Implants from Your Corpus Christi Dentist Replace Teeth

You feel self-conscious about your smile gap, but did you know that losing a tooth–even in the back where people don’t notice–causes gum and bone resorption, speech problems and difficulty chewing? Loss of multiple teeth ages your face, too. John T. Thompson DDS, dentist in Corpus Christi,  recommends dental implants to restore your mouth for a youthful, long-lasting and strong smile.

How Dental Implants in Corpus Christi Work

Basically, a dental implant is a totally artificial tooth. Made up of three parts–a titanium implant screw, a metal alloy post and a porcelain crown–an implant resides right in the individual’s healthy jaw bone. A procedure which takes several steps and many weeks to heal, dental implant restoration results in a natural-looking and functioning tooth that remains in place for decades.

The secret to its success is titanium metal. Through an amazing natural process called osseointegration, bone literally wraps around the implant screw, anchoring it firmly in place. Osseointegration takes several weeks to months and requires that the patient and his or her jaw be healthy.

After the dental implant fully integrates, Dr. John Thompson re-opens the site and bonds a metal alloy extension to the dental implant. He affixes a custom-fabricated porcelain crown to the post. Color-matched and perfectly shaped to blend in with adjacent natural teeth, the porcelain crown is the finishing touch in the replacement procedure.

Aftercare for Dental Implants

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) says dental implant procedures succeed more than 90 percent of the time, and their retention rate is very similar. Compare that with traditional bridgework which lasts an average of seven to ten years and does not help preserve the size and strength of the jaw  bone.

It’s important to care for your dental implant just as you do your natural teeth. Floss around your implant daily, and brush twice a day with a soft brush. If you smoke, work toward quitting. Tobacco contains toxins linked to an infection called peri-implantitis. Similar to advanced gum disease, peri-implantitis is a leading cause of implant failure and removal.

In addition, implant patients must eat a tooth-friendly, low-carbohydrate diet, and drink at least eight glasses of water a day to hydrate soft oral tissues and reduce plaque around the dental implant. See Dr. Thompson and his team semi-annually for your routine oral exam and hygienic cleaning.

Finally, dental implants are so versatile that dentists such as Dr. Thompson place them in multiples to support full or partial dentures or fixed bridgework. As a result, smiles are youthful-looking and strong and function just like real teeth.

Should You Replace a Missing Tooth?

Find out with a restorative dentistry consultation with Dr. John Thompson. He will explain the entire process to you and evaluate if you are a candidate. Contact the office team for a convenient appointment, and bring all your questions!