Dental Implants – Dallas, TX

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step when you get dental implants is to attend a consultation. During this time, we will examine your smile and go over your medical history to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure. If necessary, we can discuss preliminary treatments, like gum disease therapy, bone grafting, or tooth extractions. These types of treatments can help to ensure your dental implant’s success. After this, we can move on to planning the rest of your dental implant treatment. We will walk you through the different steps as well as the financial aspects of the procedure.

Dental Implant Surgery

We work with a local specialist to ensure that your dental implant procedure goes as smoothly as possible. Your mouth will first be numbed with a local anesthetic to make sure you remain comfortable during the procedure. Then, an incision is made into the gum tissue so the implant posts can be placed into the jawbone. Next, the gums are closed and protective caps are placed over the posts.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

Osseointegration takes place when the biocompatible titanium implant fuses to the jawbone. This is what keeps the implant so stable in the bone. When the fusion process is complete, metal abutments are placed on the end of the implants. Your final restoration will be crafted from impressions taken of your mouth.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

The last step in getting dental implants is the delivery of your replacement teeth. You will need to return to the practice so we can place your crown, bridge, or denture on your implant(s). During this time, we will make sure that your bite lines up and your new smile is comfortable. This way, you will be completely ready to enjoy the benefits of your complete smile! 

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Eat your favorite foods - Greater, more even bite force, allowing you to chew and eat with greater confidence and enjoy the foods you love.
• Better quality of life – Ability to live the life you love because of greater ease of speaking, eating, and smiling. Unlike denture-wearers who often hide their smiles and avoid speaking, you can feel more confident with your new, firmly-rooted teeth.
• A more beautiful appearance - Enhanced aesthetics and boosted confidence.
• Easier maintenance – Dental implants make it easy to keep your natural and artificial teeth clean and free of potential decay and disease. All you need are regular dental hygiene products.

Health Benefits

• Preservation of remaining teeth –You can avoid altering healthy teeth that are otherwise required with fixed bridges.
• Stimulate the jawbone – Improved oral health by continuing to stimulate the jawbone and prevent bone resorption and/or facial collapse.
• Stabilize adjacent teeth – Dental drift is not a concern when an implant dentist places these titanium posts. It keeps healthy teeth firmly in place, minimizing the need for orthodontic treatment.

Long-Term Benefits

• High-success rate – Dental implants have an initial placement success rate of 95%, which is unlike other prosthetic tooth replacements.
• Greater longevity – A restoration that is designed to last decades with proper care and maintenance.
• Cost-effective solution – Instead of paying for denture adhesives and regular replacements or adjustments, dental implants cost less in the long run. This is also evident through lower expenses on overall health problems that can often arise as a result of tooth loss.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

At your consultation, we will review your dental history, learn about your smile goals, review your latest X-rays, and conduct a comprehensive oral exam. The goal? To determine if any preliminary treatments are needed, how mild or severe your case is, and if you’re willing to commit to good dental care habits, like brushing your teeth each morning and evening. With all of this information, we can determine if dental implants are an option and, if they are, begin working on your custom treatment plan.

Missing One Tooth

If you are only missing a single tooth, your dentist in Dallas can replace it with a single dental implant! This requires us to insert a titanium implant into your jawbone before securing a metal abutment in place. Then, we will create a custom dental crown to restore the visible portion of your tooth as well. After your final appointment, you’ll walk out of our office with a complete, healthy, and beautiful smile.

Missing Multiple Teeth

If two or more teeth are missing consecutively in a row, there’s no need to worry – that’s where implant bridges come in! Once your custom bridge is created by lab technicians, we will carefully secure it to the implants, seamlessly filling the gap in the process.

But what if you are missing several teeth throughout your mouth? In that case, we can either replace each tooth with a single dental implant or anchor a partial denture in place with dental implants. Simply put, this state-of-the-art tooth-replacement solution is still an option, so don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation!

Missing All Teeth

When faced with an entire arch of missing teeth, don’t assume traditional dentures are all you’ll be eligible to receive. Instead, an oral surgeon can place 4-6 dental implants along your jawbone to create a firm foundation for a customized denture. You won’t have to worry about special adhesives to keep your restoration in place either; you can feel more confident knowing your denture is secured to the tops of your implants, allowing you to speak, laugh, and chew with complete confidence.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

It is common for patients to require preliminary treatment, such as gum disease therapy or tooth extractions, before they can receive dental implants. Each of these services incurs its own fee. The implant placement surgery also has a separate cost, which depends on how many implants are being placed and other factors. The specialist that Dr. Vanderbrook refers you to for your surgery will talk to you about its price and your payment options.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

There are numerous implant treatment options in modern dentistry. Some treatments involve the use of just one or two implants, so they cost less than treatments that require more implants. Also, there are many different implant manufacturers that charge a range of fees for their products. If more than one type of implant treatment is right for you, our team will talk to you about their pros, cons, and costs so you can make an informed decision about how to move forward.

