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Sometimes a person simply cannot wear an upper denture. It is too uncomfortable, and may even cause pain or trigger a gag reflex. Some upper dentures are also notorious for not remaining in place. Transitioning to an upper jaw dental implant is the best solution to this problem.
The Houston Medical Center Dental Group can make this an affordable and comfortable option for virtually anyone. We have a variety of financial assistance programs for which a patient may apply. Upper jaw implants can provide both a more attractive smile and a more functioning, reliable chewing surface that can possibly last for the remainder of a person’s life.
A dental implant consists of two major components: the base and the crown. The base is a titanium cylinder that is shaped like a screw at the bottom. This screw-like shape allows it to be twisted into the jaw bone, which then grows around it just like it once did the natural tooth root that the base is replacing. The metal used to make this artificial root is a Titanium alloy called Tivolloy.
It is 100 percent bio-friendly so the human mouth will not reject it. Implanting an artificial root in the bone keeps the bone from receding, because it now has something to grow around that will help it remain healthy and strong.
There are several ways that a trained cosmetic dentist can replace a denture with an upper jaw dental implant. One way is to use a modified denture that is open on the palate. This denture clips to a bar that connects the implants together. This device can be removed by the patient for cleaning.
An even better option is a bridge that is anchored to the two implants and cemented in place. This enables the dentist to avoid using natural teeth as bridge anchors so as to better preserve tooth enamel and otherwise healthy teeth from needless wear and tear.
Dental implantation is done in our Houston Medical Center Dental Office in two phases. During the first phase, we perform a minor surgical procedure in which the patient is intravenously sedated and relaxed. When the mouth is numbed, the dentist makes a small incision in the gum and installs the titanium base. The gum is then stitched back over the artificial root. We may, at our discretion, decide to use a temporary crown to prevent infection from forming. Post-operative instructions are then given to the patient, who will need 3-6 weeks to recover before phase 2 is undertaken.
When the patient returns, the dentist then takes impressions of existing teeth and orders porcelain crowns that will match the shape and size of the teeth that were lost. When these crowns are ready, the dentist then removes any temporary crowns used, exposes the implant, and cements the crown in place.
Porcelain is used for upper jaw dental implants because it is so strong it is virtually break-proof, so people can eat a normal diet with it. Also, it looks practically identical to tooth enamel in both translucent texture and color, so few people, if any, can ever spot an implant in a smile.
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 Midland and Houston, 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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