In This Article
What Is A Tooth Implant?
A tooth implant, also known as a dental implant, is a titanium screw/ post that’s drilled into the jawbone underneath the empty socket of your missing tooth. The titanium post is the ideal replacement for the missing tooth’s underlying root structure. Most other teeth replacement options focus on the visible crown, but dental implants focus on the root structures of the missing teeth, which is why they’re considered the best replacements for missing teeth.
Once the titanium post is drilled into the jawbone, it becomes an integrated part of the dental anatomy. Over time, the process of osseointegration leads to the fusion of jawbone tissues with the dental implant, essentially rooting the tooth implant in place. As such, the tooth implant becomes a solid base upon which the prosthetic crown can be mounted. Dental implants provide the foundation for dental restorations, such as crowns, bridges, and dentures.
What Are Single Tooth Dental Implants?
Single tooth dental implants are individual tooth implants used to replace one missing tooth. Basically, a single tooth dental implant can only replace one individual tooth rather than multiple missing teeth. After placing the dental implant, the dentist mounts a dental crown, also known as an implant-supported dental crown. This is the ideal option for patients missing a few individual teeth from different parts of the mouth.
Let’s say you have an accident and two of your teeth get knocked out from different parts of your mouth — one on the upper arch and the other on the lower arch. The dental implant specialist will place one implant each on the two locations, giving you two single-tooth dental implants. Furthermore, both implants will support two individual dental crowns at a 1:1 ratio, one crown per implant.
Single-tooth dental implants are ideal for the restoration of individual teeth, but their limitations become apparent when you’re missing multiple teeth. If you’re missing all the teeth on your upper arch, for example, you’ll need over 10 dental implants and crowns if you were to replace them with single-tooth dental implants. In that case, you can opt for the All-on-4 technique, which allows you to replace all the teeth using a denture mounted on four strategically placed implants.
How Long Do Tooth Implants Last?
Dental implants are meant to last a lifetime. Once the dental implant is placed, it’s supposed to last the rest of your life, and there’s no need for another implant surgery. In extremely rare cases, complications related to periodontitis and other oral health problems may compromise the dental implant, necessitating a dental implant replacement. However, such complications are rare, and they can be avoided if you maintain optimal oral hygiene. While dental implants last a lifetime, you may have to replace the restorations every 15 to 20 years.
How Many Days Rest After Dental Implant?
Most people need to rest for 1 to 2 days after the dental implant procedure, following which most daily activities can be resumed. In rare cases, if the patient needs a bone grafting procedure before the dental implant surgery, the recovery period might be extended to 1 to 2 weeks. The dental implant specialist will provide detailed recovery guidelines to ensure a smooth and safe recovery process.
What Can You Not Do After Dental Implants?
You should avoid hard, crunchy, acidic, and sticky foods after the placement of dental implants. These types of foods may impact your mouth’s ability to heal, leading to an extended recovery period or possible side effects. You should initially eat soft, cold foods and gradually increase your dietary options according to your dental implant specialist’s recommendations. However, after the healing period, you can eat and drink whatever you want — no restrictions.
What Are The Stages Of A Dental Implant?
- Initial Consultation: The dental implant specialist examines your teeth, runs numerous tests, and determines if you’re a suitable candidate. If you don’t have enough jawbone tissues, the dental implant specialist may recommend a bone grafting procedure.
- Dental Implant Surgery: The dental implant dentist performs a surgery, wherein the titanium post is drilled into the jawbone underneath the empty socket of the missing tooth. The procedure is done under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation.
- Osseointegration: The jawbone tissues will fuse with the implant structure, making the titanium implant an integrated part of your dental anatomy. This happens during the recovery process in the background.
- Abutment Placement: After the healing period, the dentist places the abutment on the dental implant. The abutment is a connective device between the implant and the prosthetic.
- Prosthetic Impressions: The dentist takes impressions of your mouth to design the ideal prosthetics, whether you need crowns, bridges, or dentures. The impressions are then sent to the dental laboratory for preparation.
- Prosthetic Placement: Once the prosthetics are prepared, the dentist attaches them to the dental implants. You now have the perfect smile!
Schedule An Appointment With A Tooth Implant Specialist Near Me In Houston Today
URBN Dental is widely considered the most reliable, state-of-the-art implant dental office in Houston. Our dental implant office is located at 3201 Allen Pkwy, Houston, in a trendy neighborhood known for its restaurants, quaint coffee shops, and vintage stores. The dental clinic is ideal for patients in and around River Oaks, West University Place, Upper Kirby, and the Museum District in Houston.
Our dental implant center in Houston is led by Dr. Jiman Nelson, one of the most talented dental implant specialists in Houston. We provide cutting-edge dental implant techniques, including the All-on-4 implants technique for same-day full-mouth restoration. Each dental implant treatment plan is personalized according to your unique goals and requirements, ensuring optimal and lifelong results without complications. That’s how we maintain 5-star ratings from all patients.
If you’re missing one, several, or all of your teeth, please schedule an appointment with our tooth implant specialist in Houston.