Dental implants offer a durable solution for patients with missing teeth lost due to several reasons like cavities, gum disease, or dental trauma. Tooth loss not only affects how you eat and speak, but it can also affect your self-confidence. Dental implant treatment provides secure replacement teeth to ensure proper bite function, facial form, and a confident smile.
Dental implants consist of titanium screws, abutments, and a prosthetic, which replace tooth roots and teeth. The implants are firmly secured within the jawbone structure and fuse naturally with surrounding bone mass through osseointegration. The titanium tooth roots are a permanent base for dental crowns, dentures, and bridges.
Dental implants can be suitable for people over the age of eighteen with one or several missing teeth. As for adults, there is no age limit for implant placements, which has a high success rate. However, implants cannot be chosen by younger patients below eighteen, as their jawbone is not yet fully developed.
To be a candidate for dental implants, you should have a healthy jawbone structure to support the dental implants. In addition, your gums should be free of infections, and you may not be eligible for dental implants or bone grafting procedures if you have certain medical conditions that affect healing.
Dr. Jacob Robichaux begins with a consultation to determine your suitability for the dental implant process. Dr. Robichaux does not place implants. He will then refer you to an oral surgeon for a consult that will determine your final eligibility for implants.
The oral surgeon will meet with you review the x-rays and they will take a scan to support our diagnosis and assess you bone quality and volume. They will create a treatment plan based on your needs. If bone grafting is required, it will be performed before the implant placement.
The oral surgeon will administer local anesthesia to numb the surgical site and make you comfortable. Then an incision is made on the gums, and the dental implant screw is placed in the bone. The implant will be inserted precisely to ensure the accuracy of both the angulation and depth of the restoration. The healing osseointegration process will take about three to six months.
Once the healing process is complete and the implant screw is stable, the oral surgeon will send a release letter letting Dr. Robichaux know the implant is ready for a crown restoration, which will blend into your natural teeth for a seamless smile.
To learn more about our implant restorations, visit our office, Robichaux Family Dentistry, at 235 Corporate Dr, Houma, LA 70360. You can also reach us at (985) 580-3200.
MON - THU 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
FRI - SUN Closed
