Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants
Tulsa, OK
 According to estimates, 125 million individuals in the U.S. have at least one missing tooth. If you are one of these individuals and you are considering tooth replacement options, getting dental implants can be a great choice. At Smiles of Tulsa, we will help you with a dental implant that will improve your smile, your ability to bite and chew, and your overall oral health.
Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
With dental implants, you can replace one or several of your teeth. Implants can also be used to support dentures and bridges. Good candidates for dental implants should have a fully grown jawbone and healthy gums. Your bone should also be sufficient to support the implants. However, even those who have lost bone in the jaw can get dental implants. Dental implants may even limit any further bone loss. If you’ve experienced bone loss, your bone can be rebuilt through grafting procedures to allow for implant placement.
What are the Various Types of Implants?
There are two primary variants of dental implants, subperiosteal and endosteal. Your dentist will guide you on which option suits you. The more common type of implant is endosteal. The screw-shaped endosteal implants are meant to replace your actual tooth’s root and thus they are placed in your jawbone. Dentists prefer endosteal implants because when you lose a tooth, you may experience bone loss and the adjacent teeth can shift. Endosteal implants are placed in the space where your lost tooth’s root is occupied and thus help maintain the jawbone and facial structure.
Conversely, subperiosteal implants are placed on top of the jawbone rather than in your jawbone. This type of implant is usually ideal if your jawbone isn’t healthy or strong enough to support an anchored implant.
What Does a Dental Implant Procedure Entail?
There are two primary variants of dental implant procedures: single-stage and two-stage. With a single implant, you only need a single surgical appointment. During this procedure, a longer implant will be placed into your jawbone with the tip of the implant exposed. When that area heals, your doctor will attach an abutment and crown to the exposed end of the implant.
With a two-stage implant procedure, you need at least two surgeries separated by healing time. Your dentist will first place an implant into your jawbone. Once you have healed, they will conduct another surgery to expose the top end of the implant where an abutment and crown will be placed. While this process is more complex and invasive, it’s much more beneficial in the long term. The healing period between the two surgeries allows for the jawbone and the implant to fuse creating a stronger base for the crown of the tooth.
What are the Various Types of Dental Implant Materials?
Titanium and zirconia are the main dental implant materials used. Titanium is the more traditional implant material that’s been in use for many years. Conversely, zirconia is a more recent metal-free option. Both materials will fuse with your jawbone to ensure your dental implant is robustly anchored. And, both materials have proper composition and microstructure and are resistant to corrosion as well as fracturing. For a dental implant option that will restore your smile, your ability to chew, and your overall health and well-being, call Smiles of Tulsa at (918) 891-3059 today. |
Waze