For many adults, having dental implants is the next best thing to having natural teeth. When you lose your teeth due to tooth decay, a disease, or a traumatic injury, your self-esteem and smile can take a hit. This is where dental implants can help. Dental implants feel and function like natural teeth. They’re durable and stable, and function almost the same as natural teeth.

Using a digital X-ray image, Dr. Hurtado places your dental implant. A dental implant is a metal post or frame that a dentist surgically attaches to your jawbone, beneath your gums. The metal post becomes a permanent base for a replacement tooth. This is essentially the root of a new tooth. It’s similar in shape to an everyday screw. Dr. Hurtado suggests leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (LPRF) treatment to speed your mouth’s healing after the procedure.

Once the post has been installed and your mouth has fully healed, a process that generally takes a few weeks, Dr. Hurtado will mount a custom-made crown (replacement tooth) onto the metal post. The implants fuse to your jawbone, so they are strong, stable, and don’t shift in your mouth.

These metal posts also help bridges, dentures, and crowns stay solidly affixed to your jaw.