What are dental implants, and when are they recommended?
A dental implant is just a high-quality post that is put into the gums and actually helps to support a tooth. Our teeth have roots that go below our gums. Implants, for the teeth that get replaced, also have a post that goes in, and that's what supports it. That's what a dental implant is.
These have been developed over years and years of research, and they're made to bond with your body. Anytime you're missing a tooth, and they can be used to replace multiple teeth. They can be used to replace one tooth, but yes, they're used to replace missing teeth.
What conditions disqualify a patient from getting dental implants?
Most of the time, the conditions that I've seen that cause dental implants to fail are smoking or poorly controlled diabetes, and any sort of nicotine use. It could be vaping, smokeless tobacco like dip, or cigarettes. Those things are what's going to cause you to have problems with your implants because of the nicotine that's involved. Nicotine causes your blood vessels to shrink. Implants need blood to be able to heal in the bone properly.
Gum disease is also a problem. We want to make sure that we get any gum disease cleared up before we do any dental implants for you. With poorly controlled diabetes, we're always going to ask you what your A1C is. You want to make sure that you're current with your doctor if you're a diabetic patient. Patients who have diabetes don't heal as well. We know that from years and years of research. Part of surgery is healing. We have to make sure you can heal, so we've got to get your diabetes under control.
What are the benefits and risks of dental implants?
The benefit is obvious, right? It's that we're going to replace your teeth, and you have a solution that is locked in your mouth. It's just like having your teeth back. You can chew with it, eat with it. It feels great, and you don't have to worry about taking it in and out of your mouth at nighttime.
Benefits of our Dental Implants:
- Improve functionality—both eating and speaking
- Minimize oral bone loss
- Reduce the compromise to adjacent healthy teeth
- Eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures
- Improve oral health and hygiene
- Give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself
The downside is you have to have some surgery, right? Surgery is always a factor that we have to consider. There are risks with any surgery, infections, things like that. But if you listen to all our instructions, the risk of complications is extremely low. Most implants have at least a 95% success rate, and a 99% success rate if you're very, very compliant. This is a material and a procedure that has a long track record of success if you're a very compliant patient and you listen to what we tell you to do.
What are the different types of dental implants and the different dental implant procedures?
There are all sorts of ways we can use implants. For patients with varying economic factors, let's say we have a patient who has dentures and they want to make those dentures fit a little bit tighter. Something that we really commonly do is put two implants on the lower jaw and make the bottom denture snap in better. We put some snaps in, and it makes it click in. That way, it's not moving on them.
We can also use an implant to support a regular crown for one tooth. Somebody's missing one tooth, and they want to replace it, so we put an implant in.
We can also use it to replace all of somebody's teeth. Some of our patients have multiple implants put in. Let's say their teeth are having problems all over, and we can't save them. We have to take their teeth out. We can actually use four to six implants per jaw and replace all their teeth with a prosthetic. That's something that they don't have to take in and out of their mouth. They chew and function with it, and that works really well.
How would a dentist decide if dental implants are right for me?
What we would consider is, do you have the bone for the dental implants? We're going to gather a lot of information at the beginning to make sure that you are a candidate for dental implants at the time. We're going to look at your health history. We have to make sure that you're healthy and we're taking care of you the right way and doing this procedure safely for you. Making sure that you're not smoking currently and not using any sort of tobacco product is also important because that will cause you to have an implant failure.
What options are available for teeth to be replaced?
There are so many different options, and as a prosthodontist, we're equipped to deliver all of them, which is really nice. We can use removable prosthetics like dentures with implants to make them stronger. What's really nice about the broad spectrum that we can offer patients is that it has a different economic factor to it. We can treat you from the most expensive thing to some of the most cost-effective things.
Dentures with implants may have snaps. We have dentures that sit in really well with multiple implants. We have implants that actually keep your teeth locked in place, fixed in place. That way, you don't have to take them in and out every day. You only take them out once a year. We clean them for you. We do that for you. There are so many different options. We suggest that you come in and get a consultation to see what's best for you.
How long does a dental implant last?
That's a really, really common question that we get from almost every patient. My answer to that is our goal is to give you something that is as long-lasting as possible. In my mind, dental treatment that is very quality-driven should at least last you 15 to 20 years.
