Do you have unsightly missing teeth that keep you from smiling as much as you’d like to? Is it challenging to talk or eat because of poor-fitting dentures? Then you might want to consider dental implants from Plano family dentist Dr. Trent Nguyen.
Dental Implant Procedure
WebMD defines the first step following your consultation as the tooth root implant (a small post made of titanium) being placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. The healing process, which can take about three months, involves the jawbone growing around the implanted metal post.
After the implant bonds to the jawbone, a small connector post is attached to the post to effectively hold the new tooth. Dr. Nguyen will then make your new tooth or teeth using impressions, as well as a model of your bite. The replacement tooth, or crown, is then attached to the small connector post.
Dr. Nguyen’s expertise and use of the latest technology allows him to match the color of your new tooth or teeth seamlessly to your natural teeth.
We get asked occasionally about the pain level involved in a dental implant procedure. Previous patients of ours have said that they experience little, if any, discomfort. Local anesthesia can be used during the procedure, and as always, Dr. Nguyen ensures that patients are at ease and comfortable.
Dental Implant Benefits
Dental implants provide a number of benefits. For one, they are designed to look and feel like your own teeth. That’s because dental implants are made from titanium – a special material that has been studied and proven to work best when fused with human bone, allowing them to become permanent. The fact that dental implants work and function like your own teeth open the door to a number of other positives:
- Help you maintain a more youthful appearance. Because dental implants prevent the bone loss that happens when tooth roots are lost, they help you maintain your facial shape and prevent the sagging that can contribute to wrinkles and an aging look.
- Proven results. Dental implants have been in use for decades, and they’ve been shown to be amazingly reliable and successful.
- Protect natural teeth. When you place dental implants next to remaining healthy teeth, it can help prevent further tooth loss, and it doesn’t require modification of remaining teeth the way bridges do.
- Stability and security. Dental implants are strong, reliable, and durable.
- Comfort. Because dental implants operate a lot like your natural teeth, they feel amazingly comfortable and offer excellent function.
At Great Smiles Dental and Orthodontics Cosmetic Dentistry, we want our patients to feel good about coming in for affordable dental implants. Whether you’re looking for a second opinion on your teeth or want to take advantage of our holiday specials, we are here to serve you! Dr. Nguyen brings 10 years of experience to our practice. Contact us today to set up your free consultation. From there, we will guide you through the process of whether or not you will be a good candidate for dental implants.
Single Tooth Dental Implant
If you lose even one tooth, it is optimal for your oral health to replace it. A missing tooth can have negative effects on your bite, your self-confidence, and your ability to speak and chew properly. When a tooth goes missing, it can cause the other teeth to shift, and it will contribute to bone loss as well.
We recommend replacing any missing teeth with dental implants because this method of tooth replacement is the most natural, exceptionally strong, long-lasting, and great for your oral health.A single implant involves the surgical placement of a titanium screw into the jaw bone, and this implant will then support a replacement tooth.
Implant-Supported Bridges
For patients who have lost more than one tooth, an implant-supported bridge offers a secure & permanent solution. Other tooth replacement options, such as traditional bridge or removable partial dentures, aren’t as stable as implant-supported bridges. An implant bridge can return the majority of your chewing function so you can eat what you want again.
Traditional bridges rely on adjacent teeth for support. These nominally healthy teeth need to be reshaped before the bridge is secured in place using dental cement. Using implants to secure the bridge instead means that no healthy teeth need to be ground down in order to replace a missing tooth.
What are Snap-on Dentures (Implant-Supported Removable Dentures)?
Snap-on Dentures look and feel like traditional, removable dentures. However, there are 2-4 locators on the under-side of your “plate,” which attach on top of implant abutments. Snap-on dentures are essentially dentures that snap in place. There’s no rocking, shifting, or rubbing because your implants keep the appliance secure.
When you wear a snap-on denture, you’ll need to remove your appliance at night when you go to sleep. The routine care and maintenance is exactly like what you would expect with a traditional denture. Soak it in a cleansing solution overnight, brush it clean the next morning, and wipe your mouth with a washcloth before putting it back in.
