Dental Implants – Fort Worth, TX

Initial Consultation

Most people who have good oral and general health can replace their missing teeth with dental implants, but you’ll still need a thorough consultation. Besides a visual exam, we’ll also review a CT scan of your oral structures to look for any hidden issues that might cause complications, like infection. Based on the results of your examination, you might need additional treatments before undergoing your placement surgery, like periodontal therapy or bone grafting.

Dental Implant Surgery

After you’ve healed from any previous treatments, you’re scheduled for your implant placement surgery. Sedation or anesthesia is used to ensure you’re comfortable as your gum tissue is opened to expose your jawbone. Small holes are drilled into pre-determined locations to insert titanium posts, which will serve as new tooth roots. Your gum tissue will be sutured closed and the healing process will begin.

Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

You’ll spend the next several weeks healing. It’s normal to experience some discomfort while you heal. You can manage your discomfort using an over-the-counter pain reliever. Apply cold compresses to the outside of your face to manage any swelling. Within a couple of weeks, your pain will subside; however, you’ll continue to heal under the surface.

Your implant posts are acting as tooth roots, stimulating your jawbone. This encourages new bone growth, allowing your jaw to fuse to the posts through a process called osseointegration. After your bone has healed, you’ll have a sturdy foundation for your restorations. Your dental implants can remain in place forever with the right aftercare, like maintaining your oral hygiene and routine appointments with your dentist.

After your jawbone has fully healed, you’ll need a second minor surgery to attach abutments to your posts. They are special fixtures that connect your restoration to your dental implants. A local anesthetic is used to ensure your comfort as your jawbone is opened to expose the posts. The abutments are placed onto them, and your gum tissue will heal around them over the next couple of weeks.

Delivery of Final Restoration

While your gums are healing, the dental lab is hard at work creating your restorations from all-ceramic material. They are customized to match your teeth and look natural when you smile, whether you’re replacing single, multiple, or all the teeth in your arch.

Regain Full Functionality

Dental implants mimic natural teeth more closely than both dental bridges and dentures, meaning that you can expect full functionality from your tooth replacements once they have fully healed. This is because of the complex osseointegrating process that occurs over the next several months following your surgery. Whether you want to eat your favorite foods or be able to speak with confidence, our dentists place and design your dental implants with functionality as the top priority!

Restore Your Smile’s Appearance

We understand that having a gap in your smile simply won’t do. Whether you want to make your smile complete once more or replace a stubborn denture that simply won’t stay put, dental implants ensure that you can smile with confidence every day. Each implant crown is customized with the shade, size and shape in mind, so your smile and overall appearance look balanced. No one but you and our dental office will even know that you had dental implants placed!

Stop Future Bone Loss

Dental implants physically bond with your jaw’s bone material, which is why the healing process takes such a long time to complete. However, this process also ensures that your bone tissue no longer atrophies or resorbs back into your body. Even those with dentures and dental bridges can’t avoid this side effect, while dental implants stop it in its tracks. The result is a stronger biting force that makes chewing feel natural and a jaw that retains its overall shape.

Easy Maintenance

Dental implants do not require any special maintenance to keep healthy. Even the crown itself cannot develop decay since it is made from inorganic porcelain! However, you’ll still need to brush twice a day, floss daily (especially around the implant crown), and visit our dental office once every six months for an exam and cleaning. These steps are necessary regardless of whether you have dental implants or not.

Longevity

When properly taken care of, dental implants are capable of not only lasting over 30 years, but they can even remain healthy for the rest of your life! This is a level of longevity that cannot be promised for other methods of tooth replacement. It’s also one of the biggest reasons why dental implants are worth the investment.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Good oral health, adequate jawbone density, and relatively good physical health are the three pillars of a dental implant candidate. Placing the implant fixtures (the small screw-like titanium rods) is a surgical procedure. So, these physical conditions must be met to maximize the success of the treatment. During your consultation with your dentist, you’ll be evaluated through a series of diagnostics like X-rays and medical records. Once you’re cleared, your treatment can begin! Even if you’re not a candidate at first, don’t worry, your dentist will work with you to address any issues in your way. Together, you can create a path to your dream smile.

Missing One Tooth

Only missing one tooth? A single fixture supporting a crown is one of the sturdiest dental implant configurations. With proper care, your implant can last for decades or longer! For this procedure, your dentist will carefully open a path to your jawbone and attach the titanium implant fixture. After it fuses with your jawbone over the next few months, a beautiful porcelain crown will be attached to the implant via a connector called an abutment. This three-piece system keeps the implant in place to restore functionality and aesthetics.

