Gail graduated from Miami-Dade Junior College in 1975, with a degree in Dental Hygiene. She worked primarily in Periodontics for most of her career, and has been with Amarillo Dental Associates since 2005.She has served on the Amarillo College Dental Hygiene Advisory Board for approximately 20 years.She is a sports fanatic, and her favorite teams are the Miami Hurricanes, Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, Texas A&M Aggies, and the Chicago Cubs.She has a son and a daughter, both of whom graduated from Texas A&M University and live in Chicago.Her husband is also in the dental field as he is a dental technician, owning a dental laboratory.
Have you ever wondered How do dental implants work? Were glad you asked! Our office has invested in in-depth training for our doctors as well as Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), also known as 3D Imaging technology, to afford our team the ability to treatment plan dental implants with pinpoint accuracy.
Implantshave become the standard of care for replacing teeth lost to disease or even congenitally missing teeth. Missing teeth affect your ability to speak and eat. Many patients choose implants over removable appliances or fixed bridges because they are not comparable to the appearance or function of natural teeth, like implants. Per the American Dental Association, 5 million implants are placed each year in the U.S. and for good reason. Long term clinical success rates are well over 95%.
Patients in good general health with healthy gums and jawbone that can support an implant should consider consulting with their dentist to evaluate whether implants are an option to replace missing teeth. Patients who use tobacco are at a greater risk for gum disease which can weaken the bone and tissues that are needed to support both natural teeth and implants.
The implant its self is a small metallic cylinder that substitutes for the natural tooth root. The process involves at least two steps: placing the implant in the jaw and allowing the bone the grow for three to four monthsto hold the implant in place, then an artificial tooth that is custom designed especially for your mouth is placed over the implant.
Dental implants can eliminate the need for fixed bridges, partials or dentures. Implants feel and behave more like your own natural teeth. Implants preserve bone by preventing the jawbone from shrinking and changing shape once a tooth is lost. Implants eliminate the need for healthy adjacent teeth to be cut down, as is required when placing a bridge. Implants allow ill-fitting dentures to be firmly attached, creating stability and better function.
While the treatment time for dental implants is longer and the cost is higher than some dental procedures, the investment of time and money has consistently proved to be the best option for most patients.