Dental Implants

If you or any member of your family has one or more missing teeth, it’s important to replace those teeth as soon as possible. This is not only for cosmetic reasons – although missing teeth can definitely have a negative impact on the appearance of a person’s smile – it’s also because missing teeth can lead to a long list of other problems. If you’re missing even a single tooth, your other teeth will shift in place over time in an effort to fill in the space left behind by the missing tooth. This can throw your bite off, which can result in problems chewing food and speaking, and can eventually cause problems with the jaw and even change the shape of your face.

For many patients, dental implants are an excellent choice to replace missing teeth. These remarkable dental appliances consist of an artificial tooth affixed to the post on an artificial root that is implanted into the patient’s jaw. Because they are permanently imbedded into the jawbone, dental implants also make excellent anchors for either partial or full dentures, allowing these appliances to stay in place snugly and securely within the patient’s mouth. Dr. Baines is pleased to offer dental implants as one of the many services he provides to his patients from throughout the Austin, TX, area.

Important Information about Dental Implants

There’s a good reason why so many patients choose dental implants to replace missing teeth or to serve as anchors for partials or dentures: they are extremely durable and, in most cases, last for the lifetime of the patient. Implants look and function just like natural teeth. Patients can care for their implants in just the same way as they do their natural teeth – by brushing and flossing. However, the process involved in getting a new dental implant does take some time.

The first step consists of taking X-rays and impressions of your teeth and jaw. This will help your dentist determine whether your bone tissue is suitable to hold the implant. Once that determination is made, the artificial root will be surgically implanted into your jaw and allowed to fuse to the bone – a process that typically takes several months. The final step involves fitting the artificial tooth onto the post that is attached to the implanted root. While the process undoubtedly takes time to complete, most patients feel that the end result is well worth the effort.