Time to consider Dental Implants?
Regardless of advancements in dental care, many individuals experience tooth loss – often because of cavities, periodontal (gum) disease, or injury. Over the years, the only treatment options available for patients with missing teeth were dentures and bridges. However, nowadays, dental implants are available.
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a surgical component that replaces tooth roots with metal, screwlike posts and replaces lost or broken teeth with artificial teeth that resemble and work comparable with real ones. Dental implant surgery can provide a pleasant substitute to bridges or dentures that don’t fit properly and can give an alternative when a lack of natural teeth roots don’t support bridge tooth replacements.
Dental implants have a conclusive history of success: dentists have been practicing and improving this procedure for almost 30 years. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, “dental implant surgery is among the most impregnable and most reliable techniques in dentistry.” Roughly 450,000 implants are conducted every year with a 95% odds of success.
Types of Dental Implants
Endosteal/Endosseous Dental Implants
Endosteal implants are put into the jaw bone as an artificial root to hold a replacement tooth. Commonly screw-like and made of titanium, they are the typically applied type of implant. These types of dental implants are usually used as an alternative for a denture or bridge.
Subperiosteal Implant
These dental implants are placed just below the gum tissues but above the jaw bone. This type of implant may be used in patients who do not have enough bone to support endosteal implants and cannot, or are reluctant to, undergo bone augmentation surgery to restore it.
Zygomatic Implants
For someone who has experienced multiple bone loss in their jaws, a zygomatic implant is a shorter and more comfortable treatment, considering it avoids grafting and sinus lift procedures. They are typically much less invasive unlike other dental implants and don’t hamper your oral health at all. This implant is secured with the help of your zygomatic and jawbones so that they don’t place too much weight on your sensitive jawbones.
Single-Stage Dental Implants
This type of dental implant involves placing a longer implant into the jaw and gum, and the implant head is left visible after the gum tissue is stitched back. This enables us to access the mouth after several months of healing and place the abutment and recovery directly onto the implant without surgical intervention.
When Do You Need Dental Implant?
To know when to schedule an appointment for dental implants near you, consider these factors:
- Severe tooth decay.
- You are missing one or more of your natural teeth.
- You have a severely cracked tooth or a broken tooth.
- Jawbone deterioration.
- You no longer wear dentures or use a fixed bridge.
- You have a sunken-in look to your facial appearance.
If you suspect that you will need dental implants eventually, it is usually better to consult a dentist and get the procedure done right away instead of waiting until you should have it!
Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Generally, anyone healthy enough to go through a routine tooth extraction or oral surgery can be a fit candidate for a dental implant. You must have healthy gums and an adequate amount of bone to support the implant. You also should be committed to good oral hygiene and regular dental appointments.
We might advise a bone graft if you’ve been missing teeth for a while and have jawbone shrinkage.
If you’re a heavy smoker or have an uncontrollable chronic disorder such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, or if you underwent radiation therapy to your head/neck, we will have to examine you to determine if dental implants are right for you.
How Long Does a Dental Implant Procedure Take?
Even though the whole dental implant procedure, from beginning to end, could take as quickly as 6 months if all goes well, it is no way unusual to find yourself completing the procedure a year or more after you’ve lost a tooth.
The treatment simply cannot be rushed if you want to have a healthy mouth and an efficient implant for the coming day. The exact duration of the treatment depends on your dental conditions, including if you’ve suffered from gum disease or bone recession. The implant method we will use likewise affects the period needed to complete this procedure.
Dental Implant vs. Bridge
Before, a bridge was your only option and yet requires more than just the missing tooth. The neighboring teeth must be “prepped” by stripping most of the enamel to build the bridge. But with dental implants, we only replace the specific tooth for a finish that is more effective and lasting.
Nevertheless, a dental bridge is possibly your best treatment if the adjacent teeth have large fillings and require caps or crowns in the future. And if you are missing a tooth or teeth due to trauma, decay, infection, or medical conditions, we might recommend you for an implant.
Both options can restore your smile and your confidence. Do your research and consult with our dentist to determine what’s more suitable for you.
Things to Consider Before Getting Dental Implants
Before you plan and schedule an appointment with a dentist from Luxadent, it’s essential to understand what you’re pursuing first. Here are the things that you to consider before getting dental implants:
- Don’t rush into implant treatment
- Check the qualifications of your dental surgeon
- Discuss the implant brand and type of crown material to be used
- Ask your dentist about the technology to be used
- Take time to discuss if the bone, gum and other teeth are healthy enough for implants to be placed
- Understand The Post-Surgery Treatment
- Be aware of potential failure of implants
How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?
In most cases, single dental implants cost $1,500 to $2,000, and more if additional procedures such as extractions, bone grafts, tissue grafts or a sinus lift are required. Below are some factors that can affect dental implant cost:
- Type of implant
- Number of replacements
- Materials used
- Expertise of the doctor
- Location of the dentist’s office
Does Dental Insurance Cover Implants?
Basic dental insurance plans don’t usually cover a dental implant procedure. You’ll have to check out cosmetic dental procedure coverage, which covers a percentage of dental implants. Your dental implant insurance coverage may be 50% of the expense, indicating your insurance covers half of the procedure.
Dental Implants in Houston
At Luxadent, we offer our patients a wide array of dental procedures which can improve their smile. Using up-to-date technologies and the most advanced techniques, we can make your smile healthier than ever! We specialize in giving immediate, painless, and competitive dental services. Hence, if your smile needs some care, set up an appointment with us now by dialing 832-462-6484.