Final Dental Implant Restoration

Implant restorations vary in price. A single implant-supported crown logically costs less than an implant-supported denture or a multi-unit bridge. Restorations may be made out of various materials, such as acrylic and porcelain, which may have different price points.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

It is becoming more and more common for dental insurance policies to cover dental implants. However, many still do not. Our team will help you navigate your benefits and file claims in your behalf. Even if your policy does not cover dental implants themselves, it might cover other parts of your treatment, like preliminary services or your final restorations.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Dr. Vanderbrook and our team want to help you afford your new smile! That is why, in addition to helping you with your insurance, our practice is pleased to accept financing from CareCredit. CareCredit is a third-party lender that provides low-interest payment plans for medical and dental services. We will always be upfront with you about prices, and we are ready to answer any questions you have about our payment policy. We pride ourselves on making every aspect of the treatment process as easy as possible!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

First and foremost, you’ll want to keep practicing good oral hygiene every day to preserve your gums and metal posts. This should include brushing, flossing, and rinsing with ADA-approved mouthwash regularly, especially after meals to avoid issues like tooth decay and gum disease. With a good oral care routine, you’ll be sure to keep your new teeth clean and plaque-free!

Eat a Healthy Diet

One of the best parts of getting dental implants is the ability to enjoy your meals without any restrictions. Even so, you’ll want to take care not to accidentally damage them or wear them down over time. For this reason, it’s best to avoid overindulging in particularly hard, crunchy, sticky, or sugary foods. Try eating more vitamin-C and calcium-rich meals to promote healthier gums and stronger jawbone tissue.

Break Bad Habits

Certain habits can be detrimental to both your oral and overall health, such as smoking and chewing tobacco. The first thing you’ll want to do is significantly minimize or quit these products if you want to make the most of your dental implants. If not, you can end up risking implant failure and raise your chances of developing infection or other serious conditions, like oral cancer. Furthermore, make sure to avoid chewing on hard objects and using your teeth as tools, as you can accidentally damage or break your new dental implants.

Protect Your Dental Implants

While your new pearly whites will be durable enough to withstand excessive pressure from chewing, it doesn’t make them invulnerable to damage. To keep them safe from sudden impacts, either from sports or physical activity, you may want to invest in custom mouthguards. Additionally, if you tend to grind your teeth at night, a nightguard can effectively prevent you from wearing your smile down over time.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Even if you’re practicing good oral hygiene and implementing preventive measures, you should continue to visit your dentist for checkups and cleanings every six months. This will help you keep your smile clean and will allow them to monitor your oral health so they can address any problems they might detect. With early preventive care, you’ll have a significantly lower risk of developing issues that could cause your implants to fail.

Does It Hurt to Get Dental Implants?

Getting dental implants requires a minor oral surgery. However, you’ll be pleased to hear that the majority of patients report that the process of getting dental implants doesn’t hurt at all. We partner with trusted local dental implant professionals for the surgical placement portion of your treatment. They’ll make sure you’re completely comfortable throughout the surgery, with local numbing medication and likely sedation. The recovery period is likely to include a week or so of slight discomfort and swelling, but these side effects should be easy to manage at home.

What Are the Different Types of Dental Implants?

There are numerous different types of dental implants. There are single-tooth dental implants, implant bridges, and several options for implant dentures. There are also implants that are made of zirconia instead of titanium, and there are “mini dental implants” as opposed to traditional dental implants. During your consultation, we’ll work with you and your unique situation to determine which type of dental implant will be best for you.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Traditional tooth replacement options only last about five to seven years before they need to be replaced. With dental implants, this inconvenience is a thing of the past! Since dental implants are embedded directly into your jawbone, they stimulate the tissue just like natural teeth and keep it strong. Thanks to this unique placement, dental implants can easily last 30 years to a lifetime!

How Soon After An Extraction Can I Get a Dental Implant?

In most cases, you’ll need to wait several weeks after having a tooth extracted before replacing it with a dental implant. This will give your gum tissue a chance to heal, and enough time for whatever oral health problem that prompted the extraction in the first place to be addressed. Remember, you’ll need to be completely free of any dental abscesses or infections before a dental implant can be placed.

Am I Too Old for Dental Implants?

It’s no secret that tooth loss becomes more common with age. Fortunately, there is no upper age limit for getting dental implants! As long as you are well enough to undergo minor surgery, are free of oral health issues like gum disease, and have adequate jawbone density, you are a good candidate for this state-of-the-art treatment. If you’re not initially a good candidate for dental implants, we may be able to help you become one. We can help you overcome oral health issues like gum disease and refer you to a local specialist to have your jawbone strengthened with a bone graft!