Dental implants are the gold standard for tooth replacement. They can replace anywhere from one tooth to an entire arch of missing teeth. Implants are a restorative dentistry option for you to complete your smile again after losing one or more teeth. Getting dental implants in Denton, TX brings back your oral health and smile stability.
What are Dental Implants?
Three different parts make up a single dental implant. First, the titanium implant post is the piece that we actually place in your jawbone. It serves as the anchor for the dental restoration. It replaces the tooth root, something that no other tooth replacement solution has. This is the part that gives it the stability it’s known for.
Next, a piece called an abutment is placed on the top of the post. This connects the dental implant to the final restoration piece. The final restoration can be a fixed crown, bridge, or denture. Each final restoration is completely customized to specifically meet your smile. We match it to the size, shape, and shade that will blend in with the rest of your teeth.
Complete Dental Implant Services in Denton, TX
At our office, we perform every part of the dental implant process right in our office. We take care of every phase of the dental implant process under one roof. You usually have to go to an oral surgeon with other dentists to get the surgical portion done. We streamline the process and ensure continuity of care because we do every step in-house.
Our all-inclusive dental implant offerings are a unique benefit that you don’t see at many other practices. We’re able to help you through every step of the journey. Other specialists aren’t involved in the process, so you have our dental staff monitoring the results and ensuring that implants will be a successful restoration for you for years to come.
We start with a consultation for each patient, where we work out the entire process. We give you detailed descriptions of the procedure, the timeline, and what you can expect. It’s important that you’re comfortable with the process and that we mutually determine that this is the right solution for you.
There are some things that can complicate the implant process. You have to have sufficient healthy bone structure to support the implants. If this isn’t the case, you may need a bone graft before moving forward. We’ll also treat any oral health conditions, like gum disease, before placing implants.
This consultation is a time to address our staff with any questions or concerns you have about the process. We’ll also examine your oral health and voice if we think further treatment needs to be completed before moving forward with implants.
What to Expect
As mentioned, we start the implant process with a consultation. Once you’re approved for treatment, we move on to the surgical portion. The surgeon makes an incision in the gum tissue and prepares the jawbone for implant placement. We place a titanium implant post into the jawbone that’ll act like the tooth root for the implant.
After surgery it takes around three to six months for the bone to fully heal after surgery. During this time, the implant is fusing with your jawbone. It needs this time to heal to function properly as the tooth root and give you stability. We may place a temporary restoration while your bone heals so that you have more functionality.
You’ll receive specific instructions to follow after the implant surgery. You’ll have some swelling and bleeding, so you’ll need to use ice and gauze for comfort. We’ll either prescribe pain medication or recommend over-the-counter ones to use. Saltwater rinses are helpful to keep the site clean starting the day after the procedure.
Once everything is healed, we can place your final restoration. We’ll complete it with a custom dental crown, bridge, or denture, depending on how many teeth we replace. We’ll ensure your restoration looks natural in your mouth and that you have the functionality that you were looking for with dental implants.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
There are many reasons why dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement. It mainly starts with replacing the tooth root. No other tooth replacement solution has this benefit. Replacing that tooth root stops the jawbone from deteriorating further. It eliminates the sagging appearance of the face.
As soon as a tooth root is gone, the jawbone starts to deteriorate in that area. With other restorations, this part is never replaced. Things like dentures need to be readjusted or replaced throughout their lifespan because your jawbone continues to change. They need to change so that the restoration continues to be effective to use.
Because of the stability, dental implants allow you to have almost all of your bite function. You don’t need to remove any foods from your diet because the implants can handle them all. You can bite, chew, and speak with ease. Implants both look and feel the most like your natural teeth. You can use them easily, and people won’t be able to tell they’re fake.
They’re a low-maintenance option, too. All you have to do to take care of them is to treat them like you would your natural teeth. Brush and floss regularly, and visit the dentist regularly to ensure your oral health is on track.
With dental implants, there’s no impact on your natural teeth. With bridges, we have to prepare the teeth to support them and put much pressure on them. That’s not the case with implants. Dental implants are considered a lifetime replacement, and you should never have to get a different restoration.
Schedule a Consultation
If you need to replace missing teeth, schedule a consultation to learn more about dental implants. You can call us or schedule an appointment online to get started.