Dental Implants
A missing tooth can impact your bite function and even increase your chances of developing TMJ-associated disorders. Whether you're missing one tooth or a full row of teeth, it's crucial to begin the tooth replacement process as soon as possible. No treatment is right for everyone, but our Plano dental team is dedicated to finding the correct implant supported tooth replacement plan. These tooth replacement solutions are the only available options that restore the roots of missing teeth. This improves the appearance, function, and longevity of your dental restoration. Call us today to schedule your dental implant consultation at Plano Family Dental in Plano, TX.
WHAT ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?
A dental implant is a tiny, titanium screw placed into the area of the missing tooth. Over time, the jawbone and gums will fuse with the dental implant to create a sturdy, artificial tooth root. Once this process is completed and your mouth has healed, you'll return to complete your treatment. We'll attach a natural-looking crown to the dental implant, and your artificial tooth will be restored entirely from the root up!
After undergoing this procedure, patients have reported they regain the ability to eat and chew normally, and with a realistic-looking crown, your confidence will be restored. Placing a dental implant can revitalize your oral health. Without a dental implant, the other teeth along the gum line begin to shift and fill the space left behind by the missing tooth. Dental implants protect your oral health, but they can also help preserve your self-confidence by providing you with an excellent solution for a beautiful smile!
BENEFITS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS
A dental implant is a tiny, titanium screw placed into the area of the missing tooth. Over time, the jawbone and gums will fuse with the dental implant to create a sturdy, artificial tooth root. Once this process is completed and your mouth has healed, you'll return to complete your treatment. We'll attach a natural-looking crown to the dental implant, and your artificial tooth will be restored entirely from the root up!
After undergoing this procedure, patients have reported they regain the ability to eat and chew normally, and with a realistic-looking crown, your confidence will be restored. Placing a dental implant can revitalize your oral health. Without a dental implant, the other teeth along the gum line begin to shift and fill the space left behind by the missing tooth. Dental implants protect your oral health, but they can also help preserve your self-confidence by providing you with an excellent solution for a beautiful smile!
DENTAL IMPLANT BONE GRAFTING/SINUS LIFT
One of the requirements for having dental implants placed is having healthy tissue in the affected area to support the implant post. However, without a functioning tooth root in place, the jawbone deteriorates over time, resulting in insufficient quality bone. Here at Plano Family Dental, the office of Dr. Varun Joseph, we can reverse the deterioration with a bone grafting procedure designed to repair your implant site. Healthy tissue can either be transplanted from another area of the body or a separate donor. This allows patients to start on the path towards new, functioning teeth with confidence.
Patients who need upper teeth replaced may find that they require a sinus lift procedure. Your sinuses exist behind your cheeks and are necessarily like empty rooms, with only a small area of bone separating them from the patient's mouth. To create the space to place one or more implants, our team can lift the sinus membrane and put additional healthy tissue in it.
INDICATIONS FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS
While single implants can be successfully restored, a wider area of missing teeth may require a more economical solution. In these cases, Dr. Joseph at Plano Family Dental recommends an implant-retained bridge or denture for coverage. These prosthetics resemble the traditional restorations most patients are familiar with. However, they have one significant difference – They're designed to attach over several placed implants for more permanence and improved function.
REPLACING A SINGLE TOOTH
A single tooth can be replaced using an implant post to support a custom-crafted, tooth-colored dental crown.
REPLACING MULTIPLE TEETH
To replace connected teeth, a fixed bridge may be used. This row of fused together prosthetic teeth can typically be supported with only two implant posts, one at each end. For consecutive and nonconsecutive missing teeth, a custom partial denture can be crafted to fill in the spaces between teeth. Depending on the location of missing teeth, a partial can usually be supported with only two to four implant posts.
REPLACING ALL TEETH
To replace a full row of teeth, a denture can be anchored to between four and six dental implant posts. These implants are strategically positioned along the jawline to support the entire denture.
ALL-ON-4 IMPLANT DENTURES
The traditional process of replacing a full row of lost teeth with their implants can be overly extensive and cost-prohibitive for many patients. Like the name suggests, All-on-4 treatment consists of four implants being strategically placed to restore your entire full top or bottom arch. These implants will help prevent bone loss and revitalize your oral health. Here at Plano Family Dental, a restoration can often be placed immediately so that patients don't have to spend any downtime without the bright, functional smile they need.
SOCKET PRESERVATION
If you are ever faced with having a tooth extracted, you should consider long-term recovery plans. It is important to preserve your tooth's socket after it has been extracted. The moment a tooth is removed, bone restoration begins, reducing the amount of bone you have in your jaw. Given enough time and bone loss, this can increase the costs of a dental implant, as additional preparatory grafting procedures will be required. To avoid higher long-term costs and more office visits, you should ask about socket preservation procedures when having a tooth extracted.
THE COST OF DENTAL IMPLANTS
The cost of your dental implant tooth replacement plan will vary on several factors, and we'll help you to budget for the price of this complex treatment plan before we begin. One way we make dental implant tooth replacement more affordable is by billing for each step of the treatment plan. The first step of the process is the surgical placement of your dental implant or implant. After placement, the implants need to fuse with the gum and bone tissue, and this process can take between three and six months. Once the implants are firmly in position, you'll return to the office where we'll attach an abutment. This is the piece that connects the implant to the replacement tooth or teeth. Once the abutments are in place, we'll design and craft your dental crown, bridge, partial, or full denture. Your dental implant-supported replacement tooth can last for decades. While these restorations do come with a higher price tag than other tooth replacement options, the results are longer-lasting, natural-looking, and functioning, making them well worth the investment for many patients.
If you are curious about this treatment and want to learn more, please don't hesitate to call Dr. Varun P. Joseph, or the team at Plano Family Dental to schedule an appointment.
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