Midtown Dentistry
315 Westheimer, Houston, TX
(713) 807-9877
Houston, TX Dental Implants
Get Your Smile Back with Dental Implants
Maybe you have been overwhelmed with the prospect of losing your teeth. Maybe you looked into dental implants a few years ago and felt the solution was no better than living with it. You are not alone. The fact is that technology has come a long way very quickly. And today, we can do amazing work with these new dental Implants. Best of all:
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The procedure is fast and easy -- We can complete dental implants in several visits and minimize any discomfort.
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The results are teeth that really do look and feel real.
No More Dentures, No More Bridges!
If you've lived with old-fashioned dentures or a bridge, you know this is not a great solution. They slip at the worst times, they don't look or feel very natural and they don't last. Even worse, the grinding of adjacent teeth to install dentures or bridges can lead to worse problems. Dental implants only affect the teeth that need to be replaced. And since they are permanently fixed to the jaw bone, there is absolutely no slipping, and they are as durable as original teeth.
Dental implants provide people with the ability to smile with confidence and eat virtually anything they want. People who undertake this procedure can rest assured knowing that their teeth will appear natural and their facial contours will be preserved, maintaining a youthful appearance. The implant procedure requires the surgical placement of small titanium posts to the jawbone where teeth are missing. The titanium and bone integrate. This creates a solid foundation for the artificial teeth. Also, implants can help prevent bone deterioration and preserve facial structure that occurs when teeth are missing.
Dental implants have the capabilities of changing a person's way of life. With implants, people are rediscovering the confidence and comfort to speak, eat, laugh and enjoy life.
When you make the decision to have dental implants, Midtown Dentistry in Houston, Texas will first perform a dental/radiographic examination and health history. Prior to surgery you will be able to address any concerns you may have about the procedure during your consultation visits with your surgeon and restorative dentist. Our Houston dental implant team will work very closely with you to make your procedure a success. Your questions and concerns are extremely important to us.
Procedure for Implants to hold a Denture
Dental implants are metal anchors which act as tooth root substitutes. They are placed into the jawbone. Small posts that provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth are then attached to the implant above the gum. For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, dental implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually integrating with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time. At the same time, your restorative dentist designs the final bridgework or denture, which will ultimately improve both function and aesthetics.
After the dental implant has integrated with the jawbone, the second phase begins. We attach a small healing collar to the implant and then the posts are attached. We will then begin to make the previously designed new teeth. The entire procedure from the day of placing the implant usually takes six to eight months. Most patients do not experience any disruption in their daily life. In many instances, treatment times can be drastically reduced as well.
If you are in need of dental implants in Houston, Texas, Midtown Dentistry is your answer. We will make your dental implant experience as smooth and painless as possible and you can be confident in our expertise and experience. When looking for a Houston implant dentist, look to the doctors at Midtown Dentistry. We are well-versed in every aspect of the dental implant procedure and will make sure that you receive the best care when you come to us for a dental implant in Houston.
How Do I Care for Dental Implants?Your overall health may affect the success rate of dental implants. Smoking and alcohol use seem to decrease the long term succes of implants. Poor oral hygiene is a big reason why some implants fail.
It is important to floss and brush around the fixtures at least twice a day, without metal objects. Additional cleanings of up to four times per year by a hygienist is necessary to ensure that you retain healthy implants and gums.
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
Success rates vary, depending on where in the jaw the implants are placed but, in general, dental implants have a success rate of up to 98%. With proper care (see below), implants can last a lifetime.
Can Anyone Get a Dental Implant?
In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for an implant procedure. Patients should have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. They also must be committed to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Heavy smokers, people suffering from uncontrolled chronic disorders - such as diabetes or heart disease - or patients who have had radiation therapy to the head/neck area need to be evaluated on an individual basis. If you are considering implants, talk to your Houston dentist to see if they are right for you.
Does Insurance Cover the Cost of Dental Implants?
In general, implants are not covered by dental insurance at this time. Coverage under your medical plan may be possible, depending on the insurance plan and/or cause of tooth loss. Detailed questions about your individual needs and how they relate to insurance should be discussed with your dentist and your insurance provider.
How Painful Are Dental Implants?
Most people who have received dental implants say that there is very little discomfort involved in the procedure. Local anesthesia can be used during the procedure, and most patients report that implants involve less pain than a tooth extraction. After the dental implant, mild soreness can be treated with over-the-counter pain medications, such as Tylenol or Motrin.
Immediate Dental Implant restoration
This is the latest dental technology by which a missing tooth can be replaced by implanting an artificial tooth into the jaw bone at the area of the missing tooth on the same day the broken tooth is removed. A crown is immediately placed on, and the person has a permanent tooth the same day. The anatomical shape of this artificial tooth is similar to the biological root shape of the natural tooth.
This dental implant fuses and integrates with the jaw bone by allowing the growth of bone cells called osteoblasts on the rough surfaces of the titanium dental implant. This process forms a perfectly functional connection between the living bone and titanium implant. This implant functions as a support for artificial tooth colored dental crowns constructed over it.
By choosing an implant having appropriate diameter and length, Dr. Jonathan Penchas from Houston, Texas, can restore missing tooth to the highest esthetic and functional standards. This restores the chewing ability of the person to the highest efficiency possible, which is significantly higher than the chewing ability which could be achieved by using an ordinary conventional dental bridge or denture.
Most cases treated by Dr. Jonathan Penchas and his surgical team using immediate titanium implant restorations have shown prevention of further loss of jaw gum and bone after the tooth loss. This is very important in the front of the mouth, where any loss is visible and unappealing. Using immediate dental implant restoration also helps to conserve the natural teeth adjacent to the missing tooth area as there is no need to cut down the adjacent existing teeth to place a dental bridge (fixed partial denture).
Immediate dental implant restorations gives superior final esthetic results compared to the previous technique and patients from Midtowndentistry, our Houston, Texas dental office have left feeling more confident and self assured.
The success rate of immediate dental implant restorations is said to be about 92%, a little lower than the classic approach (95% success). In most cases, the success rate is affected by quality and quantity of the bone available at the site of missing tooth in person's mouth, as well as their bite and cleaning habits.
The failure in 8% cases has been observed mostly due to patient's inability and lack of commitment to maintain a good oral hygiene. Failure on part of patient to maintain proper oral hygiene in area of implant leads to failure of integration between titanium implant and jaw bone. This causes the implant to become mobile, spin or lost eventually.
Patients who have undergone dental implant treatment are advised to follow oral hygiene routines with care and commitment. This helps to avoid infection and inflammation in bone surrounding the implant and increases the success rate of immediate dental implant restorations.
Smoking is another big cause of failure of immediate dental implant restorations. If you are contemplating on getting an immediate dental implant restoration done, you must curb smoking one month before treatment and should continue to abstain from smoking for at least three weeks after this treatment to ensure high success rate. Of course, we at MidtownDentistry would love to help you stop smoking permanently!!!