Do you have toothaches, tooth loss, or general bone loss? Our dental implant and oral surgery options could benefit you. We provide dental implants in Flower Mound, TX, for patients missing some or all their teeth. Dental implants and dentures are excellent tooth replacements. We also offer tooth extractions for wisdom teeth and more. Many patients will eventually need implants or oral surgery.
In our Flower Mound dental office, we offer dental implants to restore missing teeth or extracted teeth. Implants are just one of the restorative dentistry services our office offers.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts that we use to replace natural teeth. The implant post acts as a natural tooth root and holds a dental prosthetic in place. Implants are biocompatible, which means they will not cause a negative reaction with your natural tissues. The materials we use for dental implants are the same as those for medical implants. After a surgeon places the post, they place the abutment. This piece connects the implant and restoration.
The final prosthetic can be a crown, dental bridge, or denture. If you have a missing tooth, we recommend a single dental implant. Rows and arches of missing teeth can use implant-supported bridges or dentures. However, we will not replace every missing tooth with an implant.
Benefits of Implants
Dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement. Implants offer many benefits:
- Improved Appearance: Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth. They can restore and maintain your natural smile with tooth-colored porcelain materials. Because they look natural, implants can help boost your self-esteem and confidence.
- Better Speech: Dental implants can help improve speech and pronunciation. Restorations like dentures can slip and cause speech problems. Implants restore teeth at the root and fill missing tooth gaps.
- Improved Comfort: Dental implants are secure and do not shift or move in your mouth. Implants are more comfortable than options like traditional dentures.
- Better Bite Function: Dental implants function like natural teeth, allowing you to eat and chew normally without discomfort or restrictions. Dental implants are permanent fixtures in your mouth, eliminating the need for messy adhesives and cleaning solutions that denture wearers must use.
- Long-lasting Results: Dental implants can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. They offer a cost-effective and durable option for tooth replacement. The implant posts themselves are permanent. Implants will stay in place if you care for your oral health.
- Improved Oral Health: After you lose a missing tooth, your jawbone loses support. As a result, you may experience facial sagging. Implants preserve bone density and prevent further bone loss in the jaw. In addition, dental implants do not require altering or damaging adjacent teeth like dental bridges.
Dental Implants in Flower Mound, TX
To begin the implant process, we will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums. You will then visit our office for a consultation, during which we will take digital X-rays to determine the number of missing teeth, areas of healthy jaw bone tissue, and any outstanding dental problems. These X-rays also help us plan implant placement. We will help maximize your jaw bone tissue so your implants stay stable.
Pre-Treatments
Before treatment, we will ensure you are a good candidate for dental implants. First, we will ensure infection does not impact the stability of the implant posts. You will need tooth removal if you have chronic pain or infection in one or more teeth. Our dentists are some of the best in the North Texas area for simple, quick, and painless tooth extractions.
Our office also treats gum disease. If you have gum inflammation, we can provide cleanings to remove harmful bacteria. If you have advanced gum disease, we may recommend surgery.
We also offer bone grafting, which is a great solution if a patient is missing teeth or has bone loss in their jaw. During grafting, we take donor bone or bone tissue from another part of the mouth and place the healthy tissue. This procedure will help restore the jaw to its natural shape and state for the best dental implant treatment results.
Implant Placement
The procedure is fairly simple but will require much healing time and patience. We work with an oral surgeon to accurately place implants. First, the oral surgeon will numb your mouth for your comfort. She will make an incision into your gums to reach the bone. Then, she will insert the titanium post into the jawbone. She will seal the incision area and have you wait until your mouth heals before placing the final restoration.
Healing
During osseointegration, the jaw bone grows around the implant post. This healing can take three to six months. We will monitor your healing during visits to our office. Once you are fully healed, we will place an abutment. This piece connects the implant posts to the final restoration. Your gums will need more time to heal after the abutment is placed.
Final Restoration
After a couple of weeks, you will return for the final step. Depending on how many teeth you replace, our dentist will place dental crowns or an implant-supported denture. Flower Mound Family Dentistry offers both regular dental implants and implant dentures. Dental implants are also an excellent option for patients who want complete smile restoration.
