Houston Dental Implants and Bridges: A Comparison

This article compares dental implants and bridges and the benefits they offer people who have lost one or more of their original adult teeth.

If you have lost one or more of your original adult teeth, replacing them with either dental implants or a bridge can offer you many short and long-term benefits. These dental devices prevent your neighboring teeth from becoming loose and shifting; they also minimize the risk of bacterial infection from attacking the exposed tooth socket. Replacing missing teeth with a dental implant or bridge also fundamentally helps patients to eat and speak properly and with good confidence. However, before you opt for either Houston dental implants or a dental bridge, it is best to understand the difference between these two technologies. This will you help you to make the right choice.

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant in Houston is a titanium screw that functions like a root for an artificial replacement tooth. This screw in placed in the mouth at the site/s of them missing tooth or teeth. Over the ensuing weeks, it fuses with the surrounding bone in a process termed ‘osseointegration’, essentially becoming a permanent part of your body. While this biological fusion is taking place, the implant dentist will places a temporary crown over the implant so that you don’t walk around with a noticeable gap in your smile. Complete healing typically takes anywhere from six weeks to nine months and is dependent on the location of the implant, the number of teeth replaced and individual's general and oral health. Once the healing is complete, the dentist will replace the temporary tooth crown with a permanent one.

What are Dental Bridges?

A dental bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth that are kept in place by way of a bridge that is fixed to two healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth. These natural healthy teeth are ground down to nubs in order to provide fixed support for the bridge. Alternatively, a bridge can be fixed to the adjacent healthy teeth using metal bands and resin cement. There is also the ‘cantilevered bridge’ that makes use of just a single tooth to stay in place.

Comparing Houston Dental Implants and Bridges

Both dental implants and dental bridges provide a great aesthetic solution to missing teeth.  They’re also both fixed quite sturdily in place, so they cannot shift around or fall out. There are, however, some significant differences between these technologies that have rendered implants the preferred teeth replacement method of dental healthcare professionals.

Houston Dental Implants and the Science of Restoring Smiles

Dental implants offer the most sophisticated tooth replacement solution to people who want a beautiful, healthy and confident smile back.

Your smile... do you take it for granted? Maybe it’s been a while since you last smiled with the full caliber of emotion you feel, because you believe that your teeth are not in very good condition. Perhaps you have suffered tooth loss or are facing the need to have decayed and or broken down teeth extracted. Unfortunately, few people appreciate the true value of a beautiful smile. It just goes to show that you don’t know what you have until you’ve lost it! So, what does your smile mean to you and your fellow human beings?

The Value of Smiling: Did You Know?

• Certain physiological reactions take place when you smile, releasing endorphins into your body. These “happy” chemicals help to relieve stress and instantly boost your mood.

• Scientific research indicates that the activation of certain muscles used for smiling trigger neurotransmitters in the brain. These then release certain chemicals in the brain, which regulate breathing, blood pressure and block stress hormones. In other words, smiling is excellent for good health!

• Smiling is an intrinsic, instinctual part of our body language as human beings. Just think about it... even the most isolated people on Earth smile, even though their culture is so completely different and they are completely divorced from the rest of the world. Universally, a smile conveys intentions of good-will, acceptance and satisfaction.

• We have the ability to smile since birth, proving that it is an ingrained mechanism for expression in humans. Babies begin smiling in the womb, literally as practice in winning over the acceptance and protection of adults when they are born. Babies naturally interpret smiles as encouragement of good behavior and learning.

• People who smile often are statistically more likely to land a job or promotion. This is probably because people who smile more are just more likable!

Your smile is important. So, even if you’ve lost one or more of your teeth, you should take the necessary steps to have it restored. Houston dental implants, without a doubt, offer the most sophisticated and long lasting solution to missing teeth.

Dental Implants in Houston: Benefits and Advantages

• A dental implant consists of a titanium replacement ‘root’ for an original tooth that may have been lost due to infection, decay or physical trauma sustained during an accident. This replacement ‘root’ stimulates the jaw bone tissue the way the natural tooth root would have done. This promotes excellent jaw bone health and prevents further tooth loss, unlike other tooth replacement technologies, which only replace the crowns of the missing teeth.

• Houston dental implants provide support for a durable and natural-looking ceramic tooth crown. This crown can withstand a natural bite force, without exerting pressure on the surrounding teeth or soft tissues, unlike dental bridges and removable dentures. Furthermore, unlike natural dental enamel, ceramic crowns won’t become stained or discolored.

• Dental implant procedures in Houston are typically quite brief. A damaged or decayed tooth can be extracted and replaced within a single appointment!

