Suffering with tooth loss can have a profound effect on your daily life and your self-esteem. Although tooth loss is traumatic and distressing, there is hope. Our oral surgeon can help you restore your smile and your oral function with implant dentistry. Dental implants are lifelike prosthetics that provide a low-maintenance and durable alternative to conventional bridges and dentures.

This tooth replacement solution is unique because a dental implant is used to replace the roots of a tooth. Other conventional replacement teeth only address the loss of teeth’s visible surfaces. Replacing the roots and crowns of teeth is ideal because it protects the jawbones, promotes comfortable and lifelike oral function, and supports tooth-colored restorations and prosthetics that restore the smile’s aesthetics.

The Basics on Implant Dentistry

A dental implant is a small, cylinder-shaped prosthetic made of titanium. It features a tapered end and a ridged surface. Implants are embedded into the jawbone where the roots of teeth once were.

There are different types of dental implants. Some are used to address the loss of a single tooth while others are used to replace multiple teeth or a full arch. When it comes to multi-tooth replacement, dental implants are typically smaller in diameter than those used for single-tooth replacement.

The metal (titanium) from which implants are constructed is unique. Titanium can integrate with the body’s hard tissue. This means that over time, bone will fuse around an implant to hold it in place. The natural process of bone fusing to an implant is what makes these prosthetics durable and long-lasting.

Once implants are stabilized, permanent restorations and prosthetics are attached to their abutments to complete the smile restoration process. Dental crowns, bridges, and full or partial dentures can be anchored to dental implants. These restorations and prosthetics will provide a lifelike aesthetic and serve as the biting surfaces needed for eating food.

Implant dentistry has revolutionized the way that tooth loss is treated. If you would like to learn more about your treatment options, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our oral surgeon at Dallas Oral Surgery Associates.

Advancements in implant dentistry have changed countless lives. Tooth loss is traumatic and distressing but replacing lost teeth doesn’t have to be. When it comes to replicating the appearance, function, and durability of biological teeth, dental implants are the best option. Our oral surgeons have extensive experience placing dental implants for single and multi-tooth replacement.

How Dental Implants Work

Dental implants are small components made from titanium, a metal that’s compatible with hard tissues in the body. Resembling a screw, dental implants are surgically placed in the jawbone. Over time, bone will fuse to dental implants locking them in place for decades, if not a lifetime. This process is what makes dental implants a revolutionary tooth replacement option.

They can be used to hold restorations and prosthetics that replace the visible structures of teeth. Dental implants will securely hold dental crowns, bridges, and even dentures so that patients can enjoy their favorite meals and speak with confidence.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Implants offer great benefits to those who have lost teeth. As the closest prosthetic available to biological teeth, people with dental implants enjoy the appearance of a complete smile, easy oral hygiene, and little to no dietary restrictions.

Restorations and prosthetics like crowns and bridges can be made from tooth-colored materials such as porcelain. When patients anchor tooth-colored restorations and prosthetics to dental implants, they enjoy replacement teeth that blend in seamlessly with their biological teeth.

Caring for restorations and prosthetics attached to implants is easy. Patients will brush and floss as they normally would. Sticky dentures adhesives and overnight soaking are not necessary to keep replacement teeth clean.

Lastly, dental implants and the components attached to them can withstand the daily force and pressure associated with biting and chewing food. Those who have dental implants can eat diverse foods without difficulty or discomfort.

Another unique benefit to choosing dental implants is the fact that implants prevent bone from deteriorating after tooth loss. Implants keep the bone in the jaw active so that the body doesn’t resorb it. This helps maintain a youthful appearance and a healthy occlusion.

Call Dallas Oral Surgery Associates to reserve an implant dentistry consultation with our oral surgeon.

Tooth loss has far-reaching effects on your health and your daily life. Determining the best tooth replacement option following tooth loss can be difficult for patients to navigate. Our oral surgeons treat tooth loss with implant dentistry – a treatment option that provides structurally complete and beautiful replacement teeth.

Following is helpful information on the more surprising aspects of tooth loss.

Overwhelming Treatment Options

After tooth loss, many patients feel overwhelmed by their treatment options. Some might take to the Internet to learn about different types of replacement teeth, only to find that information online is confusing or even contradictory.

Although traditional replacement teeth like bridges and dentures are still widely used today, there are alternatives that provide beautiful and long-lasting prosthetic teeth. Implant dentistry, which replaces the roots of teeth with dental implants, offers unprecedented benefits such as improved oral function and lifelike replacement teeth.

