Dental Implants as an Option
There may be times when a patient’s teeth become so compromised that teeth are missing, or saving a tooth is no longer an option. When this happens, dental implants may be an appropriate treatment to help restore a patient’s oral health and full smile.
What are Dental Implants?
Implants are biocompatible titanium posts designed to mimic and replace the roots of your lost teeth. Roots serve an important function in your overall health. As you bite and chew, teeth roots help maintain nutrient flow to your jawbone. Without roots, your jawbone receives fewer nutrients, which may lead to jawbone degradation or facial collapse. Single and multiple dental implants can help reestablish a natural root’s function, and they support the crowns that will complete your smile.
How are They Placed?
Dental implants are placed into the jawbone, which fuses with the posts over a few months. We use 3D imaging technology to help precisely plan the position and angle of the posts. After your jawbone heals from the placement, we will then connect small abutments to the posts that extend above the gum line. These abutments allow us to place dental crowns, bridges, or dentures on the posts.
Can an Implant Replace a Single Tooth?
Losing even one tooth may affect your long-term oral health and your smile. Dental bridges are often used to replace a single tooth. However, we believe a dental implant and crown offers better results, including improved stability, comfort, and a more natural-looking appearance.
Can Implants Work with Dentures?
We often recommend that patients who wear dentures have them supported on a series of dental implant posts. With the posts, the denture has improved stability, there is reduced risk of facial collapse, and your long-term oral health may be improved because your jaw is fully functioning.
All-On-4
If you need to have a whole row of teeth replaced, All-on-4 implants are a great way to accomplish this. Instead of having an implant for every tooth, we place four of them, and the rest of the prosthetic is supported by these posts. This means the procedure is quicker, less-invasive, and has a more rapid recovery period.
Schedule a Consultation About Dental Implants with Us!
Dental implants can help restore and maintain your oral health and smile if you have experienced tooth loss. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX, today at 832-437-3849. We proudly serve patients from Katy, Fulshear, and the greater Houston area.
