DENTAL IMPLANTS KATY, TEXAS 77449
When you have lost a tooth or teeth, there are replacement options available. Traditionally, those options have been limited to dental bridgework or dentures. Dental implants have also come on the scene as a relatively recent option and they are gaining more popularity as a standard choice.
What Is A Dental Implant?
The dental implant is a titanium post that is placed in the jawbone in a precise location. Titanium is a bio-compatible material. Placed securely in the tooth socket, over time the bone will fuse to the post. This process is called osteointegration. Internal healing takes place as the bone fuses to the post and creates the stability of a tooth root. The implant can then be completed with the addition of an abutment piece and finally, fabrication of a dental crown that is attached to the implant.
The completed process yields an artificial tooth that looks, feels and functions like a natural tooth. The high success rate of dental implants makes them the optimal choice for replacing missing teeth. Not only do they look natural, with proper care, dental implants may last for decades.
Implant Secured Dentures
Dental implants do not necessarily need to be used to replace each single missing tooth. An implant can be used to replace a single tooth or it can be used to provide an abutment tooth for a dental bridge. A few dental implants can also be used to provide a foundation for full dentures. These devices can snap or lock into place, making dentures secure and eliminating the need for adhesive powders or pastes. Implant secured dentures often use at least two implants and sometimes up to five, depending on the type of denture.
Traditional dentures do not stop bone loss. The jawbone needs the stimulation provided by the movement of the roots of the teeth in order to continue to stay strong and healthy. Dental implants provide this stimulation. All-on-4® and Same-Day Dentures use multiple implants to hold the denture in place and they provide stimulation for healthy bone development. Another advantage of All-on-4® dental implants is the ease in caring for your dentures. With this dental implant system, you can leave your replacement teeth in your mouth and clean them as you would clean your natural teeth. This denture implant system is currently the nearest thing to having natural teeth.
More patients are choosing implant secured dentures for their stability and ease of maintenance. Dentures secured with implants do not dislodge or slip while eating, talking or laughing. Patients who are often in the public arena choose this type of denture for the security it provides. Adhesive pastes and powders often fail after several hours, but implant secured dentures stay put day in and day out.
The Dental Implant Process
A dental implant can be placed at the time a tooth is extracted or it can be placed in a location where a tooth was before. The bone in the implant area needs to be of sufficient quality and density to support the implant. A thorough examination will determine the suitability of the area in question.
Dr. Millwala will perform an extensive oral and facial examination and obtain radiographic images as necessary in order to determine the treatment plan for implant placement. Factors taken into consideration are bone density, quality of the bone and the patient’s overall oral health. If the bone is not of sufficient density, a bone graft may be required. In some cases the extraction site may need to heal before an implant can be successfully be placed.
After the implant has been placed, it usually takes from three to four months for sufficient osteointegration to take place. Each case is unique, so bone may fuse to the post faster for some individuals or it may take longer for others. The length of time for fusion depends on the quality of the bone.
When there is sufficient healing, a small incision may be required to place an abutment on the implant. This device serves as the foundation for the crown, which will be placed by the restorative dentist.
The process for a dental implant from start to finish may sound complicated.
During your consultation appointment Dr. Millwala will explain the process in detail and show you how a dental implant would work specifically for you.