Bone Loss

Those who have suffered from tooth loss are often surprised to learn how losing teeth affects bone health. Once we lose our teeth, the roots are no longer present to keep the jaw stimulated. This lack of stimulation will cause the jaw to lose mass. Bone loss threatens the health of other teeth, affects oral function, and contributes to an aged appearance.

Dental implants are ideal for preventing bone loss because they keep the jaw active.

Increased Risk for Depression

Losing teeth is traumatic and many people who have lost teeth develop depression. Pursuing treatment after tooth loss can improve your self-esteem and protect your emotional wellbeing.

Additional Tooth Loss

Losing one tooth will put you at a higher risk for losing more. Teeth provide support to one another.  When tooth sockets are empty, it can cause neighboring teeth to drift out of place. Tooth loss will also put excessive strain on existing teeth and wear them down. Replacing lost teeth quickly can help protect remaining teeth.

Difficulty Speaking

Our teeth are an essential component of proper pronunciation. Certain sounds are practically impossible to make without teeth.

If you’ve struggled with tooth loss, we invite you to schedule an implant dentistry consultation with our team at Dallas Oral Surgery Associates.

If you’ve lost a rear molar, it’s important to replace it, even though it’s not in a highly visible location in your smile. Your rear molars are instrumental in chewing, and leaving an empty space in the smile can result in the remaining teeth shifting out of their proper positions to fill in the gap.

Patients who need to replace a missing molar may want to explore dental implants to restore their smile due to the many advantages associated with that treatment option. Many patients will be able to rely on implant dentistry to replace a rear molar, although certain conditions must be met.

Considerations For Dental Implant Placement

Dental implants outperform conventional tooth replacements because they are structurally complete. After the oral surgeon inserts the implant into the patient’s jaw, the surrounding bone tissue will gradually fuse with the implant, rendering it a root-like fixture in the jaw.

The nature of osseointegration requires sufficient bone tissue for the bond between bone and implant to form completely. When evaluating your case, your oral surgeon will determine whether you have enough bone to support osseointegration at the implant site.

This can be a challenge for patients who are looking to dental implants to replace a lost rear molar. The bone in that area of the jaw is thinner because it is located directly underneath the sinus cavity. Therefore, it erodes more quickly after tooth loss.

In order to reduce the likelihood that bone loss will interfere with a patient getting a dental implant to replace a missing molar, patients should consult with an oral surgeon as soon as possible to begin the treatment planning process.

Benefits Of Dental Implants

Implant dentistry offers patients numerous advantages in comparison to conventional tooth replacement options, including the following:

• Stability
• Comfort
• Better chewing function
• Convenience
• Minimal impact on surrounding teeth

Patients who are interested in having a dental implant placed to replace a missing molar should contact our team at Dallas Oral Surgery Associates to schedule an evaluation. We can determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment.

If you’ve lost a tooth it’s important to review your tooth replacement options – even if your missing tooth isn’t all that visible. Some people mistakenly believe that replacing missing teeth is purely a cosmetic concern. While missing teeth does affect our appearance, tooth loss also has far-reaching effects on oral health. Our oral surgeon offers implant dentistry, which is a treatment option that restores oral function and protects against the varied effects of tooth loss.

How does tooth loss affect oral health?

You might be surprised to learn about the many ways that tooth loss affects your wellbeing. Beyond cosmetic concerns, tooth loss can throw the entire oral health system out of balance. This is because teeth support one another. When one tooth is missing, its neighboring teeth can shift out of place into empty tooth sockets.

In addition to unwanted tooth movement, losing a tooth can affect your bone health. Without the roots of teeth to keep your jaw stimulated and active, the bone will atrophy. Bone deterioration increases your risks for further tooth loss, reduced oral function, and accelerated aging.

How can implant dentistry help?

Implant dentistry involves using dental implants for single-tooth and multi-tooth replacement. This treatment option provides the closest alternative to biological teeth because it addresses the loss of the roots of teeth as well as their visible surfaces.

Dental implants are used to replace the roots of teeth to help keep bone active and promote comfortable oral function by embedding biocompatible titanium components into the jawbone. Implants can be used to support restorations like dental crowns and prosthetics such as bridges and dentures.

Will my smile look natural with dental implants?

