Dental Implants in Midland & Odessa

Replacing Missing Teeth w/ Dental Implants

Midessa Oral & Facial Surgery – Midland & Odessa TX

Your teeth affect your whole body. When they’re healthy, you’re healthier too. A missing tooth can affect your bite, speech and eating choices. As you rely more on your remaining teeth, you increase the chance they will wear out prematurely, or be damaged or lost. You may also experience headaches and/or jaw pain.

Who would want their appearance and health to deteriorate? That’s the natural consequence of missing teeth – the jaw literally melts away. Generally, people will lose 25% of their supporting jawbone structure within the first year after tooth loss. Dental implants are more easily placed when teeth are first extracted because bone replacement becomes more complex as time passes. The great news? Implants act just like your natural teeth. They safeguard and preserve your bone structure, oral health and appearance. Your dentist and the implant surgeon will provide you with options so that you can make the most informed decision concerning tooth replacement.

Complete Your Smile with Dental Implants! Call us with any questions or to make an appointment.
Midland TX
Midland Office Phone Number 432-683-1863
Schedule
An Appointment
Online Patient
Registration
Odessa TX
Odessa Office Phone Number 432-614-2963

Our office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00am - 5:00pm, & Fridays 8:00am - 1:00pm for both locations.

Tooth Replacement Options

You can select from a number of different options to replace your missing teeth – from temporary to long-lasting solutions.

A good candidate is anyone missing one or more teeth, or who is unhappy with their dentures. Age is not a factor. However, smoking, diseases such as diabetes, and radiation therapy to the area, have been shown to lower the success rate of implant placement. X-rays of your jaw will be taken to evaluate whether they will accommodate implants. Detailed x-rays may also be required to determine if other tests or procedures are needed to place implants properly.

An example of a dental fixed bridge

Fixed Bridge

A fixed bridge is a connected set of replacement teeth. For support, it is cemented into position on top of the teeth adjacent to the empty space. The protective outer layer of these teeth is usually removed or ground down prior to attaching the bridge.

An example of a removable retainer with a plastic tooth known as a flipper

Flipper

A fragile, temporary and inexpensive solution is a removable plastic tooth with a plastic retainer, often called a “flipper“.

A depiction of a sturdy partial denture cast in metal and plastic

Metal Partial

A less fragile option is a removable partial denture cast in metal and plastic. It is held in place by wire clips. A removable partial denture can be removed and reinserted when required by the patient.

A representation of a full denture for the entire lower jaw

Denture

The most common solution, for people missing all teeth in one or both jaws are complete dentures. Some people adapt well to dentures. Others find them uncomfortable, even intolerable, because of differences in jaw size and shape.

A visual of a permanent dental implant replacing a missing tooth

Dental Implants

Dental implants are the most comfortable and permanent solution. They form a strong foundation for teeth and keep the jaw healthy and strong. Implants support individual replacement teeth or secure specialized dentures in place. Unlike bridges, no healthy teeth are damaged. Unlike most bridges, implants can last a lifetime. Implant-supported replacement teeth can be attractive, stable, and comfortable for almost any patient.

Why Select Dental Implants Over More Traditional Types Of Restorations?

There are several reasons: A dental bridge can sacrifice the structure of surrounding good teeth to bridge the space of the missing tooth/teeth. In addition, removing a denture or a “partial” at night may be inconvenient, not to mention dentures that slip can be uncomfortable and rather embarrassing.

What Are Dental Implants?

A natural tooth consists of a crown and a root. Implant-supported replacement teeth have similar parts: a crown for chewing and a root anchored into the jaw. The difference is that the implant root is made of titanium, a durable material used in joint replacements.

When a tooth is lost, both the root and crown are replaced. The surgeon places a titanium dental implant to replace the root. After allowing time for the bone to heal and bond with the implant, a support post (abutment) is added, followed by a new crown. In some cases, a temporary crown can be attached immediately. For complete tooth loss, various treatment options are available to support replacement teeth.

A smiling elderly man

“Don’t be afraid to Smile.”

For years I’d felt like a part of my body was missing — because my teeth were. My dentist told me that dental implants would make me feel and look a lot better. OK, I said. Now, I’m thrilled. I can smile, eat anything, and enjoy a good laugh with my friends.

Surgical Advances

Dr. Gutta uses advanced dental implant technology to place single-stage implants, which eliminate the need for a second procedure to uncover them. After a minimum of six weeks of healing, artificial teeth are placed. In some cases, the implant can be placed during tooth extraction, reducing the number of surgeries.

Implant placement is a team effort: Dr. Gutta performs the surgery, extractions, and bone grafting, while your restorative dentist fits the permanent prosthesis and any necessary temporary ones.

Overview of Implant Placement

The Surgical Procedure

Placing a dental implant takes 30-60 minutes for one implant and 2-3 hours for multiple implants. The process varies by patient, with the surgeon focusing on precision and detail.

Before surgery, you may receive antibiotics and sedation options like IV sedation or nitrous oxide, which will be discussed at your consultation. A local anesthetic will numb the implant area.

The surgeon makes a small gum incision, prepares the bone, and gently inserts the titanium implant. The implant’s top may be visible, but sometimes it’s covered during early healing.

Complete Your Smile with Dental Implants! Call us with any questions or to make an appointment.
Midland TX
Midland Office Phone Number 432-683-1863
Schedule
An Appointment
Online Patient
Registration
Odessa TX
Odessa Office Phone Number 432-614-2963

Our office hours are Monday through Thursday 8:00am - 5:00pm, & Fridays 8:00am - 1:00pm for both locations.
A depiction of the upper jaw with all normal teeth
1. Normal
An example of the upper jaw missing a tooth with the jaw bone unhealed
2. Tooth Loss
A representation of a healed upper jaw bone after losing a tooth
3. Healed Bone
A digital representation of the initial dental implant placed in the jaw bone
4. Implant Placed
A representation of the healed jaw bone after placement of the dental implant
5. Healing
An example of a fully restored tooth using a dental implant
6. Implant Restored

The Healing Phase

Healing time varies based on bone quality and quantity. In some cases, implants may be restored immediately. The surgeon will provide follow-up care instructions. After healing, a support post (abutment) or healing cap is placed to allow gum tissue to mature.

Occasionally, impressions are taken during implant placement to prepare the crown. Healing may take several months, with follow-up visits to monitor progress and determine when you’re ready for the next phase.

A soft tissue graft may be recommended for better gum tissue around the implant. This involves transferring tissue from another area of the mouth.

Your dentist will complete the restoration by placing the final crown.

Dental Implants Presentation

To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.

Dental Implants Presentation

When Are Dental Implants Placed?

Implants are often placed several months after extraction. At times, an implant may be placed immediately after extraction of a tooth. This may involve a little more risk, but it simplifies the process—you won’t have to wait for another appointment to place the implant. When infection or other problems with the bone are present, immediate implant placement is not the best treatment.

If your tooth has been missing for some time, the adjacent support bone is likely to grow thinner and shrink. This occurs because the root of the natural tooth has to be present to stimulate the bone. As much as one third of your jaw’s thickness can be lost in the year following tooth extraction. If you are missing enough bone, you may benefit from having additional bone grafted into the area. This ensures the implant will be adequately supported when it is placed in the jaw.

How Many Implants Do I Need?

Most frequently, one implant per missing tooth is placed. Because many of the larger teeth in the back of your jaws have two or three roots, the most common approach is to replace missing back teeth with larger implants.