How to Care for Implants
First, maintain a good oral hygiene routine to care for dental implants. Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Floss daily to remove plaque and debris between the teeth and around the implant. Visit our dentist regularly for check-ups and professional cleanings to ensure the implants are in good condition. Contact our office if you experience pain, swelling, or discomfort around the implant. We will evaluate changes in the fit of your restoration.
Implant Costs
Many patients wonder how much implants cost. Multiple factors impact the cost of implants:
- Materials
- Number of implants
- Type of restoration
- Anesthetic and sedation
While restorations that use implant support cost more, they last longer than removable options. Before treatment, we will review the cost of treatment and work to keep it within your budget. Our office accepts CareCredit and Alphaeon to make implants affordable. These financial plans offer a simple way to pay for treatment. You can pay for treatment in manageable chunks.
Dental Implant FAQs
We welcome you to learn more about dental implants in our Flower Mound, TX, dental office with answers to these questions:
Do dental implants have an age limit?
Dental implants don’t have a strict age limit. They can be a good option for younger and older adults who need to replace missing teeth. However, younger people should wait until their jawbone is fully grown. We may suggest implants for older adults, as long as their overall health is good and they have enough bone in their jaw to support the implant. If unsure, talk to our dentist to see if dental implants are for you.
How long does dental implant treatment take?
Dental implant treatment takes several months. The longest portion of treatment occurs as the jaw bone grows around the implant posts. Healing can take 3 to 6 months. Pretreatments can also lengthen the time it takes to get your final implant restoration. We will give you an estimate of how long your treatment will take from start to finish.
Do dental implants look natural?
Yes, dental implants look like natural teeth. We work with a dental lab to create implant restorations. Crowns, bridges, and dentures are custom-made to match your other teeth’ color, shape, and size. Once the implant restoration is in place, it blends in so well that most people won’t be able to tell it’s not a natural tooth.
Can implants be placed immediately after tooth extraction?
Sometimes, we can place an implant directly after removing a tooth. This is called “immediate implant placement.” It can save time because you don’t have to wait for the extraction site to heal before getting the implant. However, not everyone is a good candidate for immediate implants. If you have an infection or do not have enough healthy jaw bone to support implants, you must wait before getting the implant.
How successful is dental implant treatment?
Dental implant treatment has a success rate of over 95%. The success of dental implants depends on a few things, like how healthy your gums and jawbone are, how well you take care of your teeth, and if you follow your dentist’s advice. If you do, dental implants can last a long time and give you a strong, natural-looking smile.
Are dental implants removable?
No, the dental implant posts are not removable. Implant posts are fixed in the jawbone. Because implants are fixed, they offer easy care and cleaning. You can clean implant restorations like your natural teeth without worrying about dropping your false teeth.
Can my body reject a dental implant?
No, most dental implants are made of titanium, which is biocompatible. Titanium is a safe and reliable material used in medical procedures for many years. Dental implants use the same durable materials doctors rely on when creating artificial joints, like hip or knee replacements.
These materials are designed to bond with your bone over time, making them strong and long-lasting. This is why dental implants are a secure option for replacing missing teeth.
What causes implant failure?
More common reasons for implant failure include infections, not enough bone to support the implant, or poor healing. Smoking and certain health conditions can also increase the risk of complications. If you follow your dentist’s advice and take good care of your implant, the chances of rejection or failure are very low.
Restore Your Lost Teeth
Do you want to fill the gaps left by missing teeth? Get long-lasting implants. Call 972-539-4776 or schedule an appointment online for a visit.
Flower Mound Family Dentistry offers implant and oral surgery options in the North Texas area. We serve Bartonville, Lantana, Copper Canyon, Highland Village, Lake Dallas, Lewisville, Coppell, Grapevine, Southlake, and Keller.
We also serve Trophy Club, Roanoke, Elizabethtown, Justin, Northlake, Argyle, Colleyville, and many more locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Our skilled dentists and oral surgeons will provide the best long-term results!