Peter L. Thompson, DDS
Your Trusted Local Dentist
Monday
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
(Office Only)
(Office Only)
123 W 2nd St, Portales, NM 88130
Why have dental implants become the solution of choice for most dentists when it comes to replacing lost teeth? Simply put, not only is it the longest-lasting solution available, but it’s also typically the best choice for your oral health as well as the quality of your life. No other tooth replacement option will offer the same level of stability or help stimulate the jaw to prevent bone loss. Set up a consultation to discuss replacing missing teeth with dental implants in Portales, NM and learn how you can eat, speak, and smile with a new tooth that looks and feels just like your old one.
A standard dental implant is normally made of titanium and acrylic. It can fuse with the jawbone in order to mimic the functions of a normal tooth root. This way, it will stop the surrounding bone tissue from breaking down and help preserve a healthy, youthful facial structure.
Dental implants don’t directly replace the part of the tooth that most people see; instead, they act as roots for the porcelain crowns, bridges, and dentures that will fill in the empty space in the mouth.
Dr. Thompson has spent over 1500 hours of continuing education and advanced training to enhance his skills in placing and restoring dental implants, and he has kept himself up to date with the latest techniques and high-quality materials. There’s no need to see a separate specialist when you have an expert to handle the entire implant process right here!
Dental implants are a unique form of tooth replacement because they interact directly with the jawbone much like the natural teeth do. As such, they come closer to fully restoring the functions of a healthy smile than any of the more traditional options. Below is a list of some of the reasons why people often choose implants over traditional dentures and bridges.
First of all, to be a candidate for any sort of dental implant procedure, you need to have jaw that contains enough bone tissue to successfully fuse with and support a dental implant post. However, even if your jawbone has already started to break down after tooth loss, you could still get implants after a bone graft. We can discuss the necessary steps for getting implants during your first consultation. You may need dental implants if you are:
A dental bridge is the traditional solution for a single missing tooth, but placing it requires us to remove a small amount of enamel from the teeth on either side of the gap. With dental implants, we now have a more conservative solution that allows us to replace the tooth while leaving the natural teeth alone. Not only is a dental implant crown more beneficial for the rest of your smile, but it also allows you to enjoy enhanced chewing strength, improved stability, and all of the other benefits that accompany dental implant restorations.
When you are missing more than one tooth in the mouth, the best replacement option depends on the situation. An implant bridge can be used to replace multiple teeth in a row, and it only takes two dental implants to support it. However, you can also get partial dentures to fill in gaps scattered throughout the mouth. The big advantage of getting dentures that rest on dental implants is that because they’re permanently anchored in place, you don’t have to remove them for cleanings or worry about taking them out at night; you can just brush them and go straight to bed like you normally would. Also, dentures supported by implants enjoy up to 95% of your natural biting and chewing ability.
Of course, full dentures are also available if an entire arch of teeth is gone. Dentures can be supported by as few as four and as many as eight dental implant posts. It largely depends on the size of your mouth and the health of your jawbone. The good news is that dental implants are stronger than individual tooth roots, which means a single post is capable of supporting multiple replacement teeth. Thus, we can focus on using a conservative number of implants to replace all of your teeth. The ceramics that the posts support will be designed to replicate your natural teeth as closely as possible.
When all of your teeth are gone, implant dentures give you a way to replace them without having to worry about your false teeth losing their fit over time or slipping out of place at the wrong moment. We can fully restore an entire arch of teeth with a few strategically placed dental implants; we can even replace both rows of teeth at once if need be.
Dental implants allow you to enjoy fully functional, natural-looking new teeth that look and feel like your original ones. Dr. Thompson will go over your different options to determine whether you’re a good candidate for implants and help develop a plan to fully restore your smile.
For patients who are in need of a lower or upper full-arch implant restoration to replace several teeth at once, Hybridge full-mouth prosthetics can provide high-quality craftsmanship, seamless aesthetics, and long-lasting durability. They’re designed to attach permanently to titanium dental implants instead of the gum tissue or natural teeth, which eliminates common problems with more conventional options. Plus, we can replace the entire upper and/or lower row of teeth at once, which is highly convenient and more economical than providing individual implants and dental crowns for every lost tooth.
This state-of-the-art system is the only full mouth restoration option available that has a highly consistent clinical process and comprehensive, rigorous training for dentists who provide it. Even patients with extensive tooth loss can rest easy and regain what they've been missing!
A dental implant restoration will usually cost more than a traditional one since surgery is required to insert the implant posts into the jaw. And of course, there is the cost of the implants themselves to take into account. That said, implants have a much longer lifespan than traditional tooth replacements and don’t need to be replaced as often, if they ever need to be replaced at all. This can ultimately help you save money as the years go by.