Dental Implants – Garland, TX
A Lifelong Solution for Tooth Loss
Why Choose Dentistry by Brand for Dental Implants?
- Dental Implants Placed & Restored in the Same Location
- CT Cone Beam Scanner for Precise Implant Placement
- Several Financing Options Available
What Are Dental Implants?
Unlike traditional dentures and bridges that just sit atop the gums, dental implants take it a step further by recreating the entire structure of one or more missing teeth. The implant itself is a titanium post that we surgically insert into your jaw, replicating the root of your tooth. After placement, the post actually becomes one with your jawbone in a process called osseointegration. Then, a metal attachment called an abutment is placed, allowing us to secure your replacement tooth or teeth into place and complete your smile.
As the only tooth loss solution that rebuilds the entire tooth, dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement. They are able to feel, function, and look just as natural as your original pearly whites. The bond they form with your jawbone also allows them to last for several decades. For these reasons and many more, our dentists tend to recommend dental implants for all qualified patients.
Benefits of Dental Implants
As we touched on above, dental implants bring back the whole tooth both above and below the gumline. No other tooth replacement does this. Therefore, dental implants deliver specific advantages that dental bridges and dentures cannot – boosted confidence, reliable teeth, and an overall higher quality of life, to name a few. Although implants cost more initially than traditional treatments, this investment well worth it in both the short and long terms. Once you’ve read more about the wondrous benefits of dental implants in Garland, you’ll understand why more than half a million people choose this solution every year!
Day-to-Day Benefits
- Because the implants are embedded in your jaw, you can trust that your new teeth will always stay in place and never shift around or fall out unexpectedly, no matter what you’re eating. The same cannot always be said for dentures!
- Replacing the root structure of your missing teeth will renew almost all of the biting force that you had before tooth loss. You should be able to enjoy all of your favorite crunchy or chewy foods with ease.
- Dental implants are extremely natural-looking because they are always topped with custom-made porcelain restorations, and they also don’t have any extra attachments needed to keep them stable.
- In terms of daily care and maintenance, there isn’t much difference between real teeth and dental implants. All you have to do is brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day, just as you would with natural teeth.
Health Benefits
- Dental implants in Garland are the only tooth replacement that preserves the jawbone after teeth have been lost. They stimulate renewed blood flow to the area to keep it strong, maintaining the foundation for the remaining teeth while also reducing the risk of oral health issues like gum disease.
- Filling the empty space in your grin with a dental implant prevents the surrounding teeth from drifting out of place.
- Placing a dental bridge requires the permanent alteration of the teeth on either end of the gap. Over time, these teeth become weaker and more susceptible to breakage, decay, and sensitivity. Dental implants are the more conservative option because they are self-supporting.
- Because you’ll have a more powerful bite, it’ll be easier than ever to maintain a balanced diet full of all of the nutrients that your body needs.
Long-Term Benefits
- Without stimulation from the tooth roots, the jawbone deteriorates over time, resulting in the sunken, wrinkled facial appearance that is common with dentures. Since dental implants strengthen the jawbone, they help you avoid this look and maintain a youthful glow.
- More than 95% of dental implant cases are successful, even after decades.
- With just regular oral hygiene and routine appointments with an implant dentist in Garland, dental implants can be trusted to look and function like new for well over 30 years.
- If you take good care of your implants and make them last, you won’t need to get them replaced every five to ten years like you would with bridges or dentures. As a result, you can actually save money in the long run!
Who Dental Implants Can Help
If you’ve lost more than one tooth, you may be unsure whether or not dental implants are truly a good choice for you. We’re happy to say that it doesn’t matter how many teeth are missing; we can fill in the gaps with a carefully chosen number of implant posts and the right kind of restoration. We can determine your candidacy for dental implants and figure out the specifics of your treatment plan during your initial dental implant consultation.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Dental implants are only placed in adults with fully developed jaws, as it can cause problems if the bone continues to change after the implant has been inserted. Furthermore, you’ll need to have three things to be considered a candidate for the surgery:
- Good enough overall health that your body won’t have any trouble healing after minor surgery.
- Optimal oral health, meaning any preexisting gum disease and cavities need to be treated beforehand.
- A strong jawbone that’s capable of forming a bond with the implant posts. (Bone grafts might be needed if you don’t currently meet this requirement.)
Missing One Tooth
A dental implant can act as a base for a dental crown. This lets you fill in a single gap in your mouth without having to make alterations to your other teeth, as you would need to for a dental bridge. The crowns that we use to restore dental implants are made out of tooth-colored materials and carefully designed so that they match the size, shape, and shade of your natural teeth. As such, most people won’t be able to tell which tooth got replaced unless you tell them.
