DENTAL IMPLANT FAQ

WHAT ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Dental implants are the ideal option for replacing one or more missing teeth. A dental implant looks like a miniature titanium rod that is placed, or implanted, in the jawbone so it can replace a missing tooth root. Over the course of several months, the rod bonds with the living jawbone until you can no longer tell the difference between your natural teeth and the dental implant.

ARE YOU AN IDEAL CANDIDATE FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS?

It is true that not everyone can immediately qualify for dental implants, but even those patients who are not initially eligible can undergo treatments to improve their candidacy. This means that anyone who is either missing at least one tooth, or who has teeth that are in the advanced stages of disease or decay, can potentially qualify. It is not uncommon, however, to lack the jawbone mass to sufficiently anchor an implant. In this case, bone grafts can help by regrowing the bone.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DENTAL IMPLANTS?

The advantages of implants are that they are just like your natural teeth but better. You can eat anything you want, talk without challenges with your speech, stop worrying about bone loss, and light up a room with your smile. And unlike your natural teeth, implants cannot decay and will last for the rest of your life. The only real disadvantage of dental implants is that their initial cost can often be more than dentures or dental bridges, though this cost is offset in the long-run because of the enhanced durability of dental implants.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Whether you have lost a single tooth or are missing multiple teeth, this can damage the appearance of your smile and drain your confidence. Fortunately, modern dental technology allows our professionals at Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin to replace missing teeth with a natural-looking restoration that functions great and blends seamlessly into your smile. This is accomplished through the use of dental implants.

Dental implants have many benefits when compared to other restorations like dental bridges or dentures. Implants are more stable because they are attached to your jawbone. This allows you to produce more bite force and better enjoy the foods that you love. Dental implants also fit better than these other restorations, making them more comfortable.

Dental implants are fixed, meaning that you do not have to hassle with pastes or other adhesives to install them daily as you do with regular dentures. They are also much easier to care for than bridges or dentures. Dental implants are cared for like your natural teeth and need to be brushed and flossed regularly for optimal performance.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LOST TEETH ARE NOT REPLACED?

In addition to offering you many great performance and aesthetic benefits, dental implants serve to protect you from the effects of premature tooth loss. When you lose a tooth, the adjacent teeth are more susceptible to decay and the accumulation of bacteria. In addition, you will lose bone density in the area where the tooth or teeth are lost from. Approximately 25% of the bone density is resorbed within 12 months of losing a tooth.

Over time, this loss of bone density will continue, weakening your jawbone. The tissue of your gums will also begin to recede if the lost teeth are not replaced. One of the last effects is a less pronounced facial structure. This occurs as a cumulative effect of losing teeth and bone density, making it more difficult for your jaw to support the contours of your face.

Dental implants prevent all of these occurrences. The posts installed into your jaw serve to protect the bone from being resorbed and also prevent gum recession. Dental implants also restore the natural support to your facial structure that was provided by your teeth.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT WHEN GETTING DENTAL IMPLANTS?

You can expect having a dental implant placed to be fairly quick. Before we ever place the implant, we will consult with you and develop a personalized treatment so that you know ahead of time what is going to happen and when. We will use local anesthesia while placing the implants, but the healing process afterward should be very quick. It takes longer, usually several months, for the implant to bond with your jaw.

HOW ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS INSTALLED?

Dental implants are installed over several different visits to our office. During the first visit, our team will gather measurements of your oral cavity through advanced imaging techniques and make sure that your jawbone and gums are healthy enough to support the implants. If necessary, they will schedule needed preparatory procedures such as a bone graft or gum graft.

The next step is to install the titanium posts into your jawbone. There are several different installation methods that will be decided with you before your procedure. Once the posts are installed, your implant teeth are attached to them. In some cases, this is completed on the same day, but some patients require that a temporary set of implants be installed and return for the final set a few months later.

ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Even if you are not a candidate for dental implants, you still have other options to replace and restore your teeth. Most patients who need alternatives opt for implant anchored dentures, full dentures, or dental bridges. Unfortunately, some of these alternatives come with pretty notable disadvantages compared to dental implants. While they can help restore function in the short-term, in the long run they can actually take a toll on the rest of your oral health as they erode your gums and jawbone.

SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS IN AUSTIN, TX

If you would like to learn more about the many great benefits of dental implants in Austin, then it is time to schedule an appointment with our team at Oral Surgery Specialists of Austin. You can reach us by calling our office at today!