According to dental researchers, advanced research and superior technology will bring radical changes to the dental care industry in the 21st century.

A dental implant is the most notable among these changes. Thirty years ago they were considered "quackery". Now they're the "gold standard" for replacing one or a full mouth of missing teeth.

Most dentists agree that implant appears as a great example of advanced care technology. An implant is an artificial tooth root that replaces a patient's missing natural tooth root. It constitutes a perfect treatment option for those who have lost one or more teeth in the upper hand or lower jaw because of the accident, gum disease, or some other traumatic experience. Whether missing just one or two teeth or all of your teeth, this ace dental technique has become the standard for teeth replacement. New technologies, new implant designs, and new procedures have consistently made the use of implant quicker, easier, more reliable, and cheaper.

Dentures are in use for more than 30 years. However, dental implants long ago surpassed dentures in providing a reliable treatment option for people who are missing all of their teeth. Fixed and removable bridges were once the standard of look after one or a few missing teeth. However, it's not quality anymore. Now, single-unit implants are used to replace one or some missing teeth. This procedure is completed without causing damage to the remaining teeth. This minimizes the requirement for further corrective dentistry along with the future cost and discomfort related to it.

There are two basic methods for dental implant placement and reconstruction. One is termed immediate load and the other delayed load. With the immediate load technique, a tooth or teeth are built on one or more dental implants, on a similar day when the implant is placed. All 4 techniques are an example of immediate loading. Remaining bad teeth are removed, implants are inserted and the patient leaves the day with a new piece of natural looks and non-removable teeth working. Delayed loading is usually used when just one or two teeth require replacement. Due to bio-engineering concepts related to force and stress vectors, it's often best to let single implants integrate for 4 to 6 months before they're loaded. A standard exception to this single tooth delayed protocol is when a front tooth is lost accidentally. In those cases, whenever possible, the remaining root is carefully removed, the implant is placed, and a temporary crown is secured to the implant beat one appointment. It’s essential that this temporary crown not make contact with the other teeth when chewing but if that can be accomplished this method is used with excellent success and the patient leaves with a beautiful smile. This is appropriate for front teeth were because it won't be for back teeth for two reasons:

1. When we close together the front teeth don't touch each other so there's less pressure against the front implant than a back implant.

2. The accidental loss of a front tooth leads to a sudden and dramatic change to our appearance thus justifying the slightly increased risk [approximately 5%] related to immediate implant placement and loading

So, if you would like an implant to replace a natural tooth either delayed or immediate loading will be options. An experienced Houston dentist will be able to discuss the pros and cons of every method with you so you'll make an informed decision.