How can we help you?
Patient education is an essential part of the services we provide at Darryl Hatchett, DDS, Family Dentistry. We've found that patients who understand the positive impact that good oral health can have on their lives are more likely to be proactive about dental care.
We know you have access to lots of information, but we certainly don't expect you to be an expert about dentistry or find answers to all your own questions. The more information you have, the better prepared you are to make important decisions when the time comes. We've listed a few frequently asked questions here, but you are more than welcome to contact our office if you don't see your question answered or you want more information
Dental Implants
Dental implants are very popular, but they’re not new. Implants have actually been around for about 25 years, and in that time, the process and materials have been refined, resulting in a success rate today of 95–98%.
An implant is composed of a small screw-like titanium post that is placed in your jawbone bone of our a top local oral surgeon or endodontist. Both types of specialists have all the necessary training and education to perform your procedure effectively and efficiently. Dental implants are constructed in such a way that, over time, they bond with surrounding bone, preventing deterioration of the jawbone and providing support for your natural teeth.
In the majority of cases, we restore the implant with one of our beautiful customized porcelain crowns. However, another advantages of implants is that they can be used to very effectively stabilize dentures and even bridges. Which type of restoration Dr. Hatchett chooses depends on the current state of your oral health, individual preferences, and budgetary considerations.
Using dental implants, we can:
- Replace one or more missing teeth
- Provide support for a dental restoration like a bridge or crown
- Anchor a full set of dentures or overdentures
While the success rate of dental implants are impressive, they are not the best choice for everyone. If you’d like to learn more about implants and whether or not you’re a good candidate, please contact our Denver dental office to arrange a convenient consultation.
Replacing a tooth for cosmetic reasons has obvious advantages. You’ll be able to smile again with confidence and feel good about the way you look. But the reasons for replacing a tooth aren’t just aesthetic.
All your teeth are designed to work together to help you speak and chew properly. When just one tooth is missing, the remaining teeth have to work harder and absorb more stress than they were ever meant to. Speaking becomes more difficult and a missing tooth can even give your face a sunken appearance, making you look older than you are.
Another problem with tooth loss is that without a root to stimulate the growth of the bone in your jaw, the bone can begin to deteriorate over time. Finally, a missing tooth creates alignment problems as surrounding teeth gradually drift into the empty space.
With all of this in mind, it’s a good idea to consider dental implants to replace a missing tooth, wherever it is in your mouth. Dental implants take the place of the missing root and resolve all the above problems. When the process is finished, you’ll be left with a beautiful, functional, and permanent tooth replacement.
If you’d like to learn more about dental implants and whether they’re right for you, please call Darryl Hatchett, DDS, Family Dentistry.