Dental Implants – Fort Worth, TX

The Roots of a Sturdy New Smile

Dental implants are a solution for missing teeth that involves taking a realistic fake tooth and firmly embedding it into the mouth. The piece that is affixed to your jaw is a titanium implant; attached to that is a stand called the abutment, which will act as the root would for a natural tooth, holding the substitute in place. The new “tooth” is added later, and this is known as the crown.

Who Is Eligible for Dental Implants?

Practically any adult who is missing at least one tooth is eligible for dental implants in Fort Worth. If you were born with missing teeth, lost any due to injury, or have had a damaged or decayed tooth removed, dental implants could be an excellent option for you.

In some cases, older adolescents may be considered as well for this treatment.

What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?

Dental implants are an ideal choice for those with missing teeth or who need to have a tooth extracted soon. The following are some of the benefits of choosing this option:

• Look and feel like natural teeth
• Brush and floss as normal with no special cleaning required
• Sturdy and secure (implants will not move around when eating or talking)
• Durable (implants can last decades, typically longer than most dentures or dental bridges)
• Healthy for your jaw and teeth (dental implants actually encourage bone growth and prevent jaw deterioration due to gaps from missing teeth)
• Does not require grinding down natural teeth to attach other pieces (as may be the case with dentures or dental bridges)

What Is the Process for Getting Dental Implants?

You will need an initial consultation with Dr. Presley to decide what type of dental implant is needed and what your individual game plan will be. X-rays of your mouth will need to be taken to assist in the preparation for your surgery.

Next, the titanium implant itself will be attached to your jawbone during a surgical appointment. Sometimes, the abutment can be placed at the same time as the implant, but often it is added later. It will take a few months for your jawbone to fuse with the implant and for your gums to heal.

Then, if not already attached, the abutment is placed so that it protrudes above the gum line. Your gums will need time to heal from this procedure before the crown can be added.

The entire dental implant process can take anywhere between three and nine months depending on how many teeth you are needing to replace.