Dental implants are a great solution if you have missing teeth or need an extraction. A single dental implant comprises a titanium anchor or post, an abutment, and a dental crown. Dental implants can restore dental crowns, dental bridges, and dentures. Whether you need to replace a single lost tooth or all of the teeth in your smile, treatment with dental implants in our Carrollton, TX, office can help.
Dental implants can give you back a natural-looking, comfortable smile. Tooth implants are one of the restorative dentistry treatments we provide our patients in Carrollton.
What Are Dental Implants?
Implants can replace a single missing tooth or full tooth arches. A dental implant consists of three parts:
Implant Post
An implant post is a small screw, usually made of titanium, that acts as the base for a dental implant. Titanium is strong and safe to use in the body. After the dentist places the post in your jawbone, it slowly fuses with the bone. This fusion creates a sturdy foundation for a replacement tooth, so it can work just like a natural tooth.
Implants are biocompatible, meaning once the post fuses with the jaw, it will become a natural part of the mouth. You will not have adverse reactions to implant treatment.
Abutment
The abutment is a small connector piece that attaches the implant post to the replacement tooth or teeth, whether it’s a crown, bridge, or denture. After the implant post has fused with the jawbone, the dentist places the abutment on top of the post to serve as a secure attachment point.
It plays a key role in holding the replacement tooth in place, ensuring that the new tooth fits comfortably and functions just like a natural tooth. The abutment helps provide a strong and stable connection between the implant and the final restoration.
Restoration
For a single dental implant, a dental crown is used as the final piece. This crown, or tooth cap, is made to match the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth, so it blends in with your smile. The crown not only replaces the look of a missing tooth but also lets you bite and chew like normal.
Implants can also do more than support one crown. They can hold bridges, which replace several missing teeth in a row, or dentures, which replace all the teeth in an arch. Anchoring bridges or dentures with implants makes them more secure and comfortable, preventing them from slipping and making it easier to eat and talk.
What Are Immediate Implants?
Immediate implants are placed right after a tooth is removed. Normally, when a tooth is taken out, you would have to wait several months for the area to heal before getting an implant. But with immediate implants, the dentist can put the implant in the same day. This means you can start the process of getting a new tooth much faster.
Dr. Brijesh Patel provides All-on-Four and All-on-Six treatment for patients with full arches of missing teeth. These treatments use fewer implants to support an entire arch of teeth—either the upper or lower jaw. With All-on-4, we place four implants in specific positions to hold a full set of replacement teeth. All-on-6 works similarly but uses six implants for even more stability.
After Dr. Patel places implants, he attaches temporary teeth. You can leave the office with a new smile right away. This makes it easier for people who need several teeth replaced, and it can really improve their quality of life.
Am I A Candidate For Dental Implants?
The best candidates for dental implants in our Carrollton, TX dental office have all three of these qualifications:
- Good oral health: Your teeth and gums must be healthy enough to support your implants. We will treat problems like tooth infections, gum disease, and abscesses before treatment. If you have gum disease or tooth decay, it can make it harder for the implants to fuse properly with your jawbone.
- Healthy jaw bone: During the implant process, the jaw bone grows around the implant post. Implant stability depends on the jaw bone. We recommend bone grafting if you do not have enough jaw bone for implant treatment. This treatment takes donor bone or bone from another part of your mouth and places it where needed.
- Missing teeth: Whether you have one missing tooth or all of your teeth missing, implants can help. We can also replace an old restoration with an implant-supported restoration.
Dental implants don’t have strict age restrictions. However, we recommend dental implants patients with a fully developed jaw. The jaw needs to be strong enough to support the implants.
Many seniors successfully receive implants and enjoy the benefits of a healthier smile. However, overall health is more essential than age. If an older adult is in good health, without serious medical issues, they can often get dental implants.
You must also consider implant costs before your treatment. The cost of dental implants often depends on pretreatments, the number of missing teeth, and your type of restoration.
Implants often cost more than traditional restorations because they require surgery and different materials. However, dental implants are permanent. Implant restorations also last longer, when secured by dental implants.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Life with implants will be much more comfortable than without. Patients who receive dental implants benefit from the following:
Natural Look and Feel
Implants secure custom-made restorations that match the shape and shade of natural teeth. Additionally, because dental implants restore teeth at the root, they will feel like natural teeth.
Bite Function
Missing tooth gaps make it hard to eat certain foods. After losing permanent teeth, you may find it hard to eat healthy foods. You may lose valuable vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Compared to removable dentures, implants restore a large percentage of your bite function for easy eating.
Improved Speech
Removable restorations or gaps in your smile may make pronouncing “ch” or “th” sounds harder. Replacing missing teeth with implants creates a fuller smile to help you speak easily and clearly.
Bone Retention
After you lose a permanent tooth, your jaw loses support from the tooth root. As a result, you can experience jaw recession. Jaw bone loss changes your facial appearance and can make you look older. Restoring missing teeth with implants helps support jaw health and improve facial shape.
Unlike removable restorations like traditional dentures, implant-secured restorations last longer and feel more secure. Dental implant-supported restorations also improve the smile’s aesthetics by restoring gaps and combatting problems like facial sagging. Implants support healthy bone and gum tissue to create a natural-looking smile.