Missing Multiple Teeth

The prosthetic for restoring consecutive teeth is a bit different, but the process for placement is the same. Once the implants are placed, a bridge is used to rebuild your smile. Implant bridges are similar to traditional dental bridges except they don’t require natural teeth to act as anchors. Instead, they attach to an implant on either end to hold the crowns while a pontic (false tooth) sits between them. This procedure is far more stable than a traditional bridge and restores a greater amount of bite force, allowing you to enjoy a wider variety of foods to enhance your nutrition.

Missing All Teeth

There are many reasons you may be missing all your teeth: aging, gum disease, severe decay, vehicular accidents, and even genetic conditions. Traditional dentures are a tried-and-true method for restoring the function of entire dental arcs, however, dental implants can take this treatment to the next level. Implant dentures are personalized prosthetics anchored to four to six dental implants. This modern take on the traditional denture is sturdier, better looking, and less hassle than its suction-based counterparts. Not only will you be able to enjoy all your favorite foods with fewer restrictions, but the implants provide jawbone stimulation, keeping your facial features strong and youthful.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Replicating a tooth with a dental implant requires multiple steps that occur over many months. Each phase of your treatment has separate fees, which can make it easier to pay for your new smile because the entire cost isn’t due upfront. Although every plan is unique, your estimate may include additional procedures, like periodontal therapy or bone grafting. The surgery as well as the restoration itself also come with their own fees.

The Parts & Type of Your Dental Implant

There isn’t a pre-determined rate for dental implants because the cost is based on each patient’s individual needs, such as the number of teeth being treated. On average, you can expect to pay more if you have several missing teeth. We’ll provide you with an estimate during your initial consultation and discuss the expenses associated with your plan.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

Dental implants are initially more expensive than traditional treatments; however, they are the most affordable long-term. They are a reliable solution to treat tooth loss that’s proven to last for decades with the right aftercare. They have over a 95% success rate, so you won’t need to worry about paying to have them replaced in a few years.

Dental implants also lower your overall oral health expenses. They preserve your jawbone to stop dental drift, reducing your risk of common issues associated with tooth loss, like cavities and gum disease. This prevents you from needing a costly treatment down the road.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Every insurance policy is different, but many plans include some coverage for dental implants. After reaching your annual deductible, you can use your benefits to lower the amount you’ll pay for certain steps in your treatment, like tooth extractions, sedation, or your restorations. We’ll work on your behalf to maximize your policy to reduce your out-of-pocket balance.

Fort Dental accepts several payment methods to keep your dental implants in Fort Worth affordable. Contact our dental office today to schedule your consultation for a complete smile.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

When healing from oral surgery, the most important thing you can do is allow a blood clot to form over the site. This protects the sensitive tissue and nerves underneath from infection. To keep the clot in place, you need to avoid the following for at least 24 hours after the placement procedure:

• Using a straw.
• Spitting forcefully (instead use gauze or a tissue to absorb excess saliva).
• Smoking or using other tobacco products.
• Touching the site with your fingers or tongue.

Common Side Effects

Especially for the first couple of days following implant treatment, you may contend with some discomfort, swelling, and minor bleeding. As time passes, these symptoms should subside. In the meantime, you can lessen any discomfort with over-the-counter pain medication, reduce swelling with hot or cold compresses, and control bleeding with gauze and light pressure. Pay attention to your symptoms and let us know if they get worse, not better, over time or if you have any other strange side-effects.

Diet

To give the site adequate time to heal, you need to stay away from crunchy, tough, or abrasive foods for several days. Instead, stick to a diet of softer foods, such as eggs, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, yogurt, pudding, soup (that isn’t too hot), and ice cream. When you’re feeling better, you can start to transition back to your normal diet, but try to avoid chewing directly on the implant site.

Health & Oral Hygiene

It’s important to keep your mouth healthy and clean, even while you’re recovering from surgery. You can brush your teeth on the same day as your procedure—just be careful around the sites. Also, preferably after meals, rinse your mouth two or three times per day with warm saltwater, which helps to control bacterial growth in your mouth. Do not use mouthwashes that contain alcohol, like Listerine or Scope.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

At this point, you’ve already gone through the hard part. Getting your restoration is the final touch! You may have some gum sensitivity after we place your dental crown, bridge, or denture over your implants, but you can easily manage this with OTC medication. You shouldn’t have much swelling, pain, or bleeding, and your new smile will be functional on that same day!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Dental implants cannot get cavities because they aren’t made from tooth enamel. However, your surrounding natural teeth still can, and your gums are still at risk of developing gum disease. This could be detrimental to your replacement teeth, so it’s important that you continue to maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine. Remember to brush twice, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day.

