Tag: tooth replacement

What Dental Solutions Are Best For Replacing Teeth?

Dentistry and Oral Surgery exist to ensure men, women, and children have strong, healthy teeth for a lifetime to eat, smile and talk confidently. Unfortunately, a complete set of teeth is not a reality for many, with over fifty percent of Americans missing at least one permanent tooth. Yet, while the doctors at Hill Country Oral Surgery seek to preserve your natural teeth, you may need us to remove or replace a damaged tooth.

Here, we’ll help you determine the best course of action to take. Of course, everyone’s best option is different based on dental health, situation, and cost. But the process of restoration and replacement starts with a discussion about your unique needs and goals.

Tooth Replacement Options

Because your dental situation is unique, so is your remedy. Hill County Oral Surgery offers multiple replacement options to ensure a customized approach.

They include:

Dental Implants

Dental implants are designed for jaw placement to replace a missing tooth or multiple teeth. Dental implants are made of titanium screws with specially treated surfaces that prevent rejection. The first dental implants were inserted in 1965. Ever since, dentists and oral surgeons have performed millions of dental implant procedures, and their quality has become excellent.

Metal-Free Dental Implants

Hill Country Oral Surgery also offers metal-free dental implants. These innovative implants are fashioned from zirconia, a strong ceramic. We recommend these implants for individuals with titanium sensitivity or allergies. They are also aesthetically beneficial for patients with thinning gums. Metal-free implants are similar in color to natural teeth. The silver coloration of metal implants can show through thinning gumlines, but metal-free implants look natural.

All-On-4 Implants

All-in-4 implants are permanent fabricated teeth surgically placed in the jaw as a set, meaning there are typically four teeth attached to one implant post. They have the feel and look of natural teeth, are brushed and cleaned like natural teeth, increase chewing force, and restore facial features.

Unlike dentures, you never take them out, they require no adhesives, and restore the experience of hot and cold food.

Guided Implant Surgery

Guided implant surgery improves dental implant placement outcomes, especially in complex cases where precision is paramount to target dense bone. A customized surgical guide is equipped to ensure the implant is placed correctly. These guides are customized with detailed imaging of your oral anatomy and we use complex software to determine optimal placement. Guided implant surgery represents cutting-edge technology for tooth replacement and leads to the highest degrees of precision and safety.

Bone Grafting and Sinus Lift

Hill Country Oral Surgery understands the need for bone grafting procedures on occasion to place functional and aesthetic implants when the natural bone has deteriorated. We have performed these procedures successfully for individuals who are missing a tooth or teeth and those who have had severe traumas resulting in permanent tooth loss. Our expertise and experience performing these complicated procedures have made us one of the most sought-after oral surgery practices for bone grafting and sinus lift in Austin, TX.

Learn More

For more information about dental implant surgery, contact Hill Country Oral Surgery in Austin, TX, and schedule a consultation. Our expert oral surgeons are here to answer questions, provide you with more information, and help set you on the path to a beautiful, healthy smile.

Dental Implants or Dentures?


You may think tooth decay or missing teeth are only a cosmetic problem. But ignoring dental issues can lead to several health concerns, too. Around 120 million American citizens have lost one tooth or more.

Losing a tooth does not affect your oral functions alone. It influences the jawbone, the foundation for your teeth. Your teeth support the jaw and keep it together. But after tooth loss, the jawbone begins to weaken, deteriorate, and atrophy. Yes, even one missing tooth can affect the jawbone as it reabsorbs and makes your cheeks look hollow.

So, if you have suffered tooth loss, you may be wondering: Do I replace them with dental implants or dentures? Keep reading to learn more information about tooth replacement and which option is better for you.

Dentures

These dental prosthetics will protect the soft and firm parts of your gums. There are two kinds of dentures: partial and complete.

Complete dentures are more appropriate if you have several teeth missing. Partial dentures or traditional dental implants are better when several of your natural teeth are still in place. You can remove dentures at night or for cleaning. Implants remain in place permanently.

