Missing teeth can change the way you look, talk, chew, and live. Left unreplaced they can cause long-term damage to your dental health. No one knows this better than Dr. Cohlmia and El Reno Family Dentistry team. When one of our hygienists lost a tooth, she wanted to restore her smile, not just replace her tooth. She chose to have a dental implant placed, and share her story with all of our patients from start to finish. If you need one or more teeth replaced, dental implants may be your best solution. Call our convenient El Reno, OK office to find out more, or schedule your dental implant consultation today.
Image 1: After Root Canal Therapy
The Story
No matter who you are or how well you care for your teeth, sometimes even the most complete preventive dental care falls short. One of the El Reno Family Dentistry hygienists recently learned that lesson the hard way. During a regular checkup, we noticed a crack in a tooth that had previously undergone root canal therapy (Image 1). Further exploration determined that the tooth was not reparable. We discussed tooth replacement options, but our hygienist wanted the full tooth restoration afforded her by having a dental implant placed.
Unlike traditional tooth replacement, dental implants replace both the visible, chewing surface of the tooth and the root. The root of our teeth provides the anchor that holds them in place, but the root also serves the purpose of assisting in gum tissue and bone density retention. Replacing only the eating surface without a root replacement, does not provide a complete dental restoration.
Image 2 After Dental Implant
The Implant
Like any other patient, our hygienist scheduled her dental implant appointment where we surgically placed a titanium post below her gums to replace the root, and attached an abutment to support the custom, permanent crown. Then, we waited while the implant fused to her jawbone (Image 2). Once the implant was secure, we replaced her temporary crown with a permanent replacement tooth.
Her smile has always been beautiful, but she had some discolorations on the surrounding teeth (Image 3), and chose to apply veneers to the surrounding teeth to provide a cohesive color and added layer of protection against future decay. The final result was a beautiful, picture-perfect smile, and she couldn’t be happier (Image 4).
If you’re wondering which of our lovely ladies got the implant, we’ll never tell because you’ll never know the difference.
Image 3 Before
Image 4: After
Dental Implants, Calumet, OK Area
No matter how many teeth you’ve lost, El Reno Family Dentistry can help you create the best tooth replacement plan for your smile, budget, and schedule. Don’t live with an incomplete bite, call our convenient Calumet area office today and find out more about how dental implants can transform your smile. We welcome patients from surrounding communities El Reno, Calumet, Minco, Hinton, and other communities in Canadian County.