High-Quality Dental Implants
Do you have missing teeth that make it hard to chew your food? Are you hiding your smile out of embarrassment? You're not alone; according to the ADA, as we are living longer the incidence of tooth loss is growing due to enamel wear, disease, and trauma. Dental implants could be the solution for you. At Hargis Family Dental we offer implants to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss and help prevent further complications that accompany removable dentures or partials. Contact us at 318-640-5055 to schedule an appointment to determine if dental implants are the best solution for you.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the new standard of care for tooth replacement. Healthy bone will literally bond with implants to provide continual, permanent support for crowns and bridges. They consist of three parts: a titanium post/screw implanted into the jaw, which acts as the replacement root, an abutment, and a crown, which is the replacement tooth. Dental implants look, feel, and function just like natural teeth and can last up to a lifetime.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are the most permanent solution for tooth replacement. They actually strengthen the jaw, and the most effective way to regenerate bone cells is the natural, unrestricted bite that is rarely re-created with other options. Implants do not require the surrounding, healthy teeth to be reduced or to provide support to an appliance, as do removable partials, cemented crowns, or a traditional bridge. They have an extremely high success rate, and unlike other options, will more than likely never have to be replaced. Not everyone is a candidate, and the upfront cost is higher than less permanent options. But dental implants can certainly be the most care-free and natural solution for many.
Where multiple teeth are missing or unsalvageable in a row, an implant-supported bridge can be made.
The Dental Implant Procedure
The dental implant journey starts with a thorough consultation regarding your specific situation. If appropriate, a titanium screw will be placed into your jawbone where the original tooth was. Though some general dentists are now performing this surgery, Dr. Hargis believes the best standard of care is to have an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMFS) on the case; he coordinates care with the doctors at Alexandria Oral Surgery. Your jawbone will grow around the screw to bind it in place for several weeks after the surgery.
Our excellent dental lab technicians will create a custom implant-retained crown that Dr. Hargis then attaches to the abutment, and then into the prepared jawbone. The crown will be the same color and shape as your natural teeth. Even more importantly, your new tooth will function exactly as a strong, healthy, natural tooth.
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