures. For many patients, the extraction and implant placement can occur in the same appointment. State-of-the-art oral scanning and 3D imaging technology provide details regarding each patient’s optimal implant placement location.

Time is of the Essence

After you lose a tooth, your jawbone stops growing and will lose up to 25% bone mass in one year. Dental bridges and removable dentures may serve as a replacement for the visible part of the tooth, but they do not work to replace the roots of your tooth. The magic of dental implants is that they work to retain your natural facial structure for the rest of your life by stimulating healthy jawbone growth and supporting your full bite force.

Even if you are missing most of your teeth, it isn’t too late to restore your teeth and get back a smile that reflects your best self. The longer you wait to address tooth loss and damage, the more likely it is that bone grafting might be recommended before we can place your implants. Call our Tacoma office at Tacoma Office Phone Number 253-473-0651 or our Puyallup office at Puyallup Office Phone Number 253-799-1525 to schedule a dental implant consultation and restore your oral health.

We Can Replace Your Missing Teeth!

Learn about our different options to replace missing teeth. Our compassionate doctors and staff can help improve your smile!

Tacoma: 253-473-0651 Puyallup: 253-799-1525 Request an Appointment