If you've lost a tooth as a result of physical damage, tooth decay, or for whatever other reason, we can replace it with a strong and stable dental implant. Placed along the area of the jaw affected by the missing tooth, the implant will act as a tooth root for a dental prosthesis which will be closely matched in size, color, and shape to your natural teeth.
At our Sherman, TX practice, Dr. Shoemaker can replace several missing teeth by using an implant-supported dental bridge. Although the number of necessary implants will depend on the number of missing teeth and where these teeth were located, we can replace a number of teeth with a well-placed artificial tooth root.
Implant-supported dentures use four to six dental implants to provide stability for a full-arch tooth replacement, meaning you won't have to worry about your dentures moving or shifting around over time. By comparison, non-implant dentures are prone to move around and even fall out, causing irritation inside the mouth and embarrassing inconveniences that are better off avoiding by choosing the superior option of dental implants.
If your teeth are failing, whether as a result of tooth decay, gum disease, bone loss, or physical damage, we may be able to immediately replace the extracted tooth with a dental implant. One of the important benefits of this option is that rather than two procedures, you can get the same amount of work done in one. Depending on where the implant is placed, we may also be able to provide you with temporary dental crowns — you'll be able to walk out of our office with a stunning smile you'll be proud to show off.
To minimize and eliminate as much patient discomfort as possible, John Shoemaker, DDS Dentistry can perform a computer-guided implant surgery. By using a three-dimensional computed tomography — you might know this as a CT — , we can scan your jaw and create a template that will tell us the exact location of where we want to insert the tooth implant. During the procedure, the template will be temporarily fixed onto the jaw in order to guide Dr. Shoemaker as he inserts the dental implant. Not only is this technique less intrusive, but it also provides very precise and very predictable results.
One of the leading causes of implant failure is poor oral hygiene. Bacteria can infect the implant site, dislodging the integration process between the implant and the jaw. Luckily, taking care of your dental implants is easy. Just like you would with your natural teeth, brush your implants at least twice a day and make sure to floss on a daily basis. It's also highly recommended that you schedule routine dental checkups at our Sherman, TX practice, so that we can clean your smile from any dangerous plaque and bacteria. By keeping your mouth clean and healthy, you can help to ensure that your implants continue to provide strong and stable support for your dental crowns.
Another cause of premature implant failure is placing excessive force on the implant site during the healing period, directly following the procedure. To avoid these types of complications, avoid clenching or grinding your teeth. You may also want to temporarily change your diet to soft foods, avoiding tougher items that can disrupt the healing and integration process. If you tend to clench or grind your teeth when you sleep, we recommend that you wear a nightguard, so that you can safeguard your investment in your oral health.
Dental implants are considered the gold standard of restorative dentistry. Their benefits are simply unrivaled by other tooth replacement treatments. If you are missing teeth, you may be an ideal candidate for tooth implants. To learn more about how implants can benefit you, contact our Sherman, TX office and schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Shoemaker today: (903) 893-7751.
* To learn more about dental implants, visit our tooth implant educational website.