Dental Implants Specialist

Northwest Dental Services & Denture Implant Center

Dentists & Denturists located in Tacoma, WA & Lakewood, WA

If you’re missing one or more of your teeth due to decay or an accident, dental implants restore the natural look and feel of your mouth. The team of expert doctors at Northwest Dental Services & Dental Implant Center offers high-quality dental implants to men and women who live in Tacoma and Lakewood, Washington, and the surrounding area. If you’re ready to replace missing teeth, take advantage of their skilled implant specialists by calling the office or using the online booking agent to set up a consultation.

Dental Implants Q & A

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a metal post surgically implanted into your gum to replace the missing tooth root. The post attaches to a crown, or a set of crowns, which are replacement teeth made to look like your natural teeth.

What are the Advantages of Dental Implants?

Lost teeth can negatively affect chewing and speaking. The shape of your jaw may change, and the remaining teeth in your mouth can shift position, or be more susceptible to bacteria and decay. Implants offer a solution to these issues.

Implants feel like your natural teeth, so eating and talking come naturally. The metal posts of the implants fuse with your jaw bone and become permanent, so they look like your natural teeth and retain the shape of your face.

Implants are durable, often lasting a lifetime if you practice good oral hygiene. Plus, you don’t have to worry about removing them and cleaning them separately as you do with dentures. You’ll have no restriction on the foods you can eat as you might with removable dentures.

Who is a Candidate for a Dental Implant?

You need healthy gums and bone to hold the implant. You must be committed to maintaining good oral hygiene following the implant, too. If you’re healthy enough to undergo routine oral surgery, you can tolerate the implant procedure. But, heavy smokers or people who have a chronic disease, such as heart disease or diabetes, may not be good candidates.

What is the Process of Getting an Implant?

The process of getting an implant takes several visits. You start with a consultation to make sure you’re a viable candidate for the procedure. Once the implant specialist develops your individual treatment plan, you come in to have the titanium post, or tooth root implant, placed into your bone socket.

The implant heals for 6-12 weeks, during which time, your jaw bone grows around it.
When you come in for the next visit, the doctors place a connector post to the implant and attach a crown – or false tooth. The crown matches the durability and color of your natural teeth.

What we offer