Dental Implants – Allen, TX

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The initial consultation will consist of a talk with Dr. Lewis. Through this discussion, our team can confirm your treatment goals, oral health history, and similar factors. We’ll then use this feedback to confirm whether dental implants suit you and tailor your final care.

Even if you don’t initially qualify for implants, please don’t worry. You can become a good candidate for them later through preliminary services- gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, etc. These procedures would strengthen and enhance your mouth, ensuring it can handle implant posts.

Dental Implant Surgery

With our approval, you’ll receive dental implant surgery after your consultation. This phase of care is performed by Dr. Fatima Robertson, a local and experienced dental implant specialist. Her expertise will ensure your new teeth are placed safely and effectively.

In particular, your dental implant surgery will involve:

• Anesthesia – Dr. Lewis will first numb the treatment site with anesthesia. This step helps you avoid pain during placement; you’ll only feel a slight pressure at most.
• A Minor Incision – Once the anesthesia “kicks in,” we’ll make an incision in your gums. This new opening makes room for your final implant post.
• Implant Placement – Relying on the advanced tools and methods, our team will precisely place your implant post.
• Gum Closure – Dr. Lewis will close your gums’ incision once the placement is done. Afterward, she’ll set a cap over your new post.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Soon after the placement surgery, your dental implant will start fusing with your jaw. This process – osseointegration – takes 4-6 months and roots your post to your mouth. Once it’s over, it’ll ensure your new “tooth” becomes a permanent part of your smile.

You’ll have to attend a follow-up surgery after the implant fusion. For this “extra” treatment, we’ll place an abutment – a metal connector – on your implant post. A dental lab will craft your final restoration while you recover from this service.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

You’ll receive your final restoration at your treatment’s end. As for its nature, which prosthetic you get will depend on how many teeth you’ve lost. The final device could range from a single dental crown or bridge to an entire implant denture.

To be clear, fitting your final restoration won’t take long. We’ll simply apply dental cement to your abutment, set the device, and make some last-minute changes. When it’s clear your post fits well, we’ll send you off to enjoy your fully restored smile!

Day-to-Day Benefits

Because dental implants are rooted to your jawbone just like a natural tooth, they can retain a significant portion of your chewing power. They also won’t slip or move in your mouth and are incredibly reliable. You’ll be able to:

• Eat all of your favorite foods without restriction. Tough meats, crunchy vegetables, and chewy sweets can all be back on the menu!
• Talk and chew with ease.
• Brush and floss your smile like you would with natural teeth.
• Enjoy the superior comfort and appealing aesthetics of a restoration that closely mimics natural teeth.

Health Benefits

Normally, your tooth’s dental root is responsible for transferring essential stimulation to your jawbone that encourages it to maintain itself. Traditional dentures and bridges can’t replace the root, so the jawbone often experiences deterioration. Dental implants, of course, can replace the root and provide stimulation. This means:

• Your jawbone mass will be preserved – along with your youthful facial features.
• Nearby teeth won’t shift to compensate for a dental gap and will be less likely to fall out due to jawbone weakness.
• You’ll be better protected against health issues associated with tooth loss.

Long-Term Benefits

These days, you can expect most any dental restoration to last a long time with good care. Dental implants go beyond this, though, and can support your smile for 30 years or more! In the long-run, you’ll spend less money on replacements, less time visiting the dentist for repairs, and more time appreciating the seamless aesthetics of your grin. That kind of longevity can give you something truly priceless: peace of mind.

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

As effective as they are, dental implants do suit some patients more than others. The best candidates for them usually have the following three traits:

• Good Overall Health – Since dental implant placement counts as surgery, your body must be fairly healthy to endure it.
• Excellent Oral Health – Cavities, gum disease, and similar issues cause implants to fail, so you’ll need to address them before treatment.
• A Dense Jaw – For your dental implants to succeed, your jawbone must be sufficiently dense. They’ll otherwise become unstable and eventually fall out.

Granted, you can still get dental implants without the above qualities. You'll just need to undergo preliminary procedures first – gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, etc. Our team can even help you schedule those services if necessary. Once you’ve received (and recovered from) them, we could quickly perform your implant treatment and tailor it around how many teeth you’ve lost.

Missing One Tooth

Patients with only one lost tooth should receive a single implant post and crown. After all, a dentist can easily place these devices between healthy teeth without upsetting your mouth. The final restoration would also be less invasive than a dental bridge; placing it doesn’t require “prepping” other teeth. Even better, the treatment results would be sturdier, longer-lasting, and more seamless than those from a bridge.

Missing Multiple Teeth

For those who lack multiple adjacent teeth, we advise a dental implant bridge. This unique device secures itself with implant posts instead of “abutments” (i.e., nearby natural teeth). Given that fact, a dentist can place it without removing any enamel from your mouth. This appliance will also last longer than a standard dental bridge would, assuming you give it proper care.

