Dr. Brian Hale's San Antonio Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

Dental implants are considered the best treatment option to replace missing teeth. Unlike fixed bridges that use adjacent teeth as anchors or dentures that rest on the gum line, dental implants are long-term, effective replacements that are surgically placed in the jawbone.

Nearly 70% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth resulting from:

• An accident
• Gum disease
• A failed root canal
• Tooth decay

By the age of 74, more than 25% of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth. Decades ago, the only choice for these patients would have been a fixed bridge or removable dentures to restore their ability speak clearly, eat and smile with confidence.

But dentures are known to slip or cause embarrassing clicking sounds while eating or talking. Removable dentures can also lead to bone loss in the area where the tooth or teeth are missing.

Because they use your adjacent teeth as anchors, fixed bridges can cause damage to otherwise healthy teeth. For these reasons, removable dentures and fixed bridges often must be replaced every 7 to 15 years. This has left more and more patients and oral surgeons turning to dental implants.

Dental implants are composed of titanium metal that “fuses” with your jawbone through a process called "osseointegration." With this surgical process, dental implants will never:

• Slip or shift
• Make embarrassing noises, indicating you have “false teeth.”
• Decay like teeth-anchoring fixed bridges

If properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime.

If you are considering cosmetic dentistry in San Antonio or the surrounding area, please call or e-mail us today to schedule your initial consultation.