In This Article
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are basically titanium posts or screws that can replace the root structures of missing teeth. Most people say dental implants replace the missing teeth, but it’s more accurate to emphasize that they replace the roots of the missing teeth. The dental implant dentist drills the titanium screw into the jawbone underneath the empty socket of the missing tooth. Over time, the jawbone tissues heal around the implant, making it a firmly rooted part of the dental anatomy, not much different from a natural root. As such, the dental implant offers a stable base for dental implant restoration, i.e., a crown, bridge, or denture. Dental implants look and feel indistinguishable from natural teeth, which is why they’re the best replacements for missing teeth.
What Are The Benefits Of Dental Implants?
- Natural Appearance: Dental implants look indistinguishable from natural teeth. They remain under the gum surface, so they’re not visible to people. But the dental implant restoration looks completely natural because it sits on a solid base.
- Natural Functionality: Dental implants restore the natural functionality of your teeth. You can eat, chew, and speak properly, and there’s no risk of the implant restorations slipping or sliding out of place. As such, dental implants are indistinguishable from natural teeth.
- Complete Bite Force: Dental implants restore complete bite force, allowing you to eat whatever you want. Whether you want to eat steak, nuts, or other hard foods, you can do so without problems. However, you should avoid chewing on hard objects that may chip the crowns of your teeth.
- Minimal Maintenance: Dental implants don’t involve additional maintenance. You don’t have to take them off while sleeping, and there’s no need to use special products for cleaning. You have to brush and floss your teeth regularly and go for regular dental cleanings.
- Lifelong Replacement: Dental implants replace your missing teeth for a lifetime. They’re designed to last decades with proper care and maintenance, so you don’t need to worry about additional dental implant surgeries down the line. However, the dental implant restoration may have to be replaced after 15 to 20 years.
- One, Many, or All Teeth: Dental implants are incredibly versatile — they can replace one, several, or all missing teeth. Depending on the number of missing teeth, you can get implant-supported crowns, bridges, or dentures.
- Support Natural Jawbone: Your jawbone tissues need something strong and stable, like a tooth, to help them grow. The loss of teeth can make your bone atrophy, leading to gradual jawbone resorption, which leads to facial sagging and dental misalignment. Dental implants support natural jawbone tissues and prevent their resorption into the body.
What Is Provided In A Dental Implants Consultation?
Your dental implant journey starts with a personalized dental implant consultation with the leading dental implant dentist in Houston. During your consultation, the dental implant specialist will examine your teeth, discuss your goals, review your health history, and run numerous diagnostic scans. Most patients qualify as candidates for dental implants, but some patients need preliminary procedures before they can proceed, such as tooth extraction before dental implants, bone grafting procedures, sinus lifts, and more. Some patients also have compromised immune systems that need to be worked upon to improve their candidacy.
After determining if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, the dental implant dentist will curate a personalized treatment plan for you. If you have insufficient jawbone tissues, the dentist may recommend bone augmentation before the procedure to stimulate natural jawbone regeneration. If you have only a few natural teeth on a jawbone, you might be asked to consider tooth extractions to improve your candidacy for full-mouth dental implants. The dental implant dentist will also consider the type and location of dental implants and your dental implant restoration options, which they’ll discuss with you.
What Is The Dental Implant Procedure?
Dental implant surgery is fairly simple and painless. The dental implant dentist performs the procedure under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia, depending on the complexity of the procedure. The dental implant specialist drills an access hole into your jawbone and places the titanium post underneath the empty socket of the missing tooth. In some cases, the dentist may complete the procedure by placing an implant abutment, followed by a crown or bridge. But in some other cases, you might be asked to go home, and the implant restoration will be completed after the healing period. The dental implant dentist will provide an overview of your treatment process in advance.
How Long Does Dental Implant Surgery Take?
The entire dental implant surgery usually takes 1 to 2 hours for each implant, so the total duration depends on the number of implants.
What Are The Benefits Of Implant-Retained Dentures?
Implant-retained dentures are ideal for edentulous patients missing all the teeth on the upper or lower arch. The dentist places only four to six implants in strategic locations on the jawbone to support a complete denture, thus replacing all of the missing teeth using as little as four implants. This is the ideal teeth replacement option for edentulous patients.
How Effective Is A Tooth Implant?
A tooth implant is the most effective tooth replacement option available because it looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth. Furthermore, dental implants last a lifetime.
Schedule An Appointment With A Dental Implant Specialist
URBN Dental is the leading state-of-the-art office for dental implants in Houston. The dental implant center has two offices in Houston — Midtown Houston and Uptown Houston. The dental implant center in Uptown Houston is located at 2400 Mid Ln. #350, Houston, and the dental implant center in Midtown Houston is located at 3510 Main St. Ste E, Houston. Both implant centers are led by Dr. Jiman Nelson, one of the leading dental implant dentists in Houston. If you’re missing one, several, or all teeth, please schedule an appointment with your dental implant specialist near me in Houston.