Eat a Healthy Diet

One of the amazing benefits of getting dental implants is that you can enjoy a complete, nutritious diet! You don’t need to keep up with any eating restrictions. This means you can enjoy all the foods necessary to get the vitamins and minerals your body needs to thrive. However, it is still wise to avoid overindulging in foods that are especially sugary or hard. Instead, enjoy plenty of foods that are high in calcium and vitamin C. These nutrients are needed to keep your jawbone and gums healthy.

Break Bad Habits

Bad habits can cause many issues for your teeth and dental implants if you aren’t careful. It is best to refrain from smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products. These can slow down healing and make it more challenging for your immune system to fight off infections. You should also avoid using your teeth to open bottles, rip through packaging, or complete other tasks. Instead, find the appropriate tool so you don’t cause damage to your smile.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Dental implants are very strong, but they aren’t completely indestructible. You should always wear a mouthguard when engaging in contact sports. If you grind your teeth at night, it is wise to invest in a nightguard to protect your replacement and natural teeth from additional wear and tear.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

You should continue to see your dentist for regular cleanings and checkups twice a year. This way, we can monitor your dental implants, natural teeth, gum tissue, and more. By detecting issues early on, we can address them quickly and might even be able to prevent serious complications from developing in the future.

How long does it take to replace teeth using dental implants?

Dental implant placement can take up to 6 months to complete. The reason is that once your implants are surgically placed into your jawbone, you’ll be required to spend the next 3-6 months healing at home. A process known as osseointegration, which is the fusing on the implant to the bone and surrounding tissues, must successfully occur before returning to have your custom restoration secured into place. Depending on how fast you heal can determine how long it will take to receive your new, fully restored smile.

Can a dental implant fail?

Yes, dental implants can fail, but it’s extremely rare. Dental implants have an extraordinarily high success rate (98%), so the majority of patients never experience problems with their new teeth. However, in certain situations, a problem can arise that ultimately results in implant failure. Some of the reasons this can happen include:

• A patient is smoking or using tobacco, which can make it much more difficult to heal, thus, making the osseointegration process almost impossible.
• Infection occurs in the bone or soft tissue.
• An individual has a compromised or weakened immune system due to health-related conditions or diseases (i.e. diabetes)

Can I take dental implants out?

Dental implants in Fort Worth are designed as a long-term solution for tooth loss. They differ from other prosthetics because they replicate the roots and the crowns. Titanium posts are surgically placed into the jaw, which the bone will fuse with through a process called osseointegration. Therefore, you can’t remove them on your own. Only a trained dental professional can take them out, like in cases of failure. However, some implant dentures are removable for easier cleaning.

Does it hurt to get dental implants?

You will require oral surgery to place your posts in your jawbone, but you don’t have to worry about a painful day in the dental chair. Your jaw doesn’t have any nerve endings and your implant dentist in Fort Worth will use a sedative or anesthetic to block any pain. Although you won’t feel anything during the procedure, you can expect your mouth to be sore for a few days. An OTC pain reliever will keep you comfortable. Applying a cold compress can numb the area temporarily while reducing inflammation and bruising. You will be instructed to stick to a liquid diet for a couple of weeks before introducing softer foods.

How successful are dental implants?

Dental implants are the most reliable method of treating tooth loss. They have over a 95% success rate and are proven to last for 30 years or more. However, every situation differs and various factors affect their long-term success, like oral hygiene and lifestyle habits. You can ensure your investment thrives for decades with a great oral hygiene routine at home and a healthy lifestyle, like not smoking or drinking alcohol in excess. Don’t forget to visit your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup. Your dentist will recommend avoiding anything that may damage your dental implants, like using your teeth in place of scissors or chewing on your fingernails. Don’t forget to wear an athletic mouthguard if you play sports, and ask your dentist for a nightguard if you grind and clench your teeth.

What are the signs of dental implant failure?

Dental implant failure is rare, but it’s best to be vigilant for any signs of complications, like redness, swelling, or pain. Although the issues may not seem concerning initially, they can be a sign of a serious problem, like an infection. If you wait too long to see your dentist, the underlying problem can progress until dental implant failure occurs. Quick detection and treatment can ensure your new smile lasts for a lifetime.

What should I do if my implant is loose?

After your jawbone has fused with your implants, they should never feel loose. If you notice any instability, contact your dentist right away. It can be a sign of implant failure caused by bone loss or infection, but it can also result from a loose or failing restoration. Don’t take the risk. Contact your dentist immediately if your implant feels loose or painful.