When our Midland patients come in seeking to restore their smile with dental implants, we can’t wait to help reinstate their oral health, enhance their appearance, and rebuild their confidence. However, before undergoing an implant procedure, Dr. Thompson will have to examine the condition of your entire mouth to ensure it’s healthy and capable of supporting implants.
Dr. Thompson will perform an oral exam at your consultation and here, he’ll notice if there are any issues that can affect the success of your dental implants. For example, if you suffer from advanced gum disease or lack sufficient bone density, you may require a supplemental procedure to better prepare your mouth for implants.
We offer two preliminary treatments that can increase your chances of receiving dental implants.
If you’ve been living with gum disease for too long without treatment, and it has progressed to its most advanced stage, it’s likely your gums have recessed and you’ll need tissue grafting.
If you’ve been wearing dentures or suffering from tooth loss for too long, then you’ve likely lost bone density in your jaw. In this case, you’ll need bone grafts to help rebuild any lost bone or repair a receded jawbone.
Living with untreated gum disease can easily prevent you from receiving dental implants. When the disease reaches its most advanced stage, your gums will begin to pull away from your teeth, leaving deep pockets that bacteria will thrive in. As the bacteria grows, damage to your jawbone occurs and teeth may even begin to loosen or fall out.
Many are unaware of their gums receding because it’s a very slow, gradual process. Luckily, at your initial oral exam, Dr. Thompson can identify this problem and provide you with an effective treatment to restore your gum health with gum tissue grafting.
During a gum grafting procedure, Dr. Thompson uses healthy tissue from another part of your body to help build your gums back from where they’ve receded. Here at our Midland dental office, we may perform one of three types of gum grafts depending on your case.
The three different gum grafting procedures we offer include:
When patients have been living without a full set of teeth for a long period of time or have been using dentures, bone resorption is likely to occur. Without the necessary stimulation your jawbone needs from your teeth in order to remain strong and stable, it will deteriorate and weaken over time.
Without a substantial amount of bone density, it becomes more difficult for Dr.Thompson to securely place dental implants. They won’t be able to integrate with the jawbone, ultimately leading to an unsuccessful implant procedure.
Also known as regenerative surgery, bone grafting helps rebuild lost jawbone and provide support to your gum tissues. Dr. Thompson will first separate your gums from your teeth to gain access to the roots and bone. He will then take some of your existing healthy bone to fill into the inadequate areas of your jawbone.
Once Dr. Thompson has successfully placed all bone grafts, he’ll put the gums back in place and stitch them together. Over time, the bone grafts will help your jawbone regrow and eventually provide enough support for your dental implants.
Another common bone grafting procedure is ridge augmentation. This is needed when you’ve lost your teeth and bone in the upper jaw, and an indentation of where the teeth once were has occurred. In this case, Dr. Thompson will fill in the indented area with bone and tissue grafts to help provide a fuller, natural appearance to your face.
After you’ve met with Dr. Thompson for your initial dental implant consultation and he determines you need a supplemental procedure, we can simply complete it at your next appointment.
Depending on your case and procedure, we may be capable of performing both your preliminary and implant treatment at the same time. However, for most patients, a healing period will be required between the two. Fill out our submission form below to get started on your journey towards a stunning smile.
Call Us Today! 432-305-0400
Dr. Tye A. Thompson
1411 West Wall Street
Midland, TX
USA 79701
New Patients:
432-305-0400
Current Patients:
432-687-0629
Monday: 8AM - 3PM
Tuesday: 8AM - 5PM
Wednesday: 8AM - 5PM
Thursday: 8AM - 4PM
Friday: By Appointment Only
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed