Dental Implant Surgery
League City, TX
Having a missing tooth from your smile not only can make you feel embarrassed how it looks when you share it with others, but it can also cause complications with your oral health. Missing teeth are not just a cosmetic problem; it can also lead to gum shrinkage, bone loss, and the remaining teeth moving into the open space, leading to further tooth loss. Many of our patients here at Tieken Smiles Dentistry are uncertain as to what their options are when they suffer from tooth loss, and they turn to us with their questions. We like to offer dental implants to patients who are good candidates for this procedure, giving them a permanent and attractive solution to their tooth loss problems.
What Happens During Dental Implant Surgery?
What are dental implants and how are they placed? With dental implants growing in popularly, over three million Americans have elected to get this procedure done since its introduction several decades ago, but confusion about it remains. However, this procedure is not very well understood, which is why we like to educate our patients about it.
Unlike other types of dental restorations, to get a dental implant, you do need to undergo surgery. This may make some people hesitate, but please know that it is quite safe. Getting a dental implant is both an extremely safe and routine outpatient procedure, with a half a million Americans electing to have it done every year. It has a remarkable 98 percent success rate, making it a fantastic option for most of our patients. Unlike other types of restorations, which do need to be replaced after a few years, a dental implant will last you the rest of your life if you take good care of it.
Before we begin this procedure, we will first check your oral health to make sure you are a good candidate for the procedure. For some patients that have lost bone mass after losing teeth, we may need to perform a bone grafting procedure prior to the dental implant surgery. Once we are satisfied, we will start by providing you with dental anesthesia.
We typically use a combination of local anesthesia (such as lidocaine) and intravenous (IV) anesthesia to ensure you do not experience any discomfort during the procedure. Next, we will place a surgical incision directly to your gums to expose your dental bone. We will carefully drill into your jawbone, then place the titanium implant into it. Finally, we will suture the surgical site closed and wait for it to heal. From start to finish, this procedure typically takes an hour to an hour and a half.
Over the next several months, your jaw will fuse to the titanium implant in a process known as osseointegration. This will anchor the implant into your jaw, making it strong and sturdy. Once it is healed, which can take up to six months or longer, we will place an abutment onto the implant, then attach the restoration (the crown, the part that resembles a tooth) to it. Once you have your restoration, you can smile freely again and with confidence – your smile is beautiful and whole once again!
Want To Know More?
To learn more about dental implant surgery, or to set up a consultation with us here at Tieken Smiles Dentistry to help you determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants, please give us a call at (281) 942-0444 today!
3033 Marina Bay Dr, League City, TX 77573-3982 
(281) 942-0444
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