Having placed thousands of dental implants over the years in Oklahoma City, Dr. Rhodes and Dr. Windsor have helped their patients regain the ability to eat and smile with confidence.
What Happens When a Permanent Tooth Is Lost
When an adult tooth is lost a variety of negative effects happen:
- You lose the function of that tooth. When a tooth is lost your ability to eat and chew is severely diminished.
- The other teeth can become damaged. The teeth adjacent to the missing tooth now have to carry the extra force when you chew and eat. This puts greater stress on those teeth and can lead to tooth breakage.
- Your teeth can shift. When a tooth is lost the teeth adjacent and above or below can shift and move. This movement and shifting can cause your bite to become misaligned which can lead to tooth pain, breakage, gum disease as well as TMJ issues and pain.
- TMJ problems. Your bite needs to be aligned, stable and closing properly. Similar to hinges on a door, for the door to open and close properly, the hinges have to align properly. When a tooth is lost and the other teeth shift and move it can cause major issues with the TMJ joint like clicking, popping, locking open or closing and pain.
- Gum disease. When a tooth is lost and the teeth shift this can cause food and plaque to build up around the tooth as well as excessive and incorrect biting forces that can lead to gum disease and bone loss. Gum disease is also a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
Implants To Replace Missing Teeth
Dental implants, in certain circumstances, can be placed right after a tooth has been extracted. This immediate placement helps stabilize and prevent major shrinkage of the bone which could prevent implant placement in the future.
Bone Grafting for Future Dental Implant Placement
If an implant cannot be immediately placed after a tooth extraction, a bone graft is typically placed in the extraction socket to help preserve the bone and aid in healing after the extraction. The bone graft helps ensure the bone can accept a dental implant at a future date.
How Are Dental Implants Placed
At Advances in Dentistry in Oklahoma City, we offer a single stage implant placement. Our technique is minimally invasive and usually requires no stitches and results in minimal post op discomfort. The implant is placed in one appointment and a small healing abutment is placed on top of the implant. You will see a small “screw top” right above the gum line. This allows the gum to heal nicely around the healing abutment. This technique requires you to just be numb one time when the implant is placed. After the implant has set a couple of months, we simply remove the healing abutment, screw the final abutment into the implant and then place a crown or a denture on the abutment. You typically do not have to be numb for this and there is usually no pain or discomfort. You can start enjoying the foods you want, eating and chewing with comfort and confidence.
The Benefits of Replacing Missing Teeth with Dental Implants at Advances in Dentistry OKC
- Dental implants give you a strong bite and the ability to eat and enjoy the foods you want since they are integrated into your jaw bone.
- Dental implants help you look younger. Dental implants support the jaw bone and help maintain your facial features by preventing jaw shrinkage due to missing teeth.
- No more cavities. You cannot get decay on a dental implant.
- Dental implants can help give you a great smile you can be proud of.
- Dental implants can be of great value. Dental implants can last a long time and for some patients that can be a lifetime.
How Do I Know If I Am a Candidate for Dental Implants?
First, call Advances in Dentistry at 405-751-6996. We can schedule you a no-charge consultation with one of our OKC dentists. The dentist will listen to your concerns and let you know if dental implants could be the solution you are looking for. If you choose to move forward, we would then take an X-ray to evaluate your bone height and width and do an examination to determine if you are a candidate for dental implants.
Dr. Rhodes is a 1994 Graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. He was voted Best Dentist as well as Favorite Cosmetic Dentist by the 405 magazine. Dr. Rhodes was awarded the Platinum Preferred Implant provider status. Dr. Angela Windsor is a 1998 Graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. She was voted Top 5 Dentist in OKC by the 405 magazine.
Advances in Dentistry is located near Lake Hefner. The location is 12320 St. Andrews Dr. OKC, OK 73120. Remember, when choosing a dentist experience and expertise are vital. With over 30 years of experience providing gentle dental care in Oklahoma City, our Advances in Dentistry team can help. Please call 405-751-6996 to learn more or to schedule a consultation.