Snap-on Dentures are great for patients who want to stabilize their existing denture may not be a candidate for an All-on-4 Total Smile treatment, or have extensive bone loss in their jaws. Depending on your oral anatomy, our implant dentists can strategically place anywhere from 2-4 implants for stabilization. A new denture is created to fit on top of them, or your current denture is modified/retrofitted so that it snaps in place.
What is All-on-4 hybrid Dentures ( Implant-Supported Fixed Dentures)?
Today’s dental implants are extremely durable. In fact, they can support more weight than natural teeth. We can use as few as four implants to support a full-arch prosthesis that mimics the appearance of an extended dental bridge.
Bridges are permanent restorations attached onto teeth or implants, supporting pontic (false) crowns in the areas of missing teeth. When set on four implants, the All-on-4 hybrid denture spans across the gums from one side of your mouth to the other.
The biggest difference between an All-on-Four appliance and an overdenture is the way that it’s shaped. As a permanent appliance, you never have to take it out. Plus, All-on- Four treatments don’t cover the roof of your mouth.
Which is More Durable?
Using implants to support your denture helps prevent the bone in your mouth from resorbing (shrinking) over time. Resorption changes the shape of your oral anatomy, and thus the way your denture fits. When you add implants, your jaw is stronger. That’s one reason why getting dental implant therapy is considered such a predictable and long-lasting treatment!
Conventional dentures don’t have as strong of biting and chewing capabilities as natural teeth or dental implants. When you set implants under your existing denture, they help keep it in place. However, it does not add much reinforcement in regard to biting and chewing. Foods will still need to be softer and cut up into smaller pieces in order to eat them comfortably.
All-on-4 implants are like chewing with natural teeth again. Each design is crafted from durable materials that mimic natural tooth shape and appearance. Since they’re permanently attached to your mouth, you don’t have to worry about things moving around while you’re eating.
Implant-Supported Dentures VS Dentures: Which is More Comfortable?
There are several different factors that impact the comfort of a denture or implant prosthesis. Some of the ones to consider include:
- Rubbing, chafing, and sore spots: Both snap-on and All-on-4 dentures help to eliminate the source of sore spots. Since the denture doesn’t use your gums for a seal, there’s not a risk of it rubbing up against them. Not only is rubbing painful, but it’s also a common source of infection for denture wearers.
- Speech: Wearing a removable snap-on denture can change the way you talk. Since there’s still an acrylic “plate” across the roof of your mouth, you’ll have to work on making specific speech sounds without slurring our sounding different. But with an All-on-4 implant appliance, the shape follows the contour of your bite. That means your tongue and lips won’t have to re-learn how to talk differently.
- Eating: All-on-Four implants offer significant advantages over snap-on dentures when it comes time to eat. Since these hybrid denture/bridge designs do not cover the roof of your mouth, you get to enjoy the natural tastes of your meals and chew easier. Anything you would have eaten before losing your teeth (or wearing dentures) is no longer off limits!
- Confidence: There’s something to be said for the way your smile makes you feel. With an All-on-Four implant treatment, you can feel comfortable in your own skin. There’s no taking out an appliance when you go to bed at night or having to worry about the way you look when you’re laughing in front of friends. Everything is as it should be. You won’t have to worry about any awkward situations!
- Facial profile: Dentures can change the way you look. With implants, you’re naturally supporting the bone in your mouth, which consequently affects your facial profile. All-on- 4 implants give you the fullness that counteracts “sunken-in” features seen in tooth loss. Rather, your cheeks and lips are supported to add more youth back to your face.
Which One is Right for You?
When it comes to replacing all of your teeth as quickly as possible, All-on-Four or a snap-on denture are the top two choices. However, All-on-Four presents obvious advantages because the design mimics your natural smile as closely as possible.
We offer flexible financing options so that you can get started on your smile makeover today. Our initial consultation will give you all of the information you need to make an educated decision about dental implant treatments.
Are All-on-4 implants right for you? Book your consultation visit today to find out!