If you are seeking a restored smile with dental implants, you may have been told that you require preliminary procedures before the implant placement. While this may seem daunting, it is important to understand that these procedures are necessary for the success of your dental implants. At Hamblin Family Dentistry, we are committed to providing our patients with the highest quality of care, which includes thorough preparation for dental implant placement.
To learn more about the procedures we may recommend prior to placing your implants, please read below. If you have any questions, contact our Houston, TX office today!
Bone
When someone loses a tooth or has an extraction due to gum disease, trauma, or infection, the most common replacement option that our patients at Hamblin Family Dentistry choose is a dental implant. However, implants are only as strong as the bone that supports them. That’s what makes bone grafts a wonderful augmentation to add to your implant procedure. Best of all, bone grafts provide you with peace of mind that your dental implant will have a dependable and predictable outcome.
The bone that supports our teeth and facial structure like to be stimulated by forces that our teeth place on it on a daily basis. However, when a tooth is removed, the bone begins to shrink back and deteriorate because there is no longer a tooth absorbing the forces in that area. In fact, studies show that most bone loss occurs within the first six months following an extraction.
To reduce the severity of the bone deterioration that would normally occur otherwise, we often recommend filling in the extraction site with a bone allograft material, which is just a fancy word for bone sourced from a human donor. You can read more about the allograft material that we use here.
Ultimately, the bone graft helps to preserve the bone and surrounding area for an implant and will reduce the amount of bone shrinkage that occurs during the healing process. Lastly, to ensure that the bone graft material stays in place and to give the gum tissue nutrients to fill in over the extraction site, we place a biocompatible membrane on top of the extraction site and allow between three or four months of healing before placing an implant in that area.
Sinus
Sinus bumps and lifts are a great option for many of our patients who need an implant to replace a missing tooth. This procedure is especially beneficial for the patient who would otherwise not qualify as a candidate for an implant. Sinus bumps and lifts are only necessary in some circumstances for upper implants. This is because of the sinus that sits above the bone in our upper jaw.
Often, the sinus will be so low that placing an implant with sufficient length would cause damage to the sinus. That is where this procedure is so beneficial and can make a huge difference on the outcome of the treatment. This procedure can take what was once an area that would not allow for an implant and transform it into a thriving area of healthy bone to accept an implant.
This greatly improves the predictability and success of the implant process and ensures a good outcome.
Prepare For Smile
At Hamblin Family Dentistry, we ensure the success of your dental implants starts with a solid foundation. Our preliminary implant procedures, including bone grafting and sinus lifts, are performed with the utmost precision and care to prepare your smile for its transformation. Trust in our meticulous preparation for impeccable implant results. Our team is ready to guide you through the process and leave you with a confident, healthy smile.
