Dental Implants

by Katy Dentist Dr. Barker

Despite improvements in dental care, millions of Americans suffer tooth loss – mostly due to tooth decay, periodontitis (bone/gum disease) or injury. For many years, the only treatment options available for people with missing teeth were bridges and dentures. However, in recent years, dental implants have become a very predictable treatment for missing teeth. Dental implants basically replace tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth.

There are many advantages to dental implants, including:

• Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel more our like your own natural teeth. They are designed to fuse with bone, becoming a very stable restorative choice.
• Improved speech. With poor-fitting dentures, speech can be challenging. With the aid of dental implants to help stabilize a denture, a patient can gain extreme confidence in his or her ability to speak.
• Improved comfort. Dental implants can help eliminate the discomfort often associated with removable partial or complete dentures.
• Easier eating. Unstable dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants can help you function more naturally, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence.
• Improved self-esteem. Dental implants can aid in giving you your smile back, and can help you feel better about yourself.
• Improved oral health. Dental implants don't require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, improving your long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
• Durability. Implants are very durable and, with proper oral hygiene, can last for many years.
• Convenience. Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the inconvenience of removing your dentures, as well as the need for adhesives to keep your dentures in place.

Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for an implant procedure. You need to have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. You must be committed to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Heavy smokers, people suffering from uncontrolled chronic disorders – such as diabetes or heart disease – or patients who have had radiation therapy to the head/neck area need to be evaluated on an individual basis.

For Dr. Barker's patients around Houston, dental implants are making a difference in the way they feel and look. Start laughing, smiling and eating again with confidence and comfort. Call our team for a consultation about how implants can restore the natural beauty of your smile.

Dental Implants will permanently restore the natural beauty of your smile... at the office of LVI-trained Houston cosmetic dentist Dr. Brad Barker; serving the communities of Katy, Sugar Land and the greater Houston, Texas area.