It’s Dr. Berlin again! Are you missing teeth? Do you wear dentures that slip and slide, embarrass you in public, and make you long for natural teeth? Today I’d like to talk to you about dental implants, and exciting innovation in dental prosthetics, or tooth replacement. Implants are a lot like natural teeth in that they’re connected to the jawbone. That means they’re extremely stable and reliable.
Depending on your case, I might recommend one or more implants with individual crowns, a few implants to hold a bridge or partial in place, or four implants to secure a denture. Many of my denture patients opt for implants on the lower jaw because it’s the lower denture that tends to be unstable. Implant-retained dentures literally snap onto implant posts, so they’re completely immobile.
So how does an implant anchor into the jaw? In layman’s terms, implant posts are small metal rods that we insert into the sockets left by missing teeth. Placing the implant posts is a fine science. I have to find the perfect angle for optimal stability, and bone density is a big factor in my choice. Sometimes a patient needs bone grafting before we can place implant posts. In a brief oral surgery, I insert the posts, then the body takes over. Because we use biocompatible materials for implant posts, the human body naturally accepts them and bone begins to bond with the posts in a process we call Osseointegration. Once the post is secure and the site healed, I can place a crown, partial, bridge, or denture, depending on your case.
In addition to great stability, dental implants promote jawbone retention. You see, when your jaw has no teeth roots, the body thinks, I don’t need this, so the bone degenerates. This can cause structural facial deformity. Implants, however, replace teeth roots. They keep the jawbone stimulated, so bone doesn’t degenerate.
If you’re ready to eat steak, apples, and all those foods you’ve not been able to chew, implants are the right choice. Call me at 972-54-SMILE to schedule a complimentary consultation in one of my McKinney dental offices. We’ll talk about your situation, and I’ll answer all of your questions about dental implants. I look forward to meeting you and giving you back your solid smile.
Tags: allen implant dentist, dental implants allen, dental implants mckinney, implant dentist allen, implant dentist mckinney, mckinney implant dentist
