Dental Implants and Dentures

Even though there have been many improvements in dental care, millions of Americans still suffer tooth loss because of tooth decay, gingivitis or injury. Dental implants or dentures are available to fill in missing teeth. We offer implants and dentures at Wurzbach Parkway Family Dental as ways to improve oral health and bring your radiant smile back to life.

Dentures

If all or some of your teeth have been lost from injury, decay, or periodontal disease, complete or partial dentures are options to restore your great smile.

Denture Choices

There are a few types of complete dentures–-conventional and immediate.

Conventional dentures are placed in the mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed, which usually takes a few months.

For immediate dentures, the dentist takes measurements of the jaw during the first visit. Then this denture is placed in the mouth immediately after the teeth are removed.  If you have an immediate denture, you aren’t without teeth while the mouth heals.

Another option is partial dentures. Removable partial dentures are replacement teeth attached to a pink, plastic base that is connected by a metal framework. These dentures have a natural look and attach to your teeth with metal clasps.

Dental Implants

For most patients, dental implants are the best option for replacing missing teeth because they are long-term teeth replacements.

A Superior Solution for Replacing Missing Teeth

Statistics show that 69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, a failed root canal or tooth decay. Twenty years ago, patients did not have had an alternative treatment such as dental implants.

Dental implant benefits include:

Natural look and feel- Dental implants have a lifelike appearance and match the original color of your teeth.
Freedom to eat what you want- Since dental implants are permanently anchored, you can eat your favorite foods without the fear.
Regain your confidence- Dental implants dramatically improve our patient’s self-image and esteem.

Dental Implant Treatments

Your dentist and you will determine where and how the implants should go. There are different treatment options, depending on your needs:

• Single tooth replacement: one implant and crown can replace the natural tooth and its root.
• Several teeth: implant-supported bridges can replace numerous teeth and their roots.
• All teeth: an implant-supported bridge or full dentures can replace them.
• Sinus Augmentation: the upper back jaw is a difficult area to place dental implants because of the lack of bone and the closeness to the sinus area. This procedure raises the sinus floor and develops bone to place the dental implants.
• Ridge Modification: deformities in the upper or lower jaw also leave inadequate bone to put dental implants. To correct it, the gum is lifted away, so the bone defect can be filled with bone to build up the ridge.

Dental Implant Procedure

The implant procedure only takes a few dental visits. At the first appointment, the dentist takes a complete dental history, x-rays and completes an oral examination.

During the follow-up visit, the dentist gives you local anesthesia, and the titanium screw implant is placed into the jaw bone. After surgery, it takes a few months for the implant to fuse to the bone through osseointegration.

After it has fused, there is a minor surgical exposure of the top of the implant. The dentist attaches a post— abutment —to the top to support the tooth or set of teeth.  During the last phase, the dentist makes teeth impressions, a bite mold, and then a temporary crown is attached to the abutment. After the gum has grown and shaped itself, a permanent crown replaces the temporary one.

Who is a good dental implant candidate?

Dental implants are the solution for people of all ages and can be used to help many health concerns: gum disease, problem teeth, dentures, or bone loss. But dental implants are usually not recommended for children until their jaw growth is complete.

After Treatment Care

Dental implants require good oral hygiene and regular dental visits, just like other teeth. The better you care for your teeth, the longer your implants will last.

 Dentures vs. Dental Implants

Dentures and dental implants are both great procedures, depending on what your needs are. Your dentist will help you determine which is best for you:

• Dentures are constructed quickly.
• Dentures are a cheaper option.
• Dental implants are a life-long solution.
• Dental implants are the most natural-looking.

Contact our San Antonio office today to see if you are a good candidate for dental implants or dentures.