• Dental implants in Houston have a higher success rate than any other conventional method of dental restoration and they last decades longer.

• If properly cared for, dental implants can last 20 or 30 years and even longer without the need for restoration or replacement. No other teeth replacement technology can compete.

• Dental implants restore smile beauty and self confidence.

Houston Dental Implants: A Final Note

Dental implants are - functionally and aesthetically - the closest thing to having natural teeth one can get. One of their most important benefits is that they enable people to smile with all the confidence they thought they had forever lost. Now you can enjoy the successes that a confident and natural-looking smile brings.

Advice from Houston Dental Implants Experts: Seven Secrets for a Healthier Smile, PART 2

This two-part article series provides professional tips as well as at-home advice for keeping your teeth and gums - and smile - in great condition.

Welcome back to this two-part article on the Seven Secrets for a Healthier Smile! In the first installment, the Houston dental implants experts we consulted with discussed the importance of flossing as well as going for regular, scheduled appointments with your family dentist and oral hygienist. It was explained that if your fear of the dentist is keeping you from seeking professional healthcare, then it might be time to find someone a little more gentle and compassionate. Last, but not least, readers were cautioned that no amount of pre-appointment brushing and flossing will be able to mask the damage done by your bad habits! Dentists can tell from the appearance of your teeth, gums and other soft tissues just what you’ve been up to!

Now, let’s check out the remaining three secrets for a healthier smile.

5. If you wait until a problem causes you pain, it’s probably too late to fix!

Don’t make the mistake of thinking you don’t have an oral problem unless it hurts. Oral bacterial infections by their very nature don’t tend to cause pain other than some mild localized sensitivity. A cavity also won’t hurt until it actually exposes the delicate insides of your tooth, at which stage infection and decay could require you to have a dental implant placed by a Houston specialist! In addition, oral cancer (which could present as a strange lump, white patch or other abnormality) can be totally pain free. Regular appointments with the dentist are the only thing that can help in the early detection and treatment of potentially severe, or even fatal oral maladies.

6. Seeing the dentist about an oral problem could actually save your life!

Few people truly realize just how closely linked their oral health is with their general health. According to Houston dental implants specialists, gum disease can be a sign of serious diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease! Bacteria that are commonly found in the mouth are also present in the plaque that lines the heart’s arteries. By having oral ailments diagnosed and treated promptly, you not only help to prevent the development of other health problems, but you could actually have potentially fatal conditions diagnosed and treated too. Good oral health is imperative for good general health, so take both very seriously!

7. Understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to cosmetic dentistry

Wish you had George Clooney’s teeth or Keira Knightley’s pearly whites? Here’s something to bear in mind when asking your dentist about veneers, crowns or dental implants in Houston: there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Everyone’s teeth are different and will respond to cosmetic treatments, such as whitening or bleaching, differently. Don’t undergo extensive work because you think it will make you look more like your favorite celebrity. Those big teeth may suit Julia Roberts, but they might not suit you!

Aim to keep your teeth clean and healthy and, should you wish to have a cosmetic procedure done, don’t expect to walk out looking like George Clooney or Keira Knightley. Rather, expect to look like you, just with a much more beautiful and radiant smile!

Dental Implants Experts in Houston: Seven Secrets for a Healthier Smile, PART 1

This two-part article series provides professional tips as well as at-home advice for keeping your teeth and gums - and smile - in great condition.

We all want the benefits of a fabulous and sexy smile. What’s great about oral healthcare is that a healthy smile IS a beautiful smile; so really, by looking after your teeth and gums you’re killing two birds with one stone! In this two-part article, dental implants experts in Houston will be discussing seven professional and at-home secrets for a sexier and healthier smile!

1. See your dentist more often!

When last did you pay a visit to your dentist and oral hygienist for a check-up and a professional cleaning? Too many people allow years to lapse in between visits to the dentist. You may not think you have a problem that requires professional attention, but when it comes to the health of your teeth and gums, prevention is ALWAYS better than cure. You do not want to face the prospect of an appointment with the Houston dental implant specialist before you start taking your oral health seriously.

Additionally, many oral ailments do not present with obvious symptoms until it is too late. You can avoid the discomfort and expense of the dental surgery generally needed to fix problems that are wholly preventable in the first place by going for regularly scheduled appointments with your dentist.

2. If your fear of the dentist keeps you from going for regular appointments, you’re just not seeing the right one.

If your current dentist doesn’t make you feel comfortable enough to keep regular scheduled appointments, it’s not necessarily your fault! Many people put their fear of the dentist down to some deep-rooted psychological aversion or fear. While this may be the case for a select few truly phobic patients, in most cases, fear and anxiety can be totally abolished by a gentle and compassionate dentist. If your dentist’s bedside manner doesn’t put you at ease enough to keep regular appointments, perhaps it’s time to find yourself another dental healthcare professional!

