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Dental Implant surgery constitutes Phase I of Dental Implant Treatment. Pain is kept to a minimum during the procedure through the use of local anesthetic applied during single implantations. Multiple implants may require outpatient services and the use of general anesthetic. Regardless, it is the goal of every cosmetic dentist at the Houston Medical Center Dental Group to make this complex and highly specialized process as comfortable for the patient as can be expected. General feedback that we consistently receive from patients who have undergone dental implant surgery is that the procedure is much less painless than a tooth extraction. For a person who has already had teeth pulled, or lost them in an accident, dental implant surgery is the first step to less pain, greater relief, and a more robust and normal lifestyle.
Because this is a very advanced and highly individualized procedure, a great deal of care and planning is undertaken in the beginning. The dentist begins by using taking x-rays of the jaw bone and existing teeth. This allows the dentist to determine exactly how much bone structure exists that can support the implant. The dentists will also make a scale model of the patient’s existing teeth to determine the best possible size and placement locations for the new implants. In cases where there has already been some bone deterioration, or problems with the gums themselves, the dentist may perform a bone or tissue graft to create enough surface area to provide reasonable assurance for successful dental implant surgery.
The actual implant itself is a relatively simple structure. It is made of Tivolloy, a Titanium-based alloy that is bio-friendly, non-corrosive, and quickly accepted by bone as a substitute for a tooth root. The base of the alloy is designed like a screw that twists into the bone and seats against it. This is done, of course, with some sort of anesthetic to minimize discomfort to the patient during the surgery. This new artificial tooth root, if we can call it that, then becomes the foundation for the restorative implant that will follow. In some cases, the dentist may cover the implant with a temporary crown to protect it during the healing phase of the process.
After the patient has undergone the dental implant surgery phase of tooth replacement, he or she must wait anywhere from 3-6 months for full healing to occur. This is known as osseointegration, so called because the bone actually grows around the titanium implant and treats it like a new, but nonetheless natural, part of the mouth. It is very important that the patient follow to the letter all dental hygiene procedures that are prescribed by the Medical Center Dental Group. This healing phase is very crucial to the successful outcome of dental implant surgery and infection or complications are something we strive to prevent at all costs.
After osseointegration is complete, the patient is then ready for the restorative phase of dental implantation. This will involve placing another screw called an abutment into the titanium base, then capping the entire structure with a porcelain crown. The end result is a brand new tooth that is resilient, can chew any food the patient desires to eat, and look virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth.
While it is our goal to provide dental implant surgery for every patient who needs replacement teeth, there are cases where bone loss is too severe for a full set of implants to be placed in the jaw bone. In these instances, the dentist can place selective implants in the jaw to serve as anchors for fixed bridge work (as in the case of full mouth reconstruction) or even partial dentures. Each case is different and highly individuated, but at the end of the day, we see to it that no human being who enters our office leaves with any gaps in their smile, or has to live with generic dentures that limit normal diet and cause embarrassment at the worst of times.
Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont and Midland Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth O’Sullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic denistry services.
For any other questions related to cosmetic dentistry, you can Contact Us at 713.795.5905, visit our Dental Blog or Ask the Dentist
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