Dental implants are now considered to be the ideal treatment for OKC, Yukon and Piedmont patients at Surrey Hills Dental Clinic suffering from missing teeth. They can be used for procedures ranging from a single tooth replacement to complete dentures.
Surrey Hills Dental Clinic provides this state of the art service as an excellent option for replacing one or more missing teeth. Here are some of the benefits they provide:
- Look and feel just like your natural teeth
- Secure and unnoticeable while chewing and speaking
- Requires no restructuring of surrounding teeth as is the case with traditional bridges
- Requires no restructuring of surrounding teeth as is the case with traditional bridges
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are an alternative to bridges and dentures. The way they work is through the installation of titanium cylinders, which serve as artificial roots for your teeth. These are embedded into the bone of the jaw – usually one for each gap, depending on its size and case. The bridge is either screwed or cemented into place.
The best option is almost always to install a bridge when a patient is missing a tooth. These appliances use abutments on either side of the support in order to anchor it in place. In the past, healthy teeth adjacent to the hole needed to be ground down in order to provide an adequate area in which to anchor. However, the installed titanium cylinders create anchors that do not affect the existing dentition, and, therefore, make a much better alternative to traditional methods.
Are Dental Implants Right for You?
Ideally, this procedure could be performed on all of our patients that could benefit from it, but not everyone qualifies. Patients must be in overall good health; their gums and bone structure must be healthy in order for the implants to anchor securely. Anyone with a systemic disease such as diabetes, bruxism (problems with grinding their teeth), or frequent drinkers and/or smokers makes a poor candidate.
Another major concern is that when dental implants fail it is usually due to poor oral hygiene. Recipients of the implants must be willing to thoroughly keep up with their home dental care routine without fail, and they must also submit to in-office exams as often as four times a year for cleanings and assessments. Much patience is required for the healing process– which can take anywhere between a few months to a year for full recovery.
Dental insurance typically does not cover this procedure, or will only cover a small portion; insurance companies often opt for most clients to undergo cheaper and more traditional methods.
Implant Procedure at Surrey Hills Dental Clinic
The proper installation of dental implants at Surrey Hills Dental Clinic takes a fairly significant amount of time. The first step is for us to take X-rays of your jaw and mouth to determine placement and ensure there is adequate bone to anchor the titanium cylinders. Then we’ll create precise models of your mouth so the implant placement can be determined. We may also require a blood test to guarantee that there are no existing problems that will slow or impede healing.
Typically, this oral procedure requires two surgeries. The first places the titanium cylinders in your jaw, after which you’ll wear a temporary bridge while your jaw heals to the implant. During the second surgery, we place the bars into the cylinders – onto which your new teeth or bridge will be installed. Total treatment time can range from three to twelve months.
Do you live in the Oklahoma City, Yukon or the Piedmont area and need to schedule an appointment? Call Surrey Hills Dental Clinic today at (405) 373-2255.