3. Nothing replaces the value of regular flossing.

Flossing is an absolutely essential component of your oral healthcare regime. Not flossing is like getting into the shower and only washing the top half of your body. You’re leaving the lower half dirty! Brushing alone is not effective enough to remove all the plaque (bacteria) and food debris from between your teeth, which is why it’s important that you floss every day, especially before you go to bed at night.

“If patients could see what remains on and between their teeth even after they’ve brushed, they’d be truly shocked,” says an expert in the placement of dental implants in Houston. “Try it: have a good and thorough brush and then floss. You will be amazed at all the food and plaque that you excavate from between your teeth. You’ll become a flosser for life!”

4. Your mouth doesn’t lie!

The appearance of your teeth, gums and other soft tissues in your mouth tells the dentist everything he or she needs to know about your lifestyle. Reconsider lying the next time they ask you whether or not you floss, smoke or drink a lot of coffee! Your mouth doesn’t lie, so better you get to work improving your habits before your next appointment with the dentist.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more advice from Houston dental implants experts on how to keep your teeth in excellent condition for life, stay tuned for the second installment of this two-part article series.

All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston: 21st Century Solution to Tooth Loss

This article provides an overview of the “All-on-4” dental implant protocol and its benefits over traditional removable dentures.

Periodontal or gum disease is a pervasive ailment today, in spite of our advanced medical technology and increased health awareness and standards of hygiene. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, more than 30 million people in the United States have lost all of their original adult teeth in one or both of their jaws. And the most common cause of rampant tooth loss and edentulism (the state of having lost all of one’s teeth) is gum disease.

The traditional approach to replacing missing teeth, especially in cases where most of your teeth have fallen out or have been extracted by the dentist, is removable dentures. But these bulky plastic dental appliances and all of the challenges and repeated expenses they come hand-in-hand with have been eclipsed by a far more sophisticated and non-removable technology:

Dental implants and in particular, the “All on 4” protocol.

About Modern Dental Implant Procedures in Houston

“All on 4 dental implant protocol” may sound complicated and full of medical jargon you don’t think you could understand, but the procedure is actually very simple in concept! A specially-trained implant dentist places four dental implants in the mouth, which are used to support a non-removable prosthetic dental bridge (refer to the picture above). This bridge is fabricated from exceptionally strong, durable and non-corrosive materials so that it can endure many decades of chewing, grinding and biting with little risk of breakage.

Furthermore, because the bridge is supported by dental implants, which are in turn anchored by the jaw, it doesn’t need to be big and bulky like removable dentures do. This eliminates many of the challenges patients experience with dentures, such as gagging, sore gums, impeded taste ability and impeded texture and temperature sensation.

The Benefits of All on 4 Dental Implants in Houston

Nowadays, removable dentures are no longer the best option edentulous and near-edentulous patients have. You no longer need to follow in the footsteps of mom and dad as far as getting new teeth is concerned. If you have lost most or all of your teeth to the ravages of periodontal diseases, your smile quite literally has a second chance. All on 4 dental implants in Houston can provide fixed and non-removable tooth replacement solutions that enable patients to eat all the foods they like while enjoying the many benefits of having a natural-looking and confident smile.

Because All on 4 dental implants are non-removable, they are cleaned and maintained like natural teeth and don’t require any of the repeat expenses that dentures do, such as messy, sticky adhesives, overnight soaking solutions and special cleaning pastes. The “All on 4” dental bridge is also custom fabricated to fit snugly against a patient’s gums, which prevents it from harboring food debris and bacteria: a common problem with dentures that leads to chronic bad breath.

All on 4 Implants: Fact, not Fiction

With typically only a single surgery of a few hours only, you can go from toothless to having a mouth full of fixed, non-removable and gorgeous-looking pearly whites. This may sound very much like the stuff of dreams, but it is a reality thanks to the incredible advancements that have been made in the fields of fixed oral rehabilitation and dental implantology!

Baseball Accident, Teeth Loss & Successful Dental Implants in Houston - A Case Study

Case Study of Henry’s Accident and Dental Condition Overview – From NoDentures.com
This week’s case involves a 27 yr old young man, named Henry, who was struck in the mouth at the age of 14 with a baseball bat. His lives in Venezuela and works as a physical therapist. This accident caused Henry to lose three front teeth, his upper right cuspid [eye tooth], lateral and central. In this case, bone damage was extensive. The entire ridge is lost in that area in a U-shaped manner, going all the way to his nasal cavity.