However, a lot of this depends on how you treat it, right? If you go buy a car, a vehicle, and you drive it really rough and don't take it in for maintenance, it's not going to last you as long as something that you maintain and drive carefully. You've got to take care of what your product is. But if you do that, follow our instructions, and come in for normal hygiene and regular maintenance, I expect your dental work to last you a very long time.
Is a dental implant procedure painful?
The answer to that is no. It should not be at all. Actually, placing dental implants is a lot more simple, in my mind, than taking out teeth. We're still going to numb you. We're going to make sure that you're comfortable throughout the procedure. It depends on your anxiety about dental treatment. We see patients across a broad spectrum of anxiety levels. Some of our patients elect to be put to sleep. We do have a medical anesthesiologist who has experience working in hospital settings. They actually come to our office. They put you to sleep in our office so that we can do the procedure. You wake up and you go home.
We also do laughing gas. That's very helpful for patients who aren't super nervous but do want to relax a little bit. You're still awake during the procedure, but the nice thing about laughing gas is you can drive home right after, and it is very anxiety-relieving. Some patients just elect to be numbed and have the surgery done. There's a varying spectrum. It's something that we definitely want to talk to you about.
But regardless of how anxious you are about treatment, we understand dental treatment can be very, very anxiety-inducing and fearful. We want you to get to know us and realize how much we care about you, and we want you to get the help that you need. We can treat you regardless of how nervous you are about this. And I can guarantee you it will not be.
What are the costs of a dental implant procedure?
It's varying, right? Everybody's case is different depending on what you're coming in with, whether you're missing teeth or need to have a tooth taken out, that sort of thing. But I'll say that typically a dental implant costs somewhere in the range of $5,000 to $7,000 per tooth. We really work with our patients to try to make that fair.
If you're missing multiple teeth and we're replacing multiple teeth with implants, it's not $5,000 to $7,000 per tooth. We conglomerate everything together and try to make it price-effective for you and be fair to you. It's just something we have to look at. The nice thing is that we offer a free consultation for our patients. Just come on in. We'll take a look at it with you, and we'll give you an estimate of what this is going to cost you.
What makesKingwood Implant Dentistry & Prosthodontics different than other dental offices?
There are many factors that can influence the success, comfort, result, and aesthetics of your dental implant.
From the experience of your dentist to the cost of your procedure, we encourage you to look at every detail and learn as much as you can about dental implants before choosing a dentist.
Here are 9 reasons you should consider Kingwood Implant Dentistry & Prosthodontics for your dental implants:
- Results: At Kingwood Implant Dentistry & Prosthodontics, we stand behind our work.
- Technology: We utilize cutting-edge technology and continuously research new and improved methods.
- Financing: We don't want the cost of an implant to keep you from receiving the treatment you need. Our team offers various financing options to make dental implants more affordable, and we will work with you to create a payment plan that meets your needs and budget.
- Materials: We use a top-of-the-line implant material that is on the market with the latest breakthroughs to ensure the best possible results for our patients.
- Care & Service: As with any treatment you receive at our office, we will look after you from start to finish. Our caring team will remain attentive to your needs, work at a pace that is appropriate for you to ensure your comfort and confidence through each step of your procedure. You will be treated like family.
- Recovery: Placing a dental implant is a form of surgery, and with any surgery, you may experience discomfort, including swelling, bruising, pain, and minor bleeding. We have post-procedure tips to share to ensure your recovery goes as smoothly as possible, and, if appropriate, we can prescribe medication to help reduce any pain.
- How to Prepare: We provide a complimentary consultation and a thorough evaluation to discuss your goals and needs. Building communication and trust is essential at Kingwood Implant Dentistry & Prosthodontics.
- What to Expect: We're excited to guide you every step of the way, ensuring you feel informed and prepared. Count on us to be your supportive partner in your dental journey!
- Failed Implants: While dental implants are highly successful, an implant may occasionally fail to fuse with the bone. We don’t hide details like this from our patients. If by chance your implant fails, we have a plan in place to remove the implant and clean up the bone. With your needs in mind, we may recommend a repeat procedure down the road.
How can I schedule an appointment to talk to a dentist about dental implants?
The only thing you've got to do is just give us a call here at Kingwood Implant Dentistry and Prosthodontics to speak to our team, who would be happy to help you. We're happy to schedule a free consultation with you. We're going to look at everything that you need to have done and see what getting a dental implant is going to take for you.
If you’re ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our services, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at (832) 662-8466 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your smile.