What You Should Know About Dental Implants in Odessa

We’re excited to welcome fall at our office. We love West Texas football season, cooler temperatures, and the promise of the holidays right around the corner. It is also our favorite time of year because we get to help patients make big-time smile improvements in preparation for the holiday season. Are your teeth ready for every photo opportunity during October, November, and December? If you are missing one or more teeth, the answer is likely no. Did you know that nothing fills the gaps in a smile as effectively as dental implants in Odessa? It’s true — but there are a few things you should know about the procedure. We’ve listed the top five below!

#1: Dental Implants Take Time

In fact, the total treatment time for dental implants may take longer than one year. Dental implants require plenty of healthy jawbone structure for proper anchoring. But when the teeth have been missing for a long time, significant degeneration may have already occurred. Bone augmentation, like bone grafts or sinus lifts, can make patients eligible for dental implants — but they add months to the total treatment time. Even when preparatory procedures are not necessary, dental implants take six to eight months to complete.

#2: The Magic Is in the Osseointegration

So you’ve heard that dental implants are the best option for tooth replacement, but do you know why? It’s because they provide the only truly comprehensive solution available today. Dental implants are titanium posts that are implanted beneath the gum line. And because titanium fuses with the jawbone — the process we know as osseointegration — they provide unmatched stability for the prosthetic tooth (or teeth) attached on top. And once the bone has grown together with the dental implant, your jaw stays healthy and whole for years to come.

#3: Not Everyone Is a Good Candidate

The only way to know for sure whether or not you can benefit from implant dentistry is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cobb. He will evaluate your oral and overall health to determine your eligibility for dental implants. If you are a good candidate, he will refer you to a trusted local oral surgeon for the implant placement. You return to our office for the restoration of dental implants, after osseointegration has taken place.

#4: Even Initially Successful Dental Implants Can Fail

In eligible patients, dental implants have a success rate of 95 percent. But when they are not cared for properly, even dental implants that were initially healthy can fail. A condition called peri-implantitis causes the failure of dental implants. Prevent peri-implantitis by brushing and flossing teeth regularly, and visiting the dentist as recommended. When cared for properly, dental implants can last a lifetime.

#5: Dental Implants Are the Most Natural Replacement

Because they use the strength of the jaw to support the tooth replacement, nothing provides more security than dental implants. And that means your denture or crown feels just like the rest of your teeth — no need to worry about your teeth slipping around or falling out at inopportune moments. With dental implants, your teeth fit just like they should from day one!

If you’d like to learn more about dental implants, including your candidacy for the treatment, please contact our office today.