Columbus Dental Implants

Dental implants are the most comfortable, realistic, and durable method for replacing missing teeth. This page includes balanced information about dental implants, and may help you determine whether or not they might be a viable solution for you if you are trying to decide what to do about a missing tooth.

Dental Implants Explained

Dental implants consist of a root form that is surgically placed in the bone of the jaw, and a crown which is placed over the portion of the root form that extends out of the gum. The surgery to place the root form is usually done by an oral surgeon. It usually takes several weeks for the root form to heal and integrate with the bone of the jaw sufficiently to place the crown. When the dental crown is placed, no one will ever be able to tell that you were missing a tooth.

Are dental implants for you?

Dental implants are not appropriate for every situation. You must be in good general health, and able to tolerate the surgery necessary to place the root form. Certain chronic conditions may make a dental implant an unnecessarily risky solution for you, especially if a dental bridge might also be a viable option. If you have diabetes, an immune-deficiency disease or hemophilia, you'll need to discuss your situation thoroughly with Dr. Carroll to evaluate your risk.

Smoking and alcohol use are also factors in dental implant failure. Accurate information about smoking or drinking habits is critical in making sure we are helping you make the best treatment decision to replace your missing tooth.

You must also have enough bone in the jaw to support the implant root form. If you do not, you can still have dental implants, but bone grafting surgery to reinforce the bone at the site of the dental implant will be necessary first. This will add to the total time of treatment and to the cost of your implants.