Dental Implants – Then and Now

By Max G Neill | Published on January 13, 2012 | 0 Comments

Modern day dental implants act like specialized screws that go straight into the jaw. According to Dr. Max G. Neill DDS, PC, an oral maxillofacial surgeon in Fort Worth, Texas, dental implants have come a long way in the last few decades.

Today’s dental implants are made of surgical grade titanium. Tiny threads run along the sides of these implants, which make the implants look like screws. Prior to this current generation of dental implants in Fort Worth, Dr. Neill says the implants that oral surgeons previously used had smooth sides. These older generation implants were hammered into place, rather than screwed.

Thankfully, oral surgeons now have access to better devices and products than ever before. The titanium dental implants that Fort Worth surgeons now use can be placed directly into the jaw of a person immediately after his or her tooth has been extracted. Patients who have their implants placed while their teeth are being extracted can reduce their recovery times to a significant degree.

Technological advancements within the field of oral surgery have made it possible for surgeons like Dr. Neill to cut down on the recovery time after an extraction and implant placement procedure. In the past, an oral surgeon who had extracted a patient’s tooth would have to wait nine months for the affected area to heal. Only after that nine months had passed could the oral surgeon go back in and place the dental implants in Fort Worth.

Now, oral surgeons can do both procedures during a single appointment. Research has shown that oral surgeons can get better results by putting dental implants in the jaw at the same time as teeth are being extracted. Dr. Neill estimates that the average patient saves approximately nine months of recovery time by having his implants put in on the same day as his natural teeth are being taken out.

Patients need to have their teeth extracted for any number of reasons, from abscesses to failed root canals. In many cases, the area where an oral surgeon is planning to place an implant is not perfect. However, Dr. Neill says bone grafting and soft tissue grafting are two relatively new options that can help make the process easier. By adding bone grafting or soft tissue grafting into an imperfect situation, Dr. Neill can better prepare the site for the implant that is about to go in.

For more information on how technology and practitioner skills are changing the face of dental implant placement procedures, Dr. Neill recommends contacting his office in Fort Worth, Texas.

*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

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