The prosthetics and restorations attached to dental implants can be made from a number of materials. Some materials such as porcelain or porcelain fused to metal look identical to biological teeth. When patients choose tooth-colored restorations and porcelain prosthetics, they enjoy very natural looking replacement teeth.

If dental implants interest you, call Dallas Oral Surgery Associates to reserve a consultation with our skilled oral surgeons.

Patients who are facing a tooth extraction should also be planning to replace that missing tooth afterward. The consequences of failing to replace an extracted tooth are significant. The type of prosthetic you choose is also important. Implant dentistry, which provides a structurally complete restoration, has many advantages over conventional appliances, so patients should consult with an oral surgeon to learn more about this treatment option.

Importance Of Replacing Missing Teeth

After a tooth has been extracted, the patient can experience a number of negative outcomes if the missing tooth is not replaced. The adjacent teeth will shift out of their proper positions to fill in the empty space. Those teeth may also be subjected to unusual forces as they take on the chewing function of their missing neighbors. Additionally, jawbone tissue will gradually erode after the tooth is extracted.

These are all compelling reasons to add tooth replacement to your treatment plan following extraction. Furthermore, when considering their tooth replacement options, patients should investigate implant dentistry because of the many advantages associated with dental implants.

Value Of A Structurally Complete Tooth Replacement

Dental implants are unique because they consist of a root-like structure in addition to a crown. In contrast, standard dental bridges or dentures lack any sort of physical connection with the underlying jawbone. The root-like structure confers multiple benefits on dental implant patients.

When replacing a single missing tooth, a dental implant can stand alone without support from adjoining teeth. This means that no healthy tooth material needs to be sacrificed to accommodate dental crowns to support a pontic (artificial tooth), which are needed in a fixed dental bridge. The dental implant also stabilizes the jawbone over time and facilitates a more thorough chewing mechanism.

We encourage patients to consider all of their treatment options following tooth extraction. This includes dental implants. For more information about this treatment and how it might be beneficial in your case, schedule a consultation with our team at Dallas Oral Surgery Associates.

Dental implants are unique because they are the only structurally complete tooth replacement available to patients who have experienced tooth loss. Those structural characteristics give dental implants multiple benefits in contrast to conventional appliances, like dentures and dental bridges.

Dental Implant Technology

The technology involved in implant dentistry facilitates dental implants becoming integrated into the jawbone. Because dental implants are made of biocompatible titanium, the surrounding bone tissue fuses with the implant. That bond takes several months to solidify after the oral surgeon inserts the dental implant in the jaw.

The osseointegration process allows the dental implant to serve as an artificial root, which is an important component of a biological tooth. Conventional tooth replacement appliances fail to replace the roots of the tooth, and they lack many qualities as a result.

Top 5 Benefits Of Dental Implants

Implant dentistry offers patients numerous benefits over conventional appliances, including the following:

1. Improved stability: By functioning similar to tooth roots, dental implants preserve the integrity of the jawbone tissue. The jaw’s shape remains stable over time, so the appliance retains its fit. In conventional appliances, however, the jawbone erodes and the shape changes, causing the appliance to become loose over time.
2. Improved chewing function: The bond between the bone and the dental implant allows the implant to tolerate strong chewing forces approximating those absorbed by biological teeth. Therefore, patients can continue to process a variety of foods and enjoy a typical diet.
3. Improved convenience: Patients who consult with an oral surgeon to get dental implants gain convenience from the treatment. It’s easier to maintain good oral hygiene habits with an implant-supported crown than a dental bridge, which restricts access to the gumline.
4. No impact on surrounding teeth: Dental implants stand alone, so they do not require healthy enamel on adjacent teeth to be sacrificed for crown placement to secure a pontic (artificial tooth).
5. More secure fit: The implant-supported appliance is anchored into the jaw, so patients don’t need to worry about a slip-up at the worst time. This allows patients to smile and speak with self-confidence.

To learn more about the numerous ways that dental implants can benefit you, schedule a consultation at with our team at Dallas Oral Surgery Associates.

Implant dentistry has changed the way that dental professionals approach tooth loss. Dental implants make for durable and lifelike replacement teeth. Receiving dental implants is an outpatient surgical procedure. Most people return to work two or three days after their initial surgery while others may need a day or two longer to rest.

Recovery times can vary by a day or two due to the facts that everyone heals at different rates, some areas of implantation are more complex, and the amount of dental implants used to restore oral function. When it comes to recovery from receiving dental implants, it is important to follow the instructions provided by our oral surgeon so that you can manage discomfort and care for surgical sites properly.

