Dental Implants
Because we believe that every person deserves a healthy, confident smile, Kleypas Family Dentistry provides experienced implant dentistry with personalized care for the Cypress-Fairbanks area.
┃What are dental implants? How is it different from dentures?
A dental implant is different from dentures or bridges because implant dentistry replaces both the tooth and the root, allowing the artificial root to attach to the bone directly. Dental implant surgery is a procedure that replaces the root of the tooth with a metal, screw-like post and replaces the damaged or missing tooth with an artificial tooth that looks and functions much like your remaining natural teeth. Dental implant surgery can be an ideal alternative to dentures or bridgework that may not fit well or do not have a natural appearance. Dental implants are also the preferred option when a lack of natural teeth roots prevents dentures or bridgework from being a possibility for tooth replacement.
How dental implant surgery is performed depends on the type of implant and the condition of your jawbone, which is something that will be discussed during your consultation and examination with your dentist here at Kleypas Family Dental. Depending on the condition of your dental, periodontal and oral health, dental implant surgery may involve several procedures. The major benefit of implants is solid support for your new teeth — a process that requires the bone to heal tightly around the implant. Because this bone healing requires time, the process can take many months.
Implant dentistry model showing metal, screw-like posts to provide support in the jawbone and for the new, artificial tooth replacements.
┃How do I know if I need or should get dental implants?
Dental implants are an ideal solution for non-restorable decay (cavity) in your teeth, if you suffer from severe gum disease or periodontitis, have experienced a failed root canal or if your teeth have been accidentally damaged beyond repair. Because each tooth is affected by the health, alignment or presence of the other teeth, loss or severe damage to even one tooth can have a significant effect on your remaining healthy teeth if the condition is left untreated.
Choosing to undergo dental implant surgery is a decision that can made in consultation with our dentist, Dr. Kleypas, at our family dentistry practice in Cypress, TX. In general, dental implants may be the recommended solution for your tooth loss or decay if you:
Have one or more missing teeth
Have a jawbone that's reached full growth
Have adequate bone to secure the implants or are able to have a bone graft
Have healthy oral tissues
Don't have health conditions that will affect bone healing
Are unable or unwilling to wear dentures
Want to improve your speech
Are willing to commit several months to the process
Don't smoke tobacco
If you have been using dentures or even fixed bridges and are frustrated by the inconvenience, irritation, pain or unnatural appearance of these traditional tooth loss solutions, then you may be ready for long-lasting and natural-looking benefits of implant dentistry.
┃Are dental implants permanent?
Though dental implants are not technically permanent (as in, they do not last forever), dental implants are intended to be a permanent solution for tooth loss. As opposed to implant alternatives such as dentures or bridges which may need to be replaced in as few as 5 years, dental implants can last for upwards of 25 years without replacement. Proper care and maintenance at home as well as seeing your dentist regularly for routine care and exams will ensure you receive the maximum benefit for years from your implants.
┃Will dental implant surgery be painful? How long is recovery?
How dental implant surgery is performed depends on the type of implant and the condition of your jawbone, which is something that will be discussed during your consultation and examination with your dentist here at Kleypas Family Dental. Depending on the condition of your dental, periodontal and oral health, dental implant surgery may involve several procedures, each of which will be accompanied by appropriate sedation dentistry in order to ensure a comfortable and pain-free surgical experience. While the surgical process may be relatively brief, the healing process can take many months and will be monitored by the expertise of our dentist in Cypress, TX. The major benefit of implants is in providing solid support for your artificial as well as natural teeth by a process that requires the bone to heal tightly around the implant, so choosing the right dentist and giving plenty of time for healing is what will allow your dental implant surgery to be a long-lasting success.