Dental Implants Albuquerque

What Are Dental Implants?

Designed to mimic natural tooth roots, dental implants are small titanium posts that look like screws but fit into the jawbone, fusing over the course of 4-6 months. Their ability to restore function and last 30+ years make them far superior to other forms of tooth replacement, especially since they are versatile in treating all types of tooth loss.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

Each patient’s dental implant process will look slightly different; however, the steps required to ensure optimal success remain the same:

• Initial Dental Implant Consultation – You will first meet with your implant dentist to discuss whether you need additional treatment to prepare you for dental implant surgery. Your oral and overall health as well as your jawbone will be thoroughly examined.
• Dental Implant Surgery – Our in-house implant dentist will begin by administering local anesthesia to ensure no pain before placing each implant post into the correct areas of the jawbone. Small incisions in the gums will be made to allow for placement before they are closed and covered with healing caps.
• Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment – The next 4-6 months will be spent recovering and allowing osseointegration to occur, which is the fusing of the implants to the jawbone. Then, you will return to our office to receive your metal abutments, which help to connect the restoration to your implant posts.
• Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s) – Depending on how many teeth you need to have replaced, we will provide you with your custom restoration once you are fully healed. This can be a crown, bridge, or denture.

Benefits of Dental Implants

• Greater Oral Function – You will notice a dramatic improvement in your bite force and chewing power, allowing you to eat nutrient-rich and delicious foods.
• Improved Oral Health – By treating your tooth loss, you reduce the potential for dental drift, minimize gum disease, and create a healthier environment for your newly created smile.
• Increased Jawbone Stimulation – Dental implants offer stimulation to the jawbone so that it does not shrink over time. This minimizes the chances of facial sagging and additional tooth loss.
• Boosted Confidence – You will feel more confident once your new teeth are in place, allowing you to converse with others and smile for pictures once again.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Are you considering restoring your smile with dental implants? If so, we have good news: this state-of-the-art tooth-replacement solution can help patients at all stages of tooth loss. So, whether you are missing one front tooth, a few of your molars, or all of your teeth, there’s a good chance that you’re a candidate! The best thing to do is schedule a consultation with our dental implant dentist in Albuquerque, but you can also read on to learn more on the topic in the meantime.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

As we mentioned above, dental implants can help patients at all different stages of tooth loss. In order to determine if you’re a good candidate, we will need to take X-rays, conduct a comprehensive oral exam, review your medical history, and learn about your lifestyle. With this information, we can determine several important factors, including the density of your jawbone, the health of your gums, and your willingness to commit to good habits, like brushing and flossing consistently.

If we determine that dental implants are the best tooth-replacement solution for you, then we will get to work on the next step: creating your custom treatment plan.

Missing One Tooth

If you are only missing one tooth, then we will likely recommend a single dental implant. That starts with inserting the post directly into your jawbone and ends with attaching a custom crown on top. Not only does this effectively replace both the root and crown of your missing tooth, but it also restores some of the strength of your bite that you lost. Plus, with the right maintenance, your dental implant can last for 30+ years!

Missing Multiple Teeth

Are you missing several teeth in a row? If so, you can opt for an implant bridge, which anchors the replacement teeth securely in position with two dental implants. If you are missing several teeth throughout your mouth, then we will either replace each gap with a single dental implant or create a partial implant denture. Both can effectively replace a large number of missing teeth in a way that looks and feels completely natural.

Missing All Teeth

The loss of all your teeth can make everything from smiling confidently to eating a healthy, well-balanced diet very difficult. Fortunately, that’s where implant dentures come in. In this case, your restoration will be secured in place with several strategically placed dental implants. One of the biggest perks of this tooth-replacement solution is that it can last for several decades with proper care. Plus, the entire restoration is custom-made with your face shape, dental needs, and smile goals in mind, ensuring that it doesn’t feel bulky or look unnatural.