Understanding My Dental Implant Options

In recent years, dental implants have become the ideal restorative solution for patients hoping to restore aesthetics, function, and health to their smile. Used either independently or as part of a larger treatment plan, dental implants and implant-supported prostheses offer versatile treatment that can be personalized to meet your unique needs.

If you are considering dental implants to replace missing or severely damaged teeth, understanding the condition of your smile and how various implants will impact your dentition is the first step to developing a truly comprehensive treatment plan.

For individuals hoping to replace a single tooth:

Isolated tooth loss or damage can be easily remedied with a single dental implant replacement. Consisting of an implant post, a connective abutment, and a single crown restoration, single unit implants do not rely on the surrounding teeth or tissue for support, ensuring that healthy neighboring teeth are left uncompromised.

For individuals missing multiple teeth:

If not handled in a timely manner, patients requiring multiple tooth replacement run the risk of bone deterioration which can spur further tooth loss. Dental implant restorations such as implant-fixed bridges and All-on-4 implants are optimal solutions that help improve bone health as well as replacing missing teeth.

Like single unit implants, multi-unit implants utilize titanium posts and abutments to secure the prosthetic teeth. Depending on the number of teeth being replaced with this restoration, between 2 and 8 implants may be strategically placed in the bone.

For patients seeking full arch replacement:

In certain cases of extensive tooth damage or decay, entire arches may need to be replaced with prosthetic teeth. For these patients, implant-supported dentures and hybrid dentures may be the most effective long-term restoration solutions.

While seemingly similar, there are important differences between implant-supported dentures and hybrid dentures that make them suited to different patient needs. Implant-supported dentures utilize an overdenture that is secured to a series of supportive implants. As the overdenture includes prosthetic teeth and tissue, this full-mouth restoration option is ideal for patients accustomed to the feel, function, and maintenance of dentures. In contrast, hybrid dentures consist of only the teeth and are fixed to supportive implants. Since there is no gum portion of this restoration, hybrid dentures are ideal for individuals with healthy gums.

Schedule Your Implant Consultation

At Gies Family Dental, our San Antonio implant dentist is dedicated to helping all patients find the right treatment for their restorative needs. For more information about dental implants and implant-supported treatments in San Antonio, contact our practice today to schedule your consultation.