What Makes Dental Implants Different?

Your Dallas, TX, dentist offers a number of different options for addressing tooth loss, including fixed dental bridges and removable full and partial dentures. While effective, we also have a more stable and lifelike option for qualifying patients: dental implants. What makes dental implants so different than other prosthetic options? How do they last so much longer?

The Risks of Tooth Loss

When we lose one or more teeth, this could place pressure on the jaw joints and increase the risk of TMJ disorder and bruxism. The teeth could develop misalignment, which impacts the appearance of the smile. The most serious complication of tooth loss is the loss of jawbone density, which happens as the jawbone tissue deteriorates after the body stops supplying the jawbone around a lost tooth with doses of calcium and phosphorus. Over time, this could lead to further tooth loss and even an aged appearance.

Securing Your New Smile

A dental implant is a screw-like device made from titanium, a biocompatible material. We insert them into the jawbone, and over a period of three to four months the dental implants will bond with the jawbone like a natural tooth root. This process not only secures the new tooth for years to come, but also stimulates the growth of jawbone tissue, preserving the smile. Known as osseointegration, this prevents the degradation of the jawbone tissue. After the placement area heals we will add an abutment and begin the restoration process.

Creating Lifelike Restorations

The restoration addresses your tooth’s visible portion. For single tooth options, we will use a custom-made crown created with lifelike materials, such as ceramic. The crown not only has the ability to absorb serious bite forces, but we can shade the material to blend with the rest of the smile. If you’ve lost several teeth, then we may insert multiple dental implants into the jawbone and use them to secure a bridge, partial, or even full denture. You then enjoy prosthetics that never slip when you eat or speak, and can last much longer than the 5 to 10 years most prosthetics do, offering tooth replacement for decades in some cases. If you have any questions about replacing missing teeth or about the process of creating and placing new teeth, then talk to our team today. We would love to help you enjoy a healthy and full smile for many years to come.

Gentle Smiles Provide New Smiles

Implant dentistry means a secure and long-lasting solution to your tooth loss, whether you’ve lost a single tooth or several. To learn more about keeping your smile healthy and strong, then please contact us today by calling 972-329-7645 (972-329-SMILE) to schedule an appointment with your Dallas, TX, dentist!