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Dental Implants in Austin, TX

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What Is a Dental Implant?

Understanding the Basics

Dental implants consist of three primary parts. The first is the implant itself, which is a tiny metal rod built of titanium that's shaped like a screw. This is surgically implanted into your mouth to act as an artificial tooth root.

Next is the abutment, which is a small metal connector that attaches to the dental implant and allows it to connect to a dental implant restoration. This can be placed during tooth implant surgery or during a later appointment.

The third and final part of a dental implant is the dental implant "restoration" or prosthetic. Single-tooth implants use one dental crown, but multiple implants can be used to support a dental bridge or denture, as well. Tooth implants can be both used for cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry. Interested in implants? Schedule a consultation at Austin Dental Company today.

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The Unique Benefits of Dental Implants

First of all, dental implants help stimulate and protect your jaw bone after tooth loss, unlike bridges or dentures. This protects the strength of your jaw, as well as the appearance of your face, which can change over time due to bone loss. Implants also never move or shift when you smile, eat, or chew, and they look and feel completely natural. Not only that, but they can last 30+ years with proper care. Most types of dental implants also require minimal maintenance, making them easy to care for. For all of these reasons, implants are considered to be the "gold standard" for permanent tooth replacement.

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The Dental Implant Treatment Process

What to Expect

Your Initial Consultation

First, you will visit Dr. Morren for an implant consultation, and he will determine if this treatment is right for you. If you’re approved for treatment, he will begin developing your treatment plan right away.

Implant Placement Process

Your implant will be surgically implanted into your mouth a few weeks after your initial consultation. Dr. Morren will use a comprehensive treatment plan and guide to ensure the implant is placed perfectly.

Implant Healing Process (Osseointegration)

It takes about 1-2 weeks to heal from the initial placement process, but it takes about 3-6 months for the implant to permanently bond with your jaw bone. Your restoration can only be placed once the bone and implant have healed completely.

Implant Restoration Process

During your recovery process, you’ll come in for multiple appointments so that your implant restoration, such as a dental crown, can be built. Once your implant site is fully healed and the implant has bonded with the bone, you’ll come in for your final appointment, and have your restoration permanently attached to your implant, completing the procedure.

Know Your Options

Am I a Good Candidate for a Dental Implant?

To get a dental implant or a single tooth implant, you must have a healthy mouth and a strong jaw bone and be willing to commit to a multi-step process. If you're not sure whether or not this treatment is right for you, your dentist in Westlake, TX is here to help. We offer free consultations for patients interested in Austin dental implants. We not only serve the dental patients of Austin, TX, but also surrounding areas such as Steiner Ranch. At this appointment we can discuss dental implants cost and next steps, so contact us now to get started.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

The list of benefits that come with dental implants is extensive. They’re a unique tooth restoration because they’re the only tooth replacement that can prevent bone loss and restore an artificial tooth root.

The integration of the implant in the jaw firmly holds tooth restoration in place so that it can never move. While other fixed restorations like dental bridges exist, they can become ill-fitting over time.

Because implants restore the tooth’s root instead of just the crown, they look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. Implants are highly durable and made of biocompatible materials. The preservation of your jawbone prevents serious consequences of bone loss such as changes to your facial shape and facial sagging.

This retains your youthful appearance, restores your ability to chew and speak clearly, and you never have to worry about your teeth falling out or shifting while you do so. Best of all, implants let you live a restriction-free lifestyle, where you can eat whatever you want.

Implants have a 95% success rate, which is much higher than other restorative procedures. Caring for your dental implants is low maintenance, unlike dentures and bridges which require extensive cleaning regimens. You clean an implant just like you would clean your natural teeth.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Implants are also a life-long fix instead of a temporary one. While dentures and bridges last for about 10 years or less, a dental implant has a minimum lifespan of 25 years. Most patients enjoy their implants for life, never needing to replace them.

Implants are a permanent solution to lost teeth since you never need to replace them as long as you properly care for them and maintain good oral hygiene.

Smiling and holding up her clear aligners

Dental Implants: What Are My Options?

Implant Restorations:

Single-Tooth Implants

This is a traditional implant that replaces a single missing tooth in the mouth. A titanium post is implanted into the jawbone and allowed to heal for 3 to 6 months so that it becomes integrated with the jawbone, forming a tooth root. Then, we reopen the gums to attach an abutment and take impressions to create a dental crown that is attached about 6 weeks later.

Full Arch Implants

Rarely, Dr. Morren will offer to stabilize a denture or bridge with a series of implants that ensure that these restorations never slip and don’t contribute to bone loss. After implanting about 4 to 6 implants in the jaw per arch of teeth, the implants need 3 to 6 months for osseointegration to occur.

A temporary denture or bridge is placed to restore the teeth until then. Once you’re fully healed, collars are placed for about 10 to 14 days to encourage healing and then replaced with abutments. The bridge or denture is fabricated from impressions taken of your mouth. These clip onto the abutments.

Maintenance

Even though replacing a tooth with a dental implant means you won’t get a cavity, it’s still crucial that you practice good oral hygiene and attend maintenance appointments to prevent your risk for gum disease and peri-implantitis.

These appointments last for about an hour and involve thoroughly cleaning the implant site. This may include guided biofilm therapy, which is the use of air polishing to clean around the implant site below the gums.

Other tools may include special scalers that are designed to clean around implants. It’s also important that you’re brushing and flossing at home. During these maintenance appointments, we will check for signs of infection and ensure that there are no problems with your implants.

These appointments are recommended every 3 months. If you have dental implants and haven’t had a maintenance cleaning in the past 3 months, contact us at Austin Dental Company to schedule a cleaning today.

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