A
dental implant is a titanium post designed to replace missing teeth.
The post is surgically placed into the jawbone where the tooth is missing, and provides a more permanent solution.
Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Implants are surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, and
fuse to the jawbone. Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone, a process called osseointegration. Integration of the implants into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural, and some people find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes.
Candidates for dental implants must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant.
If you are missing a tooth, you may be wondering what to do next. At Dr. Xixi Wu, we believe a
single tooth implant replacement may be the answer. Dental implants have become the industry standard when it comes to tooth replacements.
At Dr. Xixi Wu, we specialize in restorations designed to replace
multiple missing teeth. The type of restoration you receive depends on your circumstance. More often than not, we recommend an implant-related solution.
Are you missing all or most of the teeth on either or both of your upper or lower arches? Have you considered dental implants or dentures? Don’t know which one to choose? You might even want to upgrade your denture, but are reticent about getting so many implants. Why not go with a hybrid that combines the best aspects of each? The
All-On-4® implant treatment concept is an innovative solution for individuals with significant tooth loss that might be right for you.
Do you suffer from significant tooth loss, and are looking to restore your smile? Perhaps you have tried wearing comprehensive dentures, but need a solution with more stability and functionality. An option you might want to consider if you are looking for more functional consistency, but do not want to replace all your missing teeth with single implant crowns is a bar-retained, implant-supported overdenture. This is a hybrid solution that optimizes both the benefits of
comprehensive dentures with that of implants.
Tooth loss often leads to bone loss in the jaw. A dental implant needs a solid foundation of bone to support it, and bone loss is a common issue when teeth have been missing for a significant period of time. When bone loss occurs in the upper premolar or molar areas the sinus can fill in the gap left by the receding bone. No harm is caused by the sinus filling in the gap left by receding bone, but if dental implants are desired a
sinus lift may be necessary.
Dental implants are one of several ways that teeth can be replaced. No one wants to live with tooth loss. Here at Dr. Xixi Wu, we would like to make sure that you know all of your options so that you will be able to make well-informed decisions. There are some places in your mouth where implants will make the most sense. Here is what you need to know about dental implants and where they will be placed in your mouth.
Dental implants can give you back the freedom and the confidence that you had before you lost a tooth. Here is some information that you might find helpful. While all of your teeth are important, some teeth work harder than others. Your four front teeth, or central incisors, are extremely hard working. These are needed to cut through the food and get it into your mouth. If you lose one of your central incisors, we will want to give you an
implant if you are a good candidate for it. An implant should be strong enough to handle the job.
Likewise, your molars also do much work. They will grind up your food so that it is small enough to swallow safely. This is also the beginning of digestion. If you want to be able to enjoy all of your favorite foods, it is important that your molars will be able to handle the work. That is why an implant is often a good idea if it is a molar that you are missing. The implant that you receive the day that you have the initial surgery will not be the permanent implant. We will not place the permanent crown on the screw until your mouth has healed and we know that the addition of the screw in your jaw was successful.
When we place the temporary crown on the screw after the initial surgery, we will recommend that you be careful. While the crown should not come off, that does not mean that you can treat it like your natural tooth. We will recommend that you stick to soft foods and foods that are easy to eat, at least for a few weeks. Once your mouth has healed, and the screws for the implants have become part of your jaw, it will be time for the placement of the permanent crowns. These are made to look exactly like your natural teeth. We will carefully put the crown in place and then bond it to the screw with resin. It will become part of your mouth.
Sometimes we might not recommend a dental implant. If we can save the tooth, that is usually what we will recommend. Even if the tooth is gone, we might not recommend an implant. Here at Dr. Xixi Wu, it is important to us that you are well informed. If you are missing a tooth, call us at (972) 669-9444. We would like to schedule an appointment to see what we can do.
