How Can Dental Implants in Corpus Christi Help Me?

A few times a year, you and your friends like to treat yourselves to a nice dinner at Doc’s Seafood and Steak. You usually order the filet, and it’s always divine. Tonight is the night you were supposed to go, but you cancelled. You can’t remember what excuse you gave your friends, but nonetheless, you’re staying home. Your missing teeth have made it difficult to eat a variety of foods, particularly steak. You also feel self-conscious about the gap in your smile. Something needs to change; you need to get your teeth back, but how? Dr. John Thompson can tell you a little more about why dental implants in Corpus Christi are the best solution for your missing teeth.

Why You Should Get Dental Implants

Missing teeth can lead to a multitude of problems, and one of the most basic is that they make it harder to eat. This leads many people to avoid essential foods like proteins and fibrous vegetables simply because they can’t chew them. Over time, this lack of nutrition can drastically effect your health, leading to a much shorter life expectancy. Missing teeth can also cause tissue and bone loss that can affect how your jaw fits together. Fortunately, you can prevent this and completely restore your teeth with dental implants.

How Do They Work?

Dental implants have an advantage over other methods of replacing missing teeth: They can restore the entire structure: root and crown. This is unlike any other restorative procedure.

Dental implants involve a new titanium root being surgically placed into your jaw. This not only provides a sturdy base for your new tooth, but can also prevent and even reverse the tissue collapse common after tooth loss. It is able to do this because titanium is bio-compatible, meaning that once the root has been implanted, the body treats it like a natural root and sends nourishing blood to the surrounding area, revitalizing it.

Implants are usually topped with a high-quality porcelain crown. They can give you a tooth that is aesthetically pleasing while also being functionally strong. These two elements are firmly held together by a metal connector called an abutment, which is similar to a screw.

More Benefits

Dental implants are one of the most versatile ways you can replace your missing teeth, as they can restore a single tooth, support a bridge, and even anchor a set of dentures. Implant supported dentures actually have a better hold and allow a stronger bite force than traditional dentures. This means you can eat a wider variety of foods and not have to worry about embarrassing slippage.

Implants have a 98% success rate and are easy to maintain. All it takes is normal brushing and flossing to keep them looking great for decades.

What Is The Procedure Like?

Dr. Thompson can perform the entire implant procedure himself, unlike many dental practices that would need to refer you to an outside specialist. This helps streamline the process for you, and assures that you will always be working with the doctor you trust. The implant process involves 3 basic steps:

• Your new titanium root will be placed into your jawbone
• You will be given time to heal and allow the root to bond to your jaw
• Finally, Dr. Thompson will place the porcelain crown into your mouth

The first part of the procedure involves minor surgery, but this can usually be completed with local anesthesia and requires minimal healing time. The healing period is mostly to allow time for your root to bond with your jaw. Once you have the crown, there will be very little sensation in the implant itself, but it will look and function just like a natural tooth.

How Can I Get Dental Implants?

In order to be a good candidate for dental implants, you should be in decent overall health and need enough jaw bone to support them. If this isn’t the case, Dr. Thompson can advise you on what to do.

If you want to be able to eat all of your favorite foods again, make an appointment with your dentist in Corpus Christi today. Give yourself the ability to smile without a second thought. Dental implants can do so much more than just restore your teeth, so we hope to see you soon.