Dental Implants – Orsatti Dental San Antonio

Dental Implants – Orsatti Dental in San Antonio

Despite improvements in dental care, millions of Americans suffer tooth loss, mostly due to tooth decay, periodontal disease, or injury. For many years, the only treatment options available for people with missing teeth were bridges and dentures. But, today, dental implants are available. Dental implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. Because dental implants fuse to your jawbone, they provide stable support for artificial teeth.

Dentures and bridges mounted to implants won’t slip or shift in your mouth — an especially important benefit when eating and speaking.

This secure fit helps the dentures and bridges, as well as individual crowns placed over implants, feel more natural than conventional bridges or dentures. For some people, ordinary bridges and dentures are simply not comfortable or even possible, due to sore spots, poor ridges or gagging. In addition, ordinary bridges must be attached to teeth on either side of the space left by the missing tooth. An advantage of implants is that no adjacent teeth need to be prepared or ground down to hold your new replacement tooth/teeth in place.

To receive implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. You must also commit to keeping these structures healthy. Meticulous oral hygiene and regular dental visits are critical to the long-term success of dental implants.

Types of Dental Implants

The American Dental Association considers two types of implants to be safe. The first option is endosteal implants — these are surgically implanted directly into the jawbone. Once the surrounding gum tissue has healed, a second surgery is needed to connect a post to the original implant. Finally, an artificial tooth (or teeth) is attached to the post-individually, or grouped on a bridge or denture. The second option is subperiosteal implants — these consist of a metal frame that is fitted onto the jawbone just below the gum tissue.

As the gums heal, the frame becomes fixed to the jawbone. Posts, which are attached to the frame, protrude through the gums. As with endosteal implants, artificial teeth are then mounted to the posts.

Advantages of Dental Implants

There are many advantages to dental implants. One advantage is improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent. Many with dental implants find that their speech is improved. With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that teeth might slip. Dental implants are much more comfortable. Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures. Furthermore, sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain. Often, patients with dental implants report improved self esteem. Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself. Another benefit is that dental implants don’t require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene. Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime. Most of all, implants are convenient. Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.

Success Rates of Dental Implants

Success rates of dental implants vary, depending on where in the jaw the implants are placed but, in general, dental implants have a success rate of up to 98%. With proper care, implants can last a lifetime. In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for a dental implant. Patients should have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. They also must be committed to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Heavy smokers, people suffering from uncontrolled chronic disorders — such as diabetes or heart disease — or patients who have had radiation therapy to the head/neck area need to be evaluated on an individual basis. If you are considering dental implants, talk to your dentist to see if they are right for you. Implants In general, dental implants are not covered by dental insurance at this time. Coverage under your medical plan may be possible, depending on the insurance plan and/or cause of tooth loss. Detailed questions about your individual needs and how they relate to nsurance should be discussed with your dentist and insurance provider.

Dental Implant Process

The first step in the dental implant process is the development of an individualized treatment plan. The plan addresses your specific needs and is prepared by a team of professionals who are specially trained and experienced in oral surgery and restorative dentistry. This team approach provides coordinated care based on the implant option that is best for you. Next, the tooth root implant, which is a small post made of titanium, is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post, anchoring it securely in the jaw. The healing process can take from six to 12 weeks. Once the implant has bonded to the jawbone, a small connector post is attached to the post to securely hold the new tooth. To make the new tooth or teeth, your dentist makes impressions of your teeth, and creates a model of your bite (which captures all of your teeth, their type, and arrangement). The new tooth or teeth is based on this model. A replacement tooth, called a crown, is then attached to the abutment. Instead of one or more individual crowns, some patients may have attachments placed on the implant that retain and support a removable denture. Your dentist also will match the color of the new teeth to your natural teeth. Because the implant is secured within the jawbone, the replacement teeth look, feel, and function just like your own natural teeth. Most people who have received dental implants say that there is very little discomfort involved in the procedure. Local anesthesia can be used during the procedure, and most patients report that implants involve less pain than a tooth extraction.After the dental implant, mild soreness can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications, such as Tylenol or Motrin. Dental implants require the same care as real teeth, including brushing, flossing, rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash, and regular dental check-ups. To learn more about dental implants in San Antonio, contact Orsatti Dental today!