Henry’s Earlier Dental Treatments and Advice
His previous dentist did an excellent job by fabricating and placing a fixed bridge, which is double-abutted to the central and lateral and single-abutted to the #4, the upper left first bicuspid. Thus, three teeth were replaced with three natural teeth supporting the bridge, where a bridge encompasses a total of 6 teeth. Pontic replacing teeth #’s 6, 7 and 8 were very long to hide. However, Henry had a low lip line and that’s why the space where bone and gums were lost looked very natural. Henry sought treatment for dental implants in Houston because he was told by his dentist that tooth #4, which helped in holding his bridge in place, was hopelessly decayed and it would require extraction. He was advised that his only options were
1. A removable partial, or
2. A new fixed bridge, extending one tooth further back, or
3. Dental implants

Unfortunately, his dentist told him that dental implant is not possible because of excessive bone loss. He was further advised that in order to place another fixed bridge, another natural tooth would need to be cut down. In fact, the concerned dentist also warned Henry that there are high possibilities for him to lose another tooth in the future. Henry was advised that a partial denture can be an option but there too some issues might crop up, such as:
i) uncomfortable feeling due to dentures
ii) tooth decay and gum disease may occur in the places where the dentures are attached to natural teeth
All in all, Henry was not given a very attractive set of choices by his dentist.

Henry’s Search for the Best Dental Implants in USA
At this juncture, Henry got busy in calling his contacts in the States and researching the internet. A few days ago, he landed in my dental implant practice in Houston, Texas. Henry learned from his sources that we are the leading-most Houston implant surgeon and consequently help our patients to grow new bone in their upper and lower arches for the purpose of implant placement.

[Dental Implantology is the process of placing man-made roots in the mouth of the patients to replace natural roots and serve as attachment systems for one tooth to a full mouth of teeth.

Dental implant Prosthodontics is the art of building dental restorations on dental implants.]

Henry’s Case Study – Dental Condition, Dental Implant Challenge & Our Success
Henry’s case was very similar to that of other dental cases, caused from accidents. In most of these cases, we have witnessed that the patients face trauma at the front of their mouth. Teeth, bone, and gums are also found missing in these cases. Multiple remaining teeth with varying degrees of damage are also common in these patients. These are among the most challenging cases we face with dental implants because it is the front of the mouth and a stunning esthetic result is just as important as a comfortable, durable and functional result.

Fortunately, dental implants in Houston have come a long way and lately advances in bone regeneration techniques have flourished as well. Upon Henry’s return I began by removing his existing bridge, extracting hopeless tooth #5 and reflecting a full thickness flap from the mesial of tooth #3 to the mesial of tooth #6. As the CAT Scan had revealed, there was a very large midpalatine neurovascular bundle that would have produced a substantial Diasthema between 8 and 9, if both were naturally existing or if I placed an implant in the 9th position. The bundle was removed and the fossa was decorticated to a depth of 9mm to facilitate dental implant placement in that position at a later date. As the bundle tailed off, the lingual removal of only 9 mm was required. Much as in a traditional sinus lift, the nasal membranes were lifted slightly and bone was decorticated with numerous “punches” from a quarter round bur with copious irrigation. This was followed by the final shaping of a titanium mesh membrane and filling of the voids, including the incisive canal with “osteocell”. The mesh was secured with two palatal bone screws and two buccal bone tacks. Tissue was harvested from the palate for using it as a free gingival graft over the extraction site #5, where primary tension free closure was not possible. The surgical site was closed with gut. Tooth #4 was sacrificed to crown prep so that we could use a fixed temporary bridge during the bone regeneration stage. I find that grafts with membranes, titanium mesh or titanium reinforced Teflon, are much better when they are not molested by the pressure of removable appliances. The temporary bridge was secured and only one task remained. There was a small tear in the palate at the most apical mesial corner of the titanium mesh membrane. It was exactly over the head of the bone screw. To say the least, this was not a positive development, as exposure over the bone screw is common without a tear and it could lead to infection and a failed grafting procedure. I made every attempt to close the tear with sutures but was less than completely successful. A very thin suck-down clear plastic stent was formed and the patient was asked to wear it 24x7, except for those cases where it needed to be removed for cleaning purposes.

It is possible that this very small error could jeopardize what was otherwise a beautifully executed surgery. However, God Willing, and with a little bit of luck, we have laid the foundation for giving back Henry a second chance for a beautiful, naturally functioning set of front teeth.

I’ll keep you informed about this unique case of Henry in our center of dental implants in Houston.