Dallas Periodontist Discusses The Appearance Of Dental Implants

The invention of dental implants has altered the tooth replacement market in a very positive way allowing a patient to restore one or more lost teeth to as close to having biological teeth back as possible. A consultation with your periodontist will outline exactly what is involved, and what you can expect with dental implants.

Requirements

Whether you have lost teeth due to trauma, decay, or disease your dental provider will outline what is needed for a successful dental implant procedure. A conversation about your overall health is followed by a very extensive dental exam. X-rays will reveal if there is sufficient bone in gums; if not there are bone augmentation procedures available to add bone.

Smoking or tobacco use is prohibited as this is one leading cause of implant failure.

The Procedure

Once all preliminary requirements have been met, your periodontist will place the titanium post (implant) in the gum tissue where tooth loss occurred. The dental implant needs to be protected throughout the healing period as time is needed for bone and implant to fuse. As bone incorporates the implant, it becomes permanent acting much like the roots of a natural tooth providing strength and support for the restoration that will eventually cover it.

Healing Period

The healing period is not a fixed allotment of time; everyone is different. Throughout the healing period the patient is expected to keep the implant area clean – your periodontist will explain how this done. This step is important to prevent infection, a leading cause of implant failure. It is during this time that bone and implant are merging, a process referred to as osseointegration; and a critical step for implant success.

What can you expect?

Once healed, your dentist will have a restoration ready to place. It will have been fabricated to match neighboring teeth in size, shape, and shade so it will blend in naturally.

An abutment will be attached to the implant; the restoration will be tried in for appearance, fit, and function. Once ready, it will be cemented to the abutment and your dental implant process is complete.

You will be able to eat your favorite foods and smile with self-confidence as there will be no concerns about slippage or movement. Care involves daily brushing and flossing coupled with six month visits to your dentist for cleaning and exam.