Marilyn, a patient at Davenport Dental Group in Laredo, TX, was having a lot of pain in one of her teeth. She knew it had to be pulled, but she didn’t want to leave a gap because the area where the tooth was could be seen when she smiled.
She was a very attractive woman and her smile was very important to her. She was relieved when she visited Davenport Dental Group to talk about her options. After she decided on dental implants, the staff walked her through what would happen, who would be playing a part in restoring her smile, and even gave her an estimate as to how much everything would cost.
She appreciated the patience and thoroughness the staff exercised. Ultimately, Marilyn decided to replace her tooth with a dental implant.
The Dental Implant Option
Why did Marilyn opt for a dental implant? Here are just some of the reasons:
They look more natural. Let’s face it, sometimes dentures can look just like what they are… dentures. Sometimes dentures slip around. Implanted teeth look and feel like your natural teeth and stay in place because they’re implanted into your jawline.
They’re strong and stable. An implanted tooth functions just like a natural tooth.
They look more natural. We’ve all seen people with dentures that look just like what they are. Implanted teeth look and feel like your natural teeth.
They can last a lifetime. When properly cared for, implants can last forever.
They are worry-free. With teeth restored with dental implants, you can talk, eat, or laugh without the fear you’d have with dentures. And you don’t have to put them in a cup when you go to bed!
They help prevent bone loss. Implants actually help stimulate bone growth. If you don’t replace a tooth at all it can lead to health issues that might cause your jawbone to deteriorate.
They protect your healthy teeth. A dental implant is better on the surrounding teeth. Other dental procedures, like placing a bridge, requires grinding on the teeth on one or both sides of the missing tooth. Dental implants don’t affect surrounding teeth since they are implanted directly in the jawbone where the missing tooth was. Your other teeth stay intact.
Their results are proven. You might just be hearing about dental implants, but they’ve been around for more than 50 years. The technology has a proven track record and is considered more predictable than bridgework.
What makes dental implants such a great choice?
Rather than just sit on top of your gums like dentures, a dental implant replaces a tooth’s root with a titanium post that will actually fuse to your jawbone. Then an extension of the implant metal post secures your new artificial tooth.
That means that with a dental implant you’ll have a tooth that looks and functions like your real teeth.
Patients say that with the choices of sedation available, the discomfort with the procedure isn’t any worse than getting a tooth pulled.
Dental implant surgery is usually performed on an outpatient basis in these stages:
- Â Â Â The damaged tooth is removed.
- Â Â Â Your jawbone is prepared for surgery (This step is called bone grafting and may not always be necessary.)
- Â Â Â The dentist will place the dental implant after your jawbone is healed.
- Â Â Â After a few months of healing, he will place an abutment (an extension of the implant metal post) and then add your new artificial tooth (crown).
While a dental implant is a major dental procedure, any discomfort is manageable.
There are many sizes, shapes, and brands of dental implants available. After an initial exam, the staff at Davenport Dental Group will know which implant is the right one for you. Once you get it, you or anyone else won’t be able to tell the difference.
If your smile is important to you, as Marilyn’s was to her, you don’t want to leave a hole in your mouth because of a missing tooth. Why wait when you can replace that tooth with something that looks and feels completely natural? Dental implants might be the choice for you.
Call Davenport Dental Group at one of their two offices. For our Junction Drive location, call 956-242-6745. For our Winfield location, call 956-517-2695. You can also use our online contact form. Let us give you back that beautiful smile!