Advantages of Dentures

 

  • Customized for your jaw
  • Natural-looking
  • High-quality material
  • Allow you to chew and speak normally

Dental Implants

An excellent alternative to dentures is dental implants. In the past few decades, they have become the gold standard of tooth replacement. Unlike dentures, dental implants are surgically implants. They secure your jaw in the same way as natural teeth. It will take time for the area to heal. Your options include:

  • Permanent denture (partial or complete)
  • Bridge (helps with multiple teeth)
  • Dental crowns

Dental implants look natural. Nobody will guess you had lost any teeth.

Advantages of Dental Implants

 

  • Durable and long-lasting
  • Look natural and beautiful
  • Help you eat and speak normally
  • Restore the jawbone
  • Promote gum health
  • They consist of a safe, biocompatible titanium compound

Dentures vs. Implants

Before making this decision, consult your oral surgeon or dentist. However, there may be instances when your dental health professional has no preference, and the decision is entirely yours to make. Here are some things to consider before making your choice.

Choose Dentures If:

 

  • You’re on a budget
  • You need a quick solution
  • Your jaw and gums won’t support implants

Dentures will need daily cleaning, just like your teeth. If you fail to give them attention, it may weaken your jaw further. Your oral surgeon or dentist can counsel you on this.

Dentures take time to adjust to. You may need to learn how to talk and eat while wearing them, and they may need replacing in a few years.

Choose Dental Implants If:

 

  • You are looking for a lasting solution
  • You don’t want to replace every few years
  • You prefer your replacement to look more like your natural teeth

Dental implants are more expensive than dentures for an initial investment. But over time, without replacement and maintenance costs, they eventually pay for themselves. Dental implants may take longer to fill your gap, anywhere from three to nine months.

If you would like more information about dentures or dental implants, call our Austin oral surgery office at 512-327-7233 to request a consultation.

Which Teeth Can Be Replaced by Dental Implants?

woman with full set of teeth

When you’re embarrassed by your teeth, smiling can feel like an impossibility. Damaged, missing, or broken teeth can keep you from enjoying life’s special moments. Dental implants give you a reason to smile again. Hill Country Oral Surgery is one of the top oral surgery practices for dental implant placement in Austin, TX. We look forward to exploring tooth replacement options with you and helping you rediscover your smile.

Any missing tooth can be replaced by a dental implant. Our advanced implant technologies allow us to replace a single tooth or an entire arch, whatever you need to smile with confidence again. Restore beauty and function to your smile with dental implants.

Dental Implants for Single Tooth Replacement

Incisors, molars, canines, and bicuspids, basically all types of teeth in the mouth, can be replaced using dental implants. The implant features a titanium screw that is implanted into the jawbone, acting like the natural root of the tooth. Attached to this screw is an abutment that anchors the replacement tooth, or crown. These replacement teeth look and function like a natural tooth.

Dental implants restore appearance and function to the mouth. Once the screw has fused into the bone, the implant functions almost exactly like a natural tooth, allowing patients to chew and bite foods effectively. The implant exerts biting forces onto the jawbone, stimulating it and helping bone structure to remain strong. Dental implants help maintain oral health and improve appearance by filling in areas where teeth are missing.

All-On-4 Full Arch Rehabilitation

When extensive tooth damage is present, multiple extractions and tooth replacements may be needed. Some patients may require full arch reconstruction. This is often accomplished using four or more dental implants and a full dental prosthetic arch. Some of our patients have heard this procedure called “All-On-4” or “Teeth in a Day”, but we prefer to call it full arch dental rehabilitation.

Using fewer implants lowers the cost and minimizes the amount of surgery needed to repair and rehabilitate dental function. Full arch replacement using singular implants would be very expensive and would require multiple, extensive surgeries. By supporting a replacement arch with fewer implants, we reduce the time and expense of surgery, without compromising on the quality of the results.

Dental Implants vs. Other Tooth Replacement Options

Dental implants are one of the most popular and effective options for tooth replacement in Austin, TX. Come in for a consultation with us to explore all of your available options for tooth restoration.

Dental implants offer many benefits over other tooth replacement options. They are implanted into the jawbone, and once healing is complete, look and function very similarly to a natural tooth. Dental implants are long lasting and can last for decades with proper care. They are also versatile and can be used to replace almost any tooth in the mouth.

We would love to explore your options for tooth replacement, including dental implants, during a one-on-one consultation. Call our Austin, TX oral surgery office at 512-327-7233 to schedule your consultation with us.