Dental Implants – Terrell, TX

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

At your first visit, we’ll make sure you have an opportunity to ask any questions you have about dental implant treatment. We’ll also go over your medical and dental history to confirm if any preexisting issues could interfere with your ability to complete surgery. If you have gum disease or tooth decay, you’ll need to have these conditions handled first. Alternatively, if there is not enough bone tissue available for the implants to properly integrate, a bone graft may be needed beforehand. Otherwise, we’ll get you partnered with a trusted implant specialist.

Dental Implant Surgery

In most cases, getting dental implants entails two separate surgical procedures about three to six months apart. In the first procedure, the implants are inserted into your jawbone by one of our partnered oral surgeons. This is done by numbing the mouth, making a small incision in the gum tissue, then creating a tiny a hole in the bone for the implant to sit inside of and integrate. After stitching the gum tissue closed, you can begin the healing process. Our team will go over your aftercare instructions before you leave so you know exactly what to do to avoid any complications and ensure a smooth recovery.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

After your surgery, the implants are given time to become surrounded by and integrated with the bone underneath your gums. This step generally takes about four to six months to complete. Over the next several days after surgery, we recommend that patients stick to a soft diet and avoid any strenuous activities.

After the implant has healed, you’ll come back to have an abutment attached. This metal connector is designed to provide stability and act as a fastener for the permanent crown, bridge, or denture.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

After a few more weeks of healing, you’ll come back to our office to have your permanent restoration attached. Ahead of this appointment, one of our dentists will then take impressions of your mouth so that your new teeth can be custom created to fit the right size and shape. When you arrive, your new restoration will be ready for placement. We are prepared to make adjustments as needed to ensure your bite remains even and feels comfortable.

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Eat the Foods You Want - Dental implants replace the roots of teeth and not just the crown, so you restore your smile’s biting force and all its basic functions. For instance, chewing your favorite nutritious foods is much more comfortable and feasible with dental implants.
• Practice Oral Hygiene With Ease – When it comes to routine brushing and flossing, keeping your dental implants clean is largely indistinguishable from your natural teeth. If you’re used to removing your denture to keep it clean, you’ll find dental implants to be a breath of fresh air.
• Smile With Confidence – Dental implants are designed to look natural next to any existing teeth. That means whether you’re speaking, laughing, or smiling with friends and family, only you and our office will know you had teeth replaced.

Health Benefits

• Maintain Natural Tooth Structure – One of the lesser known benefits of dental implants is that they stand independent of the surrounding healthy teeth. This makes them different than dental bridges, which require removal of existing enamel to attach (similar to dental crowns). Through dental implants, preserving your smile’s natural structure for longer is possible.
• Expand Your Diet – When teeth are missing, getting a healthy balance of essential nutrients in your diet can be difficult. Instead of needing to cut out options entirely or making unrealistic accommodations for missing teeth, you can continue eating foods key to positive oral and overall health.
• Prevent Future Tooth Loss – The reality is the more teeth you lose, the more likely you are to lose more teeth later down the road. By specifically replacing the root portion of your tooth, you ensure your jawbone’s foundation does not break down further and your remaining teeth stay healthy and secure.

Long-Term Benefits

• Retain Your Jaw’s Natural Shape - Those with tooth loss often see accelerated sagging in their face because the jawbone is no longer stimulated, but dental implants maintain bone stimulation and keep blood flowing to these facial structures.
• True Longevity - On top of helping you regain your smile’s functions and appearance, dental implants have been proven to last a long time, especially compared to other tooth replacement options. Dental implants generally last over 25 years, but most people can keep them for the rest of their lives when they practice proper daily oral care.
• High Success Rate - When placed by a professional, dental implants have a high success rate of around 98 percent! This means you can have confidence in your tooth replacement as long as you practice regular oral care at home and visit our office every six months for a regular checkup, just like you would for your natural teeth!

Missing One Tooth

To replace one missing tooth, a titanium post is inserted directly into the jawbone. Over the course of several months, the biocompatible post becomes integrated with your bone and tissue. After this happens, we’ll attach an abutment, or connector piece, before we attach a custom crown. In order to ensure the most natural aesthetics possible, our dental crowns are made from porcelain.

Missing Multiple Teeth

For multiple consecutive teeth, a dental implant is placed on each end of the gap in your smile, and then restored with a dental bridge or partial denture. It’s important to remember that traditional bridges anchor to modified teeth to hold the bridge in place, but dental implants are certainly strong and stable enough to support a three- or four-crown bridge on their own.

Missing All Teeth

Even if you have lost all the teeth in your top or bottom arch, a denture that is supported by four to six implants can easily restore your smile to its fullest! Instead of relying on suction or adhesives, implant dentures can create an incredibly natural look and provide more stability.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

To become eligible for dental implants, many patients need one or preparatory procedures. For example, it’s common to require bone grafting in order to bring back jawbone density that has been lost after teeth have gone missing. Naturally, these procedures add to your total costs.

Dental implant surgery itself, and any anesthesia you receive, also comes with its own cost. Your oral surgeon can go over the specific factors affecting the price of this procedure in detail. Keep in mind that you’ll be responsible for a separate bill from their practice as well as one from ours.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

The dental implant post, your restoration, and the abutment that connects the two will all have their own unique costs. The post and abutment can be crafted from different materials that suit the needs of each patient, and your oral surgeon will select the option that best benefits you. Our dentists will also choose the type of restoration (crown, bridge, or denture) and material (acrylic, porcelain, etc.) that is ideal for you. Feel free to ask us or the specialist why we’ve chosen the materials we have; we’ll be transparent about our decisions as well as how it impacts your overall treatment costs.

How Dental Implants Pay for Themselves

Dentists and patients alike will tell you that dental implants are well worth the investment. Yes, they cost more up front than bridges or dentures, but you have to consider the long-term value that implants provide. They last for an average of 30 years, while traditional options need to be adjusted or replaced entirely every five to ten years at most. Not to mention, you can avoid having to buy adhesives or special cleaning products. In the long run, dental implants are actually the more cost-effective solution!

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

These days, dental insurance companies are increasingly realizing how valuable dental implants are, so they’re beginning to offer some coverage. However, many plans still do not. Our team would be more than happy to look over your policy and file claims on your behalf. Even if your plan doesn’t cover the implants themselves, there’s a chance it could partially pay for your restoration or any preliminary treatments.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Insurance isn’t the only way to make your replacement teeth affordable. There are plenty of other options, including CareCredit. Our team at Texas Dentistry has helped countless patients apply for low- to no-interest payment plans through this third-party lender. With a wide variety of plans to choose from, there’s sure to be a solution that allows you to fit the cost of your new smile into budget-friendly installments.