Implant Dentistry
Why us?
Placing and restoring dental implants takes intricate knowledge of both dental anatomy and restorative dentistry. With the knowledge and expertise of our dentists, we can both place the implant and build the replacement tooth or teeth all under one roof. This saves the patient time and ensures that we get the best result possible. In addition, patients can take advantage of sedation dentistry and have their implant or implants placed in total comfort.
What are Dental Implants?
Before
After
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to hold a replacement crown, bridge or denture in place. Since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support, implant dentistry is the best way to replace a missing tooth. Implants can also be used to anchor a bridge or dentures when multiple teeth are missing. Since dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they can prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompanies traditional bridgework and dentures.
Benefits of Dental Implants:
Cost effective
Tooth-saving
Comfortable
Reliable
Single Tooth Replacement:
If you are missing a single tooth, implant dentistry is the best way to replace it. The dental implant replaces the root and the attached crown replaces the visible tooth. In addition to looking and functioning like a natural tooth, a dental implant replaces a single tooth without sacrificing the health of neighboring teeth. The other common treatment for the loss of a single tooth, a tooth-supported fixed bridge, requires that adjacent teeth be ground down to support the cemented bridge. In the long term, a single implant looks more natural, is long-lasting, and functions like one of your natural teeth.
Mini-Implants:
Not every mouth is suited for regular implant dentistry due to bone loss and other factors. In keeping with the newest advancements in implant dentistry, we are one of the first San Antonio dentists to offer mini-implants to our patients. Because mini-implants are smaller and thinner, they are less-expensive and require less bone than regular implants; therefore they are available to a larger number of people! They work perfectly on all implant procedures – from one tooth to a full set of dentures – and are just as stable. With mini-implants, living with dentures is a snap and its owners can eat everything from apples to their favorite San Antonio steak again!
Replacing Several Teeth:
If you are missing several teeth, implant-supported bridges may be an option. Dental implants will replace your missing tooth roots and the restorations on them will replace the teeth themselves. Implant dentistry provides several advantages over other teeth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning like natural teeth, implant-supported bridges replace teeth without support from adjacent natural teeth. Other common treatments for the loss of several teeth, such as fixed bridges or removable partial dentures, are dependent on support from adjacent teeth, thus not providing as stable of a solution as implant dentistry offers.
Replacing All Your Teeth:
If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant supported full bridge or full denture can replace them. Conventional dentures frequently do not fit well and do not stay in, and many times it is difficult to eat or even speak comfortably. Dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots. In addition to looking and functioning like natural teeth, implant-supported full bridges or dentures are designed to be long lasting. Implant supported dentures are much more comfortable and stable than conventional dentures, allowing you to retain a more natural biting and chewing capacity as well as look and feel more like your natural teeth. If you have full dentures but were told you could not get implant-supported dentures, please read above about mini-implants – an option that is now open to you.
