Dental problems affect your daily life in ways that cannot be imagined — anxiety and struggling to eat your favorite foods, the embarrassment that forces you to avoid social situations and maybe even having to deal with lingering pain. It can be stressful having to live with a flawed smile. At Shepherd Dental, we can provide innovative dental implants that help replace a missing tooth and reinstate your mouth functions and smile aesthetics.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium metal posts that serve as the tooth roots of a missing tooth. Titanium is a biocompatible material and is perfectly safe for the body. They are surgically placed in the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the surrounding tissues. The implants are solid and sturdy and can last for a lifetime.
What Are Some Advantages of Dental Implants?
There are numerous advantages of dental implants, including the following:
- They are a secure tooth replacement option
- They function, feel, and look like original teeth
- A person can speak, eat, and smile with renewed confidence
- The post stimulates the bone growth in the jaw
- They preserve the health of the neighboring teeth
- The crown restoration balances the facial aesthetics and blends in with the existing teeth
- The results are durable and can last a lifetime
Who Can Get Dental Implants?
Patients who want to have dental implants usually want to replace their missing teeth but are not satisfied with the look or fit of partial or complete dentures. But for them to be able to receive implants they must:
- Be in good general health
- Have good bone density in their jaw
What Can Be Done if You Have Bone Loss?
Patients suffering from tooth loss or other dental problems over a long period may experience bone loss. Fortunately, a bone grafting procedure can restore or add bone mass to the deficient area and enable many more patients to receive dental implants. With our modern bone grafting methods and instruments, very few patients are disqualified from dental implant procedures.
What Is the Procedure Like?
For many patients, getting dental implants includes two surgical procedures. The first is the insertion of the implants in the empty socket. It takes a couple of months for the implants and the gums to bond. After the implant screw has bonded to the bone, we will expose the implants and attach the posts that serve as anchors for the false teeth. When the teeth are positioned, the posts will not be visible.
Though every patient is different, the entire process typically takes about six to eight months and minimal disruption in daily lives.
If you are considering dental implants, visit our office, Shepherd Dental, at 235 E Hildebrand Ave #100, San Antonio, TX 78212, or call at (210) 820-0400 and schedule an appointment.
