Dental Implants
Dental implants in Houston, TX are permanent replacements for missing teeth. Whether you no longer have any natural teeth or are missing just one, dental implants offer the same appearance and function. Unlike dentures or dental bridges that only give you replacement teeth, dental implants replace the missing tooth roots as well.
How the Dental Implant Procedure Works
When you receive dental implants at Restore Dental at Montrose, Dr. Patton first places a small titanium rod into your jawbone that serves as your new tooth roots. You need to allow several weeks to months for your jawbone to heal after this initial appointment.
The healing time is also necessary to ensure that the artificial tooth root is strong enough to support your replacement tooth or teeth and a small piece of equipment called an abutment. The abutment is a titanium screw that allows Dr. Patton to attach the artificial teeth to the jawbone after an adequate amount of time has passed for healing. Same-day dental implants may be available in limited situations.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most patients can benefit from this permanent tooth replacement option, but there are a few exceptions. Your jaw needs to have enough bone surrounding the new tooth roots to keep them firmly in place. If you lack adequate bone strength, Dr. Patton may be able to remove a small amount of bone from another area of your mouth and transfer it to the implant area.
Smoking and/or having a chronic disease like cancer or diabetes make it much more likely that your dental implant will fail. Children are typically not good candidates for dental implants because their jaw development is incomplete.
What to Expect during Oral Surgery for Dental Implants
After you get comfortable in the dental chair, Dr. Patton or a dental assistant will inject local anesthesia to ensure your mouth remains numb and you cannot feel pain during the procedure. If you feel anxious about the process, ask us about receiving IV sedation instead of local anesthesia.
Next, Dr. Patton makes a small cut in your gums in the area where you have missing teeth. The opening in your gums allows for the placement of your new artificial tooth roots. After placing the titanium rod deep into your jawbone, the next step is to close the open cut with stitches.
When having all your teeth replaced with dental implants, Dr. Patton will place several titanium rods into your jawbone to help hold the new teeth in place. However, you won’t have one new tooth root for every tooth replaced.
You will receive instructions on how to care for your gums over the next few days while you recover at home. We recommend that you stick to soft foods or a liquid diet until your mouth no longer feels sore and you can chew normally.
Once osseointegration takes place, which means the artificial tooth roots have merged with the existing bone, you will return to Restore Dental at Montrose for placement of the abutment and new crown. The term crown is another name for an artificial tooth.
Contact Us to Schedule a Consultation
The first step in getting dental implants in Houston, TX is to attend a consultation. Dr. Patton will examine your teeth and gums, paying special attention to the area of missing teeth. You will know before leaving the appointment if you are a good candidate to continue the process of receiving dental implants.