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Dental Implants
What Is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is an attractive replacement tooth that stays firmly in place when you’re talking and eating. Implants are custom-made to blend in perfectly with your smile, so nobody has to know they’re not your natural teeth. Dental implants allow you to smile whenever you feel like it, and that’s really going to boost your self-confidence.
The dental implant process begins when our implant dentist surgically attaches the implant fixture to your jawbone. This is the section of the implant that acts like a natural tooth root, holding the implant securely in place. The fixture is made from titanium, a durable, stainless material. Because titanium is biocompatible, the bones in your jaw will form a secure attachment to the fixture through a process known as osseointegration.
It will take about three to five months for your body to become completely adjusted to the implant fixture. Then you’ll return to our office so we can complete the process by attaching the middle section known as the implant abutment and the attractive porcelain crown. Porcelain is an outstanding material for dental implants because it’s really strong and it sparkles in the light like a natural tooth.
Our In-Office Dental Implant Technology
Dr. Tharp, Dr. Klaus, and Dr. Kelly have extensive training and experience restoring smiles with dental implants. We also employ the most advanced available technology to make the implant process safer and more effective for you. For example, we feature the Galileos 3D CT scanner from Sirona to determine the ideal location to place your implant fixture.
It only takes 15 seconds for the Galileos scanner to get the information it needs to generate stunningly accurate pictures of all the hard and soft structures in your mouth. And there’s no need to put any film or anything else in your mouth. This provides our dentists in Odessa with essential information that we use for treatment planning.
The Galileos scanner uses software that’s fully compatible with our CEREC in-office milling system. This allows us to design and create your new crown right here in our office, speeding up the implant process.
Prettau Bridges & Milled Bar Overdentures
You can use dental implants to restore a whole arch of missing teeth. This will make your dentures more comfortable and dramaticallyt increase your chewing power. At Tharp, Klaus, & Kelly, we offer two different full arch replacement options. The Pretteau Bridge is a implant-based restoration what provides you with a full arch of prosthetic teeth using just 5 to 6 implants. This type of restoration cannot be removed by you.
We also feature milled bar overdentures, another type of full-arch implant-supported restoration. Unlike the Pretteau Bridge restoration, milled bar overdentures are removable for easy maintenance.
Sometimes, a patient who’s a good candidate for dental implants requires a little extra help to get ready for the implant process. Fortunately, Dr. Tharp, Dr. Klaus, and Dr. Kelly can provide supplemental treatments such as bone grafting to prepare the patient for dental implants.
You don’t have to let bone loss prevent you from getting the smile you really want! With bone grafting, our dentist will surgically attach a small piece of bone tissue to the empty tooth socket. This stimulates your body to generate additional bone mass. Before you know it, you’ll have a beautiful new smile thanks to dental implants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do dental implants last?
Dental implants can last up to a lifetime with proper care and oral hygiene.
How do you take care of your dental implants after the procedure?
You can take care of your implants by brushing and flossing every day and visiting your dentist for regular checkups. Our dentists recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and nylon floss while avoiding any toothpaste that contains abrasive ingredients.
Are dental implants safe?
As long as your implant procedure is performed by an experienced and qualified dentist, there’s no cause for concern. In fact, dental implants have a success rate of 98%.