Missing teeth is a common dental health issue in Houston that affects more than just a person’s smile. Losing a tooth can also lead to weakened gums and loss of bone in the jaw. To treat missing teeth in Houston, there are several different types of treatments. When it comes to tooth replacement treatment in Houston, dental implants are considered the best.
So, let us look at what Houston patients should expect from a dental implant restoration treatment.
What is Dental Implant Restoration?
Dental implant restoration is a treatment that involves a doctor inserting an artificial root in your gums and jaw. An artificial tooth is then attached to this artificial root. In Houston, doctors perform this procedure with careful attention to not harm the gums.
Proper tools are used to make the necessary space for the artificial root and to attach it to the appropriate place in your jaw. Depending on how many teeth a patient has lost, they may require more than one dental implant to restore the structure of their teeth.
According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Service, 11.4 percent of adults in Texas have 6 or more missing teeth in their mouth.
Source: Adults and Oral Health
Procedure of Dental Implant Restoration Treatment
The general process followed by Houston dentists for dental implant restoration treatment involves the following steps:
Initial Consultations
The first step of the dental implant procedure is the initial consultations with the patients. Houston dentists must make sure that the patient is in good enough health to receive dental implant restoration. During these initial consultations, the dentist also tries to understand how to proceed with the procedure and the expectations of their patients.
Placement of the Artificial Roots
Once the Houston dentist has created a plan for the dental implant restoration, they proceed to the placement of the artificial roots. This part of the process involves accessing a small portion of the jawbone behind the gums of patients. After the bone is exposed, the dentist will fit the artificial roots within it.
Once completed, the patient will be required to go through a healing phase for around 2 weeks. They are required to follow a soft diet and only use the dental care practices suggested by the dentist.
Installation of Artificial Teeth
After the patient has fully healed, the artificial teeth are finally fitted to the artificial roots. Before the placement of artificial teeth, Houston dentists use dental dentures and bridges to keep the gap between your teeth protected. Depending on how many teeth the patient has lost, this process can take some time to complete.
How to Care for Dental Implants
To improve the lifespan of your dental implant restoration treatment, normal dental hygiene practices are sufficient. This is different from dental bridges and dental dentures which have different methods to care for them. Dental implants are meant to act as a real tooth and on average last for around 25 years.
Occasional visits to your dentist will also help you to improve the lifespan of your dental implant restoration in Houston.
Alternative Treatments to Dental Implant Restoration
Before dental implant restoration, Houston doctors used measures such as dental bridges and dental dentures to restore missing teeth. These dental treatments are still available in Houston. However, in general, they are considered inferior to dental implant restoration treatment in Houston.
Dental dentures and dental bridges do have some benefits such as flexibility in use and a more affordable cost in the early stages. The reason why they are not preferred by dentists in Houston is due to their ineffectiveness in the long run when compared to dental implants.
Advantages of Dental Implant Restoration
There are several advantages that are offered by dental implant restorations over other treatments for missing teeth in Houston. Some of these include:
Impossible to Detect
One of the most obvious benefits of a dental implant restoration procedure is the appearance after the procedure. Unlike dentures and bracers which are easily visible on your teeth, it is almost impossible to tell if you have had an implant installed in your jawbone.
High Durability
Dental implant restoration is a very sturdy and reliable method of resolving dental health issues. The procedure involves placing a support implant in your gums to hold the artificial tooth. Both of these parts are very sturdy which allows you to continue normal behavior without the need to worry about damaging the tooth or the implant.
No Effect on Comfort
When you start wearing dentures and bridges, there is also some discomfort and pain initially as the bridges start to align your teeth correctly. Fortunately, dental implant restoration procedures do not have such issues.
A dental implant is meant to mimic a real tooth which is why you do not of to worry about removing any dentures or bridges before you are allowed to eat.
Bone Preservation
Aside from causing sensitivity, misalignment, and degraded appearance, tooth removal also causes an issue where your jaw bone stops bone restoration due to a lack of stimulation. In the dental implant restoration procedure, the implant embedded in your gums is also attached to your jawbone.
This provides the stimulation needed to promote natural bone growth.
Require Low Maintenance
Another huge advantage that the dental implant restoration procedure boasts over other solutions to dental health issues is that it requires very little attention and maintenance from the patient. Dentures and bridges require a lot of care to maintain their functionality.
If you are in search of a dentist in Houston for dental implant restoration, contact All Stars Dental today.
Take a look at their Google reviews to judge their expertise and quality of service. To schedule a dental implant restoration procedure with All Stars Dental, call (713) 526-2424 or send an email to appointment@allstarsdental.com.