There is a certain feeling each of us has when we look into the mirror and feel really confident about our appearance. It "sets the mood" for our day or social function. Simply stated, our personal confidence can dramatically affect our lives.

Unfortunately, missing teeth, medically known as edentulism, keeps many people from "feeling their best". Edentulism not only affects your self-confidence, but also has a dramatic impact on the quality of your life.

• Edentulism may limit your choice of foods and therefore your nutrition and general health.
• Can make you feel isolated either socially or on the job.
• Can effect relationships with loved ones.
• Also leads to bone loss making the "fitting? of traditional dentures difficult or impossible
• If not treated, partial edentulism, that is missing some of your teeth, can place stress on the remaining teeth requiring them to "do more work". This can lead to further tooth loss.

For years the best solutions for missing teeth were bridges, removable partial or full dentures. For centuries man has endeavored to find a more natural replacement for missing teeth. Modern, space age materials have allowed that quest to become a reality. Todays dental implant is possible because of these materials combined with years of research and clinical trials. The dental implant is truly the most natural solution for missing teeth.

But what exactly is a dental implant?

Implants are artificial tooth root that is made titanium, which is placed into your jawbone to hold a replacement tooth, or bridge closest is shape and size to the natural tooth root. After application of anesthesia, your dentist will expose the area of the jawbone to be implanted and prepare the bone to accept the implant. The number of incisions and bone preparations depends upon the number of implants (and teeth) being placed. The implant is carefully set into place and the gums are closed with several stitches. The healing period usually varies from as few as 3 to 6 months or more. The bone grows in and around the implant creating a strong structural support. When healing is complete, your implant is uncovered and an extension is attached onto which your new tooth or teeth are attached. Implants restore proper chewing function and so you can enjoy food.

• You feel confident that your replacement teeth won?t move or loosen.
• You regain the closest thing to the look, feel and function of your natural teeth.
• Forget about unsightly partial denture clasps, which place damaging pressure on remaining natural teeth.
• Eliminate irritated and painful gums.

• Improve your speech by eliminating or reducing the "fullness" of full or partial dentures.
• Replace missing teeth with the look and feel of natural teeth without having to "cut down" healthy teeth.

• Dental implants help stop the progressive bone loss and shrinkage of your jawbone by "mimicking" the roots of natural teeth.

• Dental implants are clinically proven with a success rate in excess of 90%.

Clearly dental implants are one of the finest treatment options dentistry has to offer. With their ability to improve the quality of your life and health it's easy to understand why they have become the accepted alternative to traditional methods of replacing missing teeth.