Dental Implants Are Saving Smiles
Plano Texas Patients Are Looking to Implants To Restore Their Smile
Have you ever gotten up in the morning and looked in the mirror and thought to yourself, “I sure would like to do something about my missing teeth.”
Maybe you have had severe decay or gum disease that has caused you to lose some of your teeth. Whatever the reason, you can fill in those gaps with completely new teeth.
The Problems of Missing Teeth
Missing teeth are not only unattractive, but they can lead to further problems with your dental health. Thankfully these problems can be averted with dental implants – artificial teeth that can replace one or more missing teeth.
Much stronger than your natural teeth, dental implants are longer lasting as they are not subject to disease and decay.
How Are Dental Implants Placed
Placed beneath the gum, dental implants are secured in your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or to support a bridge. The dental implant – made from bio-compatible titanium – is accepted by your natural bone, which will grow and integrate around the implant.
This creates a firm base on which your new teeth will be secured. Dental implants can be better than a tooth-supported bridge, as they do not rely on the neighboring teeth for support. Dr. Barnett often recommends them as an excellent alternative to dentures, as they are permanent and look as natural as your real teeth. Implants also can support and provide a more secure placement of your dentures.
A dental implant consists of three parts:
- the implant itself (bio-compatible titanium screw)
- the abutment (allows the crown – your replacement tooth – to sit on the implant)
- a crown (your replacement tooth, made of porcelain and matched to your natural teeth)
What does getting a dental implant involve? If a decaying and damaged tooth needs to be removed first, Plano Dentist Dr. Barnett will carefully extract the tooth and place bone graft material. This allows your body to make new, healthy bone for the implant to be solidly secured in your mouth.
After about 3 months with routine checkups and x-rays, the new bone growth should look healthy and ready for your dental implant. Dr. Barnett will place your implant and give you another healing period of 3 to 4 months with routine check-ups and x-rays. When Dr. Barnett sees that you have healed and are ready, we will schedule your crown to be created, seated, and completed! Dental implants are the ideal option for missing teeth in terms of function, continuing health and their natural look.