Treatment with Dental Implants in Carrollton, TX
Before dental implant treatment, we will thoroughly examine your smile to determine if you are a candidate for treatment. Some patients may require bone grafting to have sufficient jaw bone to secure their implants. Bone grafting takes healthy jaw bone from another part of the mouth or donor bone. Building up the jaw bone ensures the implant stays in place.
Other patients may need periodontal therapy, root canal treatment, or tooth extractions to treat tooth and gum infections. Once you are healthy, we will begin the dental implant process.
Implant Placement
We will place the implants in the jaw bone beneath the gums, where they will act as replacement tooth roots. Then, we can place a healing cap over the implants while waiting for them to heal. If we do not place the cap, we will place the abutment later.
Over a healing period called osseointegration, the implant posts fuse with the jawbone to create a stable foundation for dental restoration. Healing can take three to six months. Our office will keep track of your healing until you return for impressions.
We recommend that you stop smoking or using tobacco products as your implants heal. The nicotine can restrict the blood vessels, which slows your healing and increases the risk of implant failure.
Abutment Placement
Once the implants fully heal, we will attach the abutments and wait for your gums to heal. Meanwhile, technicians will create your final implant restoration in a dental lab. You will need more time for your gums to heal after we place the implant abutments.
Final Restoration
Finally, you will return to our office. We will check your implant restoration’s shade, shape, and size. Then, once we make the proper adjustments, we will attach the permanent, custom-made restoration.
How to Care for Dental Implants
Like natural teeth, implant restorations need brushing and flossing to prevent infection. If you develop a tooth or gum infection, you are at risk of peri-implantitis. This condition is marked by swollen, bleeding gums around your implants and shifting or loose implants. Contact us when you notice changes in your tooth or gum health following implant treatment.
When cleaning your implants, you can use an interdental brush or water flosser to get between each tooth. Then, brush with a soft toothbrush. Ensure you clean the front, top, and sides of each tooth. Additionally, gently brush the gums and your tongue.
If you have questions about cleaning your implant restoration, please ask. We can provide tips to ensure your teeth, gums, and implants stay healthy.
Dental Implant FAQs
Learn more about dental implants in Carrollton, TX, dental office:
How long do dental implants last?
The implant posts that we place in the jaw bone are permanent. However, we must replace the crown, bridge, or denture after many years. Implant-supported restorations last longer than removable or traditional options.
How do dental implants look compared to natural teeth?
Implant restorations look just like natural teeth. We color-match restorations to your natural teeth and take measurements so your replacement teeth blend in seamlessly. We will create a restoration that matches your desired tooth shade if you need complete dentures.
How can dental implants fail?
Implant failure can occur for several reasons. First, implants need enough healthy jaw bone to heal properly. If there is not enough bone to support the implant, it can become loose or fail.
You must also keep your implants clean. If you develop a tooth or gum infection, it can loosen the implant. Smoking can slow down healing and increase the risk of infection, which can lead to problems with the implant. For this reason, you should avoid tobacco products during the implant process.
Can I eat normally with dental implants?
Yes, once you get used to your implant-supported crown, bridge, or denture, you can eat the foods you love. Traditional dentures and bridges often have food restrictions. Because the restorations are often not as stable, they make it hard to bite and chew foods like steak, apples, or nuts. Implant posts act like new tooth roots to support your full bite function.
Will I need bone grafting before getting implants?
You might need bone grafting before getting dental implants. However, it depends on your situation. During this procedure, we add a small amount of bone to your jaw to make it stronger. This is necessary if there isn’t enough healthy bone to support the implant.
If you have lost teeth, the bone where the teeth used to be can shrink over time. This can make it hard for the implant to stay in place. If you’ve had an injury to your jaw or an infection, it might have damaged the bone. Also, some health issues can affect bone health, which our dentist will consider when planning your implant.
Does dental implant surgery hurt?
No, you will not feel pain when you get your dental implants. We will numb your mouth before we place the implant posts. You might feel some pressure, but it shouldn’t hurt.
After the surgery, you may feel some discomfort as the anesthesia wears off. This can feel like soreness or tenderness in your gums and jaw. We may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers to help with this discomfort, and it typically gets better in a few days.
Can I get dental implants if I smoke?
Yes, you can still get dental implants if you smoke. However, smoking can make it harder for the implants to heal properly. Smoking reduces blood flow in your gums, increasing the chances of infection and making the healing process slower. This might affect how well the implants bond with your jawbone. If you’re a smoker, we may recommend quitting or cutting down before and after the procedure to give your implants the best chance of success.
How much do implants cost?
The cost of dental implants can depend on these factors:
- Pretreatments like grafting, sinus lift, gum disease treatments
- The number of dental implants
- Cost of sedation
- Type of implant restoration
If you are considering getting implants, we will work with you to keep them within your budget. We will give you an estimate of the cost before treatment.
Restore Missing Teeth Today
Are you missing one or more permanent teeth and want a lasting dental restoration? Call Hebron Family Dental for dental implants in Carrollton, TX, at 972-236-5871. You may also schedule a dental appointment with us online.
Our dental office serves Coppell, Addison, Farmers Branch, Highland Village, and Lantana. We also serve Copper Canyon, The Colony, Double Oak, Bartonville, and Lewisville patients.