Replace Missing Teeth with Functional and Life-like Dental Implants

Have you lost one or two teeth in Riverside, California? Stop hiding your mouth when laughing. Dental implants from Gerald Middleton DDS provide a functional and aesthetic solution for tooth loss. Securely anchored in the jawbone, dental implants placed by Drs. Gerald Middleton and Adria Cate don’t shift, move, or wobble when eating or speaking. Dental implants remain firmly “rooted” in the jawbone for life like your natural teeth, providing durable functional and cosmetic benefits. 

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a titanium post surgically inserted in the jawbone to support a crown, denture, or bridge. The dental implant fixture doesn’t work alone — above it is an abutment that links it to the replacement tooth (teeth). When all three components are pieced together, they remain secure for life. 

What to expect during dental implant treatment

The dental implant placement isn’t an overnight procedure. As you’d expect, getting something close to your natural teeth takes months to design. However, dental implants are worth the wait because they are a lifetime investment in your smile and oral health.

Like other dental procedures, getting a dental implant starts with a consultation with our doctors. During this initial consultation, we examine your oral and overall health to determine your eligibility for implantology. Ideally, you should have sufficient bone density and be in optimal health. 

After the initial exam, the next step is placing your implant. This process begins by numbing your gums to minimize pain during treatment. If you have dental fear, you can talk to us about sedation dentistry for maximum comfort. 

Once you’re comfortable, we precisely incise your gums and make a small hole in the jawbone to place a titanium post. Above the implant, we install an abutment (this step can be done after healing) that links the implant to the tooth restoration. Next, we suture the implant site to begin healing. The last step is to place a temporary restoration to support your smile while your implants heal and fuse with the bone.

After healing and fusion, you’ll visit us for the final restoration of your tooth. We’ll place a natural-looking crown to restore a single implant, but dentures or bridges are the most cost-effective and functional restorations for multiple teeth. 

Benefits of dental implants

The many benefits of dental implants include:

  • Long-lasting results
  • Natural feel and appearance
  • Renewed confidence
  • Jawbone preservation
  • Versatility to replace one, several, or all missing teeth
  • Restored oral function
  • Easy maintenance

Ready to complete your “gappy” smile with dental implants? Please call (951) 688-3442 to schedule an appointment with the Gerald Middleton DDS of Riverside, CA team.

Many Happy Faces

Dental implants are titanium roots, that are replaced with in the jawbone to resemble a tooth or group of teeth. A screw is inserted through the gums and into the jawbone. A porcelain crown is then attached to the screw to become the new tooth or teeth. They can be used to support dental prosthesis including crowns, dentures, and bridges. Today’s treatments are so natural looking, no one will know you had surgery. There’s approximately a 95% success rate for all implants. With modern advances in dentistry, some implants can be restored immediately with life like all porcelain crowns. For more details ask your dentist.