Dental Implants

Removable dentures aren’t the only way to replace missing teeth. At Cham Dental in Houston, Texas, Nada Alsawaf, DDS, and the team use dental implants to safely restore your smile without the hassle of removing and cleaning dentures. Dental implants bond to your jaw and replace the roots of your teeth so they look and function exactly like your natural teeth. Call Cham Dental today or book an appointment online to find out if you’re a good candidate for dental implants.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small titanium posts that surgically screw into your gums and jawbone to replace your tooth roots if you have severely damaged or missing teeth. They’re considered a more permanent alternative to removable dentures and dental bridges. Because dental implants bond to your jaw during the healing process, they securely hold your replacement teeth in place. 

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants are the closest you can get to fully restoring your smile's look, feel, and function if you have missing teeth. Implants offer many advantages over alternative options, such as:

Durability

Most dentures and bridges need replacement after 5-7 years. Conversely, dental implants can last up to 25 years if you take care of them. 

Comfort

Once dental implants bond to your jaw, they feel no different than your natural teeth. Unlike dentures, you never have to worry about implants shifting on your gums and causing painful sores.

Oral hygiene

Because dental implants function like your natural teeth, they require no special cleaning like dentures. You can brush and floss them like you usually would.

Efficiency

When you have removable dentures, you must work extra hard to chew without discomfort, particularly if they’re ill-fitting. Likewise, dentures that don’t fit perfectly stimulate the saliva production in your mouth, which can give you a lisp. Dental implants eliminate these common issues so you can chew and speak confidently.

Am I a good candidate for dental implants?

The right candidate for dental implants has good overall health and adequate tooth-supporting bone. If you don’t have enough healthy bone in your jaw to support implants, the Cham Dental team recommends a bone graft to provide a strong base for your new restorations.

What happens during the dental implant process?

Dental implants require several scans and dental evaluations to determine the right placement for your implants. Your provider places each implant in areas of your mouth with the strongest tooth-supporting bone. This helps ensure that your implants are long-lasting.

Before your surgery, your provider administers anesthesia to keep you comfortable. They then surgically place the implants. It takes about 6-12 weeks for your mouth to heal after surgery when your jawbone heals around the implants and secures them.

Once your mouth fully heals, your provider takes impressions to create your new replacement teeth, which connect to your implants at your final visit.

To find out if dental implants are right for you, call Cham Dental or schedule an appointment online today.