Missing Multiple Teeth
There are multiple strategies for replacing multiple missing teeth. One common solution is to place a dental bridge on a pair of implants; this is usually a good choice if you’ve lost multiple consecutive teeth and are looking to replace them all at once. If you need to fill in more than one gap in a single arch, you can instead get a partial denture that has been combined with a few dental implants. Both procedures will give you a complete, stable smile, and your new teeth will prevent your natural teeth from drifting.
Missing All Teeth
Dental implants can even be used to replace an entire row of teeth. Four to six implant posts can hold a denture in position, preventing it from coming loose while you’re trying to eat or talk. Implant dentures can be designed to stay anchored to your implant posts at all times, but removable versions are also available. We’ll use the minimum number of dental implants needed to give your new teeth enough strength and stability to eat anything you want.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Because dental implants can be paired with so many different kinds of restorations to help patients dealing with different degrees of tooth loss, the overall cost of the procedure can vary from person to person. However, because implants last so much longer compared to traditional bridges and dentures (30+ years versus five to seven years), they tend to be the better financial choice overall despite their larger upfront price, helping a patient literally save thousands in periodic maintenance.
Types of Dental Implants
An extremely versatile option for replacing missing teeth, you can replace one, multiple, or all of your teeth with dental implants.
- Single Tooth Implant – As the least expensive option, a single tooth implant only replaces one missing tooth and consists of a titanium implant (post), abutment, and a custom-made dental crown.
- Implant Bridge – Slightly more costly than a single tooth implant is an implant bridge. This requires the use of two posts, abutments, and a customized dental bridge that fuses three crowns and is affixed on top of the implants.
- Implant Denture – When all your teeth are missing, you can expect to pay more for an implant denture. Whether you just need one for the top or bottom or both, we will place between four and eight dental implants along your jawline before securing a customized denture into place, creating a more stable, permanent smile.
What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?
- Initial Consultation: During your visit with one of our dentists, you will have your oral cavity thoroughly examined. Once we determine how many dental implants you need as well as their location and type of restoration, you will receive a personalized treatment plan. This visit will incur its own charge, which will be reflected in the estimate you receive for your dental implant placement.
- Surgical Placement: Another factor that determines your overall cost is the actual placement of the dental implants. Because this requires anesthesia, the cost of your procedure will vary depending on how many implants will be placed.
- Custom Restoration: One aspect that is often covered all or in part by your dental insurance company is the custom restoration. Whether you need a dental crown, implant bridge, or an implant denture, the cost of your restoration will incur an additional charge.
Some of the other factors that can determine how much you will spend on your dental implant placement include sedation, any pre-dental implant procedures (i.e., tooth extraction, periodontal therapy), how many implants you will need, and where the implants will be placed.
Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?
While this question can be answered by the many satisfied individuals who have received dental implants and are now living with a healthier, more permanent smile, it is clear that dental implants are a worthwhile investment. Are they expensive? Yes. Are they more cost-effective than dentures or other traditional restorative methods of treatment? Yes.
When you consider how long your dental implants will last and the very little maintenance that is required to keep them looking and feeling completely natural, it is obvious that the additional money you’ll be upfront is worth it in the long run. After all, you won’t have to worry about soaking your artificial teeth overnight, being as mindful about the foods you eat or having us readjust or reline your implants like we would if you had dentures.
Will Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
This is dependent upon your dental insurance policy. Most companies do not cover dental implants. With this knowledge, you may be wondering, “Can I afford dental implants?” Fortunately, there are other ways you can pay for your restorative treatment. But first, you may want to take a closer look at the different factors that contribute to the overall cost and find out if there are areas in which your insurance will pay.
You might be surprised to learn that they may be willing to pay for your initial consultation, anesthesia/sedation, the metal abutment(s), and your custom restoration. For any additional costs that you incur and will not be covered by insurance, please talk with a member of our team about additional financing options to lower your out-of-pocket expenses.
Dental Implant FAQs
If you’re planning on restoring your complete, confident smile with one or more dental implants, it’s natural to have a few questions. That’s why we’ve gathered some of the most commonly asked questions about this state-of-the-art treatment below. We want you to feel 100% comfortable in any treatment you choose here at Dentistry by Brand, so feel free to call us if you have further inquiries and to schedule your consultation!
Will I Need to See a Specialist to Have My Dental Implants Placed?
