Boise Tooth Implants: The When, How, and Why

Got some questions about Boise tooth implants? Our Boise dentists will give you the low down so you have all the information you need!

The When of Boise Tooth Implants

When do you need a new tooth? Whenever you’ve lost the adult tooth. You simply shouldn’t leave a gap where your tooth had been for reasons our dentists explain below. In the meantime, how do you end up losing a tooth? Look at the following:

• Tooth lost to decay. This could be from too many cavities or from a root canal, or even an abscess.
• Tooth lost to accident. While our dentists can sometimes reattach a tooth that has been thrown loose, it is not always possible.
• No adult tooth. Sometimes you simply don’t have the adult tooth under the baby tooth (although this is rather rare). In that case, you can keep the baby tooth in as long as possible before getting a dental implant.

The How of Boise Tooth Implants

Image via Flickr by fe_cavallo

Getting Boise tooth implants is a multi-appointment process over several months. First, a Boise dentist will give you a preliminary exam to make sure that your teeth have the room and your roots have the space for a tooth implant. Once that is established, our dentists will schedule an appointment for the implant—this looks like a post that will act as the synthetic “root” of the new implant. It will take several weeks for this to heal before our dentists can add the pretty part of the tooth implants—the shiny new dental crown!

The Why of Tooth Implants

Wondering why tooth implants are so much better than a bridge or a flipper (a flipper is a retainer with an attached crown)? Other methods of replacing a missing tooth don’t have the post that acts as the tooth’s root. As a result, the other teeth (and their roots) get the added strain of needing to make up for this lack. Without the implant post to support and strengthen the jaw, the jaw and surrounding teeth can be severely weakened as well.

So that is when you need an implant, how you get one, and why it is so important. Have more questions? Stop by our Boise office to talk with one of our friendly dentists!