Why do I need to return for follow up appointments?

After your dental implants are embedded and you’ve recovered from the initial procedure, you will need to return to our practice periodically for follow up appointments. The reason these appointments are necessary is because our team will need to evaluate the stabilization process of the dental implant.

Dental implants become stable once bone integrates to their titanium structure. When bone fuses to a dental implant, it holds it in place the same way that bone holds the roots of biological teeth in place. Bone stabilizing to dental implants is called osseointegration and this process is monitored by taking diagnostic images and performing quick checkups periodically.

Once our team determines that a dental implant is stable, frequent follow up appointments are no longer necessary.

Why choose an oral surgeon?

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS) is a board-certified specialist who can perform a variety of procedures and treatments in the oral cavity and along the face. Choosing an OMS for your dental implant needs is wise since these specialists have advanced training and experience working with dental implants.

Patients visiting an OMS receive highly focused care from an attentive professional. If you have questions about implant dentistry, call Dallas Oral Surgery Associates today to reserve a consultation.

Patients who choose conventional tooth replacements, such as fixed dental bridges or traditional dentures, following tooth loss may find that their appliances lose their fit over time. This can cause patients to lose confidence when smiling because of how they look. Implant dentistry is a good solution for overcoming this challenge.

Dental implants, which are small titanium cylinders that an oral surgeon inserts in a patient’s jaw, replace the absent tooth’s root. That structure plays an important role in the tooth’s – and the smile’s – stability. When it is not replaced, as is true of conventional prosthetics, the jawbone slowly erodes and its shape changes.

This phenomenon of jawbone atrophy causes a bridge or denture to lose its fit. A gap may develop between the appliance and the gumline, or, in the case of dentures, the appliance may repeatedly slip out of place. Patients can become reluctant to speak or smile when this occurs.

Eventually, conventional appliances will need to be replaced due to jawbone atrophy. However, when a patient gets dental implants from an oral surgeon, the appliance can remain in place for decades with proper maintenance.

Another advantage of implant dentistry is the enhanced functionality of the prosthetic. A fixed dental bridge or denture may not be as effective at chewing as natural teeth are, but an implant-supported appliance can tolerate stronger chewing forces. Patients who choose implant dentistry can typically enjoy a wider variety of healthy, nutritious foods in their diet.

Over time, many patients find that the costs of dental implants and traditional tooth replacement methods end up being comparable. Traditional prosthetics have a lower cost upfront but result in additional expenses as they need to be refitted and replaced. Your oral surgeon can give you more detailed information on this aspect of the treatment, as well.

Are you considering how to proceed with replacing a missing tooth? Are you fed up with a previous treatment that no longer meets your needs? Consider dental implants as an alternative, and schedule a consultation at our office to get back your confident smile.

Unfortunately, a tooth that has been severely damaged by injury may not be able to be salvaged. If a patient loses a tooth to some sort of facial trauma, it’s important to consider a number of characteristics in choosing a tooth replacement. Dental implants are the only structurally complete prosthetic device, and having both a root-like portion and a crown gives patients a number of benefits.

These positive attributes of dental implants are due to the osseointegration process. That is, the surrounding bone affixes to the implant’s titanium surface in the months after the oral surgeon places the dental implant. Because the surrounding bone bonds firmly with the titanium dental implant, it becomes a fixture in the jaw and functions as an artificial tooth root.

One of the advantages of implant dentistry is the stability of the tooth replacement. The implant secures the surrounding jaw bone, much in the same way a biological tooth’s root does. When the root is completely absent, as is the case with conventional prosthetic restorations, the jaw will slowly wear away. Its shape changes, and the appliance loses its fit as a result. In contrast, dental implants will last for decades, as long as you take good care of them.

Implant dentistry is also beneficial because it gives patients more functional replacement teeth. Again, the connection between the bone and the implant provides the foundation for this quality. For example, implant-supported prosthetics are more effective at chewing because they can tolerate stronger forces needed to process rather tough foods.

Patients who are considering dental implants for tooth replacement following an injury or want more information about the intervention should schedule a consultation with an oral surgeon, who will evaluate the patient’s case to make sure that enough bone is present to support osseointegration and improve the patient’s chances of long-term dental implant success.

Make sure you thoroughly research all of your tooth replacement options before making a decision. Dental implants outperform conventional appliances, so visit our office for a consultation to learn more about this treatment.