Dental implants are replacement tooth roots which provide a strong foundation for permanent replacement teeth.  Dental implants look and function like natural teeth and offer a better long-term solution compared to other options to replace missing or damaged teeth. 

Dental implants can:

• Help improve appearance by restoring a natural-looking smile
• Allow patients to speak without worry that their dentures might slip out of place
• Allow patients to enjoy a full diet of their choice
• Last for many years, even a lifetime
• Eliminate the discomfort and insecurity often associated with loose, ill fitting dentures
• Help improve quality of life

Below are several different options available to you depending on your individual needs. 

For people who have struggled wearing conventional removable dentures as well as for people whose teeth are failing and are in such condition that they need to be replaced

All-on-4 treatment concept with dental implants

The All on 4 replaces your missing or damaged and failing teeth with a full dental bridge supported by only four dental implants.  During this procedure, four dental implants are strategically placed in the arch where the bone volume is at its greatest.  Usually, a fixed provisional set of teeth are attached to the implants on the same day.  After an adequate amount of time has passed, allowing the mouth time to heal and to ensure that the implants have successfully fused to the bone, the provisional teeth are replaced with a final, fixed permanent set of teeth.  

For People Who Are missing A Tooth

Single tooth replacement with dental implants

When a tooth is missing or a tooth is going to be lost, two common replacement options are a tooth supported fixed bridge or an implant supported crown.  A fixed bridge involves grinding down adjacent teeth into peg shapes in order to fit the cemented bridge in place.  It is a stable solution with good esthetics and function that is fairly easy to install.  However, a tooth supported fixed bridge sacrifices tooth structure of the adjacent teeth and makes them more prone to future problems.

Benefits of replacing a single missing tooth with an implant supported crown:

• It looks and functions like a natural tooth
• It does not decay nor ever need a root canal
• There is no need to grind down the adjacent natural teeth
• It is more hygienic (easier to clean) than a tooth supported fixed bridge 

For People Who Are Missing Several Teeth

 Multiple tooth replacement with dental implants

The ability to comfortably chew, enjoy and digest your food can be hampered when multiple teeth are missing. A great fixed alternative in a situation such as this is implant treatment.  With this in mind, the two solutions available include individual, separate crowns on dental implants or a bridge attached to two or more dental implants.  Neither of these options requires grinding down adjacent teeth or utilizing clasps to hold a removable partial denture in place.  Having dental implants replacing your lost back teeth will give you new, unparalleled strength and stability that allows you to eat what you want. They also help preserve your jawbone and facial appearance.

Benefits of replacing several missing teeth with implant supported crowns:

• The only fixed alternative in this situation
• A stable, secure solution that lets you eat what you want
• Preserves your facial appearance and helps prevent bone loss

Dr. Guier offers several other dental implant procedures in Shreveport, LA.  To schedule an appointment and see which option is best for you, please fill out the form below or call Dr. Guier at (318) 771-7512.