Dental Implants Southlake

Tooth loss can have a devastating impact on your everyday life, but fortunately, Dr. Thomas can point you toward multiple options for filling in any gaps in your smile. While traditional bridges and dentures have their advantages, many dentists and patients today prefer dental implants — currently the only form of tooth replacement that rebuilds lost teeth from the roots up. To learn more about dental implants and the unique advantages they offer, call our office today to schedule a consultation!

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a small post that resembles a screw. Most implants are made of titanium, a strong material that can form a secure and lasting bond with the surrounding tissues. However, Dr. Thomas often recommends metal-free zirconia implants due to their superior biocompatibility and other benefits.

If a dental implant is inserted into your jaw, it can act as support for a crown, bridge, or denture. The number of dental implant posts you need can vary depending on your tooth loss situation.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

Getting dental implants is a highly customizable process. That said, it can generally be divided into the following four steps:

• Initial Consultation: To confirm your candidacy for dental implants (as well as whether preliminary treatments will be required), your mouth will be thoroughly examined during an initial consultation.
• Dental Implant Surgery: A local specialist will surgically place an appropriate number of implant posts into carefully pre-determined spots in your jawbone.
• Osseointegration and Abutment: Over the course of several months, the implant posts will form a lasting bond with the jaw through osseointegration. After that, an abutment may be attached to each post. (Zirconia implants usually come in one piece, meaning that no abutment placement is necessary.)
• Delivery of the Final Restoration: Our team will design and place the final crown, bridge, or denture so you can start to enjoy your new teeth.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants are an incredibly popular tooth replacement solution. In fact, around 5 million of them are placed in patients throughout the U.S. each year! Why are so many people drawn to them? Simply because they offer more and greater benefits than other forms of prosthetic teeth. What are some of the specific advantages that you might experience when you choose dental implants? Continue reading below to find out.

Day-to-Day Benefits

Dental implants in Southlake have the potential to enhance your daily quality of life in numerous ways:

• They can provide a remarkable boost to your self-esteem. If you have ever felt embarrassed to smile due to a missing tooth, dental implants offer an opportunity to rediscover your confidence. This is especially true of zirconia implants, which have an even more lifelike appearance than titanium ones.
• Eating becomes more enjoyable with dental implants. Unlike the experience of chewing with missing teeth or removable dentures, dental implants allow you to indulge in your favorite foods without worry. Even relatively tough and chewy foods should be easy to consume.
• Dental implants contribute to clearer speech. They support your ability to articulate words with accuracy and confidence, helping you to express yourself without hesitation or concern about a lisp or unclear speech.
• Maintaining dental implants is straightforward and simple. In fact, taking care of them is much like caring for your natural teeth. Consistent oral hygiene practices and regular dental visits will always be important!

Health Benefits

Dental implants can be a holistic solution that supports your oral and overall health in several ways:

• Dental implants can support your natural teeth. They fill in gaps caused by missing teeth, thereby preventing adjacent teeth from shifting out of place and leading to a misaligned bite.
• Implants are good for your jawbone. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone underneath begins to deteriorate over time due to a lack of stimulation. Dental implants function much like natural tooth roots, preserving bone density and helping protect the structure of your face.
• You can enjoy a nutritious diet. Dental implants make it easier to enjoy a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and more. In turn, eating a healthy diet can reduce your overall disease risk.
• You may be happier. Replacing missing teeth with implants can reduce anxiety or self-consciousness related to gaps in your smile. Many individuals report feeling happier and more secure after completing their treatment.
• Zirconia implants can allow you to enjoy the health benefits of metal-free dentistry. Many patients opt for zirconia implants instead of titanium. This option is highly biocompatible.

Long-Term Benefits

You can start enjoying the benefits of dental implants soon after you receive them, and you can continue to enjoy their advantages for many years.

• Dental implants provide outstanding longevity. With proper care, they have the potential to last for decades and, in some cases, may endure for a lifetime. The crowns, bridges, and dentures that are affixed to implants can also last a long time.
• Dental implants offer an attractive monetary value. Although the initial cost of dental implants is higher than that of alternative tooth replacement options, their durability and overall longevity may actually give them a lower cost per day than other treatments.
• Dental implants contribute to long-term wellness. By supporting your oral health and overall wellbeing, dental implants might help you spend less time and money on professional dental and medical care throughout your life.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Dental implants can help almost any adult who has experienced tooth loss. During a consultation, Dr. Thomas will evaluate your health, discuss your smile goals, and examine your teeth to determine whether you are eligible for this option. If you are, she looks forward to getting started on your tooth replacement right away!

The right number of implant posts can be used to correct any of the following tooth loss situations:

Missing One Tooth

A single dental implant can be inserted into the empty space where a missing tooth used to be. We can attach a dental crown to the dental implant in order to recomplete your smile. Not only will the implant post feel natural in your mouth, but the crown will blend in seamlessly with the rest of your teeth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

It is possible to replace multiple teeth in your mouth at once with a few strategically placed implant posts. For example, a pair of implant posts can be used to support a dental bridge in order to fill in the gap left by three or more missing teeth. Unlike a traditional bridge, placing an implant bridge does not require the removal of any enamel from the natural teeth you still have.

Missing All Teeth

Often, four to six implant posts can be combined with full dentures in order to replace all of the teeth in your upper or lower arch. While some implant dentures are removable, others are fixed in place and can be brushed and flossed the same way as your natural teeth.  

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Before you commit to getting dental implants, you should have an accurate idea of how much they will cost. There are several factors that can have an impact on the amount you pay, including the number of implant posts used and the type of prosthesis they support. Dental insurance may cover specific parts of the process, but it will not always help pay for the implant posts themselves. Bear in mind that the higher cost of dental implants is often balanced out by the fact that they can last for decades without needing to be replaced.