A dental implant needs to be surgically inserted into the jawbone, so some dentists may need to refer you to a specialist for this step in your treatment. That’s not the case here at Dentistry by Brand! With advanced training and state-of-the-art dental technology, our highly experienced team of dentists can perform every part of your dental implant treatment right here in our Garland office, from consultation to final restoration. The dental team you already know and trust will be with you every step of the way towards your new smile to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
How Are Dental Implants Cared For?
While your new dental implant won’t be susceptible to tooth decay like your natural teeth, you still need to keep it clean to maintain a healthy smile for life. A buildup of plaque and bacteria around your dental implant increases your risk of cavities and gum disease, which can eventually damage the supportive tissues that help hold your new tooth in place. Thankfully, caring for your dental implant is just as easy as keeping the rest of your smile clean! Brush for two minutes twice a day, floss between your teeth daily, and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash regularly to keep your newly rebuilt pearly whites beautiful, functional, and firmly in place!
How Long Does It Take to Get Dental Implants?
Unlike other tooth replacement options, getting dental implants requires a multistep process. First, we’ll need to make sure that your mouth is healthy enough for dental implants by treating issues like tooth decay or gum disease. Then, a small titanium post will be surgically inserted into your jawbone, mimicking the roots of the missing tooth. Before the lifelike restoration can be placed on top of it, the post needs to fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. This process is called osseointegration, and it typically takes several months to complete. Dental implants may take more time to get than options like dentures and dental bridges, but their unmatched comfort, functionality, and longevity are well worth the wait!
Can Dental Implants Fail?
Dental implants boast an astonishingly high success rate of nearly 99%. However, your dental implant’s success will largely depend on how well you care for it. As we covered above, allowing bacteria and plaque to build up around your dental implant can lead to jawbone damage and destruction of important connective tissues, which would weaken your dental implant’s stability in your smile. To minimize your risk of dental implant failure, it’s essential that you practice great oral hygiene, quit chewing on hard objects, and stop using tobacco products.
How Much Are Dental Implants?
The cost of your dental implant treatment will depend on a variety of factors, such as the need for preliminary treatments and the number of dental implants required. Typically, dental implants have a higher initial price tag than dentures or dental bridges. However, these other tooth replacement options will need to be replaced every several years to keep your mouth healthy, which can become quite inconvenient and costly over time. Dental implants are designed to become a permanent addition to your smile, which may make them cost less in the long run. This state-of-the-art treatment is an investment in the long-term wellbeing of your oral health.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
One of the reasons why dental implants have become as popular as they are is their incredible durability. Other solutions, like dentures and bridges, have to be repaired or replaced entirely every five to 10 years on average. By contrast, dental implants can last for 30+ years. In fact, they often last a lifetime with the right care. While they can be cared for similarly to natural teeth, they still require maintenance. Here are some simple tips for dental implant care in Garland.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Dental implants cannot get cavities. However, that doesn’t mean you can slack off, even if you have zero natural teeth remaining. Poor oral hygiene can lead to problems like gum disease, which increases the risk that your implants will fail.
To ensure your implants have a healthy, lasting foundation, brush them twice a day for two minutes at a time, as you would natural teeth. You should also floss and rinse with antibacterial mouthwash at least once daily.
Eat a Healthy Diet
You can eat whatever you want with dental implants, so take advantage of that by eating a nutritious diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables. Keep in mind, though, that overindulging in foods that are too sugary, hard, or sticky can damage your implants or restorations. We also recommend getting plenty of calcium to keep your jawbone strong and vitamin C to promote healthy gums.
Break Bad Habits
Bad oral habits can damage or loosen your implants or restorations. It’s best to quit the following habits:
- Smoking or using tobacco products (slows healing and increases your risk of gum disease)
- Using teeth as tools (could harm your restoration)
- Chewing hard, inedible objects (may lead to infection as well as wear and tear on your restorations)
If you need help kicking any of these habits, feel free to ask us for advice! We can provide you with guidance and point you toward resources that can help you preserve your dental implants in Garland.
Protect Your Dental Implants
Your dental implants and restorations are quite strong, but not indestructible. That’s why you should protect them by wearing a mouthguard during contact sports to shield them from damage. Similarly, wear a nightguard to bed if you have bruxism, a condition where you grind your teeth while sleeping.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Even if you don’t have any real teeth left, you should still visit us at least twice a year for a dental checkup and cleaning. At these appointments, we can examine your implants and restorations to check for warning signs of problems. If we find any issues, we can address them early enough that treatment should be simple and cost-effective.