How can we help you?
At Cook Family Dentistry, we feel that you deserve to be fully informed about every aspect of your treatment. That is why we always take the time necessary to answer all your questions. Whatever your question, we've got the answer!
Here are a few of the questions we hear most often, but we encourage you to contact us if yours is not shown below.
Dental Implants
If you are missing all of your teeth on either the top or bottom (or both), complete dentures are one way to replace them. 
Complete dentures have been around for many, many years, and they have definitely improved over the years. They can provide an "instant facelift" by adding volume under previously shrunken cheeks and lips, and the teeth can be custom made to the patient's preference. They are also a relatively inexpensive way to regain some chewing ability, as well as personal confidence.
Disadvantages of Dentures
Some of the disadvantages of dentures include the fact that they are removable, and they can take a while to get used to. Upper dentures usually cover the entire roof of the mouth to ensure their strength and stability, and lower dentures tend to be loose-fitting and uncomfortable for many patients. Fortunately for many patients, these disadvantages can be addressed with implants! By allowing the denture to be snapped onto implants, their fit is much improved, the roof of the mouth does not have to be covered, and perhaps most importantly, the jawbone is preserved by the implants.
Please do not hesitate to call us at (205) 326-6384 if you have any questions about your smile and how we might be able to help!
Dental implants in Birmingham, AL replace missing teeth with restorations that mimic their natural relative more closely than anything currently available. In addition, implants are anchored to your jaw and into the bone so that structurally, they have the same stability and longevity as the teeth they replace.
To begin, the team at Cook Family Dental will create a treatment customized to your personal needs, whether you require a single tooth or a prosthetic to restore multiple teeth. The implant process has several steps and may take several months, depending on your particular oral health conditions.
Dental Implant Advantages
Compared to similar types of missing tooth replacements, dental implants are superior in several ways. Some of the main benefits are:
- Durability – Dental implants can last for years or longer, especially the foundation.
- Comfort – The surgical stability of a dental implant means no sliding or shifting to compromise the fit.
- Health – By attaching to your jawbone, dental implants restore bone pressure during chewing, promoting bone regeneration.
- Appearance – We make the tooth portion of your restoration from high-quality ceramic and composites that perfectly match natural teeth.
The Anatomy of a Dental Implant
We may divide your dental implant into three parts: the implant screw, the implant abutment, and the crown, which is the visible part of the implant. Each section is installed individually, building the restoration from the bone up.
The implant screw, also called the artificial root, is the part that embeds into the bone. This portion is made from titanium, specifically designed to become fused into your bone structure, resulting in a foundation as strong as you had in your original tooth.
Dental Implant Screw Healing Period
After Dr. Aaron Cook surgically implants the foundation of your restoration, you will undergo a process called osseointegration. This mechanism takes several months while also promoting healing, where bone tissue grows around the implant screw. Once osseointegration is complete, your implant's foundation will have the strength to withstand the repeated and powerful stress you place on your teeth when chewing.
Connecting Your Dental Implant Crown or Denture
The abutment joins the implant's foundation and the portion that looks most like your teeth: the crown or crowns in the cases of a bridge or denture. Your abutment will take one of the various shapes depending on the specific restoration you need. For example, we fit a single tooth implant with an abutment to attach to a single crown.
Dental Implants Replace Multiple Teeth at Once
But if you have multiple missing teeth, we will design your implants to support a multiple-tooth replacement.
Our patients agree that dentures backed by implant attachments are more stable and comfortable than conventional dentures, which fit over your gums and depend on less reliable adhesive methods. Therefore, the final restoration you chose will be the best option we can offer, and Dr. Cook and his team will help you choose the restoration that meets your goals.
Dental Implants in Birmingham, AL
In modern dentistry, you can have your missing teeth restored by dental implants in various ways. We encourage you to reverse the effects and embarrassment of missing teeth and give us a call. Our warm staff can schedule an appointment today.
Missing teeth are not just an aesthetic problem. They make it difficult to speak and chew properly. Worse yet, if you don’t replace missing teeth with dental implants or a bridge, you can face serious oral health problems in the future.
The root of a healthy tooth does a lot more than just hold it in place. It actually stimulates the regeneration of healthy tissue in your jaw. When the root is lost, this process comes to a halt and your jawbone can start to deteriorate.
Health Issues When a Tooth is Not Replaced
A missing tooth can also affect the alignment of the rest of your teeth. Even though you’re not aware of it, your teeth are always moving to some extent. This movement allows teeth surrounding the missing tooth to gradually drift out of place.
This starts a cycle of unwanted effects including misaligned teeth, premature wearing of teeth due to grinding, and even TMJ if the tooth is not replaced.
Tooth Replacement Solution
Dental implants are the perfect solution for replacing missing teeth. They are held in place in the jaw so they solve the problem of the missing root. Since dental implants are so stable, they offer a perfect base for a restoration like a dental crown.
You don’t have to live with the inconvenience of missing teeth. Please contact our Birmingham dental office, and we’ll be happy to arrange a consultation to see if dental implants are right for you.