We suggest a partial implant denture when the missing teeth aren’t adjacent. Unlike a regular denture, it’d anchor itself with just a few dental implants.

Missing All Teeth

If you’ve lost all (or nearly all) of your natural teeth, you’d most benefit from an implant denture. This prosthetic relies on four to six strategically placed implants to restore an entire arch. To that extent, an implant denture is highly secure and won’t ever slip or fall from your mouth. The prosthetic will instead remain stable and steady for many years if given the proper maintenance.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

During your initial consultation, our implant dentist in Allen, Dr. Lewis, will learn all about your dental needs and smile goals. In the process, she’ll determine if any preliminary treatments are needed to ensure your dental implants have the highest likelihood of success. Gum disease therapy, bone grafts, and tooth extractions are a few common examples. Remember, while these treatments may add more to the upfront cost, they play a crucial role in keeping your dental implants in place for 30+ years. So, it’s an investment worth making.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

After taking into account any preliminary treatments, it’s important to consider the parts of your dental implant:

The Number of Implants: Do you need one implant to replace a single missing tooth or 4+ implants to replace an entire arch of teeth?

Type of Restoration: Crowns, bridges, and dentures all have different costs.

Material: Although all dental implants are comprised of durable materials, the various types (zirconia vs. titanium) have different costs.

Brand: The implant manufacturer your dentist uses will affect the amount you end up paying.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money in the Long Run

It’s no secret that dental implants come with a higher upfront cost. With that said, dental implants are a tooth replacement option that’s designed to last for decades at a time, helping you save on long-term treatment costs that often accompany bridges and dentures. Plus, they stimulate your jawbone, preserving your youthful face shape. Lastly, they support your adjacent teeth, preventing excessive wear and tear that would otherwise require additional restorative and cosmetic care.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Typically, the cost of dental implants isn’t covered entirely by dental insurance. However, it is possible that your benefits may cover a portion of it. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to double-check! If you aren’t familiar with the fine print on your dental plan, don’t fret. Our knowledgeable team will help you understand your coverage, maximize your benefits, and explain the cost every step of the way.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Want to break down the cost of your care into manageable monthly chunks? Thanks to flexible financing, you can! With trusted third-party financiers like CareCredit and LendingClub, you can fit even the most extensive treatment plans into your budget. That way, you can get the full, healthy, complete smile you deserve without breaking the bank. Get in touch with our team today to get started!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

One of the leading causes of dental implant failure is an infection called peri-implantitis. Fortunately, most cases of peri-implantitis can be prevented via thorough oral hygiene. You should:

• Brush your teeth twice a day. Make sure you brush your teeth along the gumline.
• Floss regularly. You might not be able to floss between your artificial teeth if they are attached to one another. However, you might have to use a floss threader or water flosser to clean beneath them.
• Drink plenty of water. Water helps to rinse away bacteria and food particles that might be lingering in your mouth, and it encourages saliva production.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Dental implants are able to stand up to virtually any food, so you should feel free to eat what you want. However, keep in mind that just like some foods are bad for your natural teeth, some foods are worse than others for your implants. You should avoid overindulging in hard, sticky, and sugary foods. Instead, focus on eating a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients that support oral health, including calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin D.

Break Bad Habits

Some bad habits that can adversely affect dental implants include:

• Smoking increases your risk of infections and contributes to dry mouth. If you need help to quit, Dr. Lewis or your general physician may be able to help you create a plan of action.
• Using teeth as tools. It can be tempting to use your teeth to open packages or trim your fingernails, but doing so might damage your restorations.
• Chewing on hard objects. You should not chew on ice, jawbreaker candies, or other hard objects that might harm your restorations.

Protect Your Dental Implants

If you often wake up with a sore jaw, you might grind your teeth at night, which can harm your implants. You may need to start wearing a custom mouthguard while you sleep to protect your smile. Similarly, if you play sports, you should wear a sportsguard. Sportsguards that you can buy over the counter offer a degree of protection, but custom ones from a dentist are more comfortable and more effective.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

You should be in the habit of scheduling an appointment with Dr. Lewis at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. She will examine your teeth and your implants. If there are any indications of a problem, she may be able to fix the issue before it becomes serious. Our team may remove your implant restorations and thoroughly clean your implant abutments and the area around them.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

After the surgery, you need to plan on resting for the next day or two; excessive physical activity could disrupt the healing process. You should be able to return to normal activities within 48 hours, although this can vary from patient to patient. While you’re resting, you need to make sure that you’re protecting the blood clot that has formed around the surgical site. A dislodged blood clot can lead to pain and infection, so to keep it in place, refrain from spitting, drinking from straws, or smoking. 

Common Side Effects

Bleeding, swelling, and general discomfort are all common symptoms after oral surgery. They should gradually disappear given time, but there are also plenty of things you can do to keep them under control. If any bleeding occurs, put pressure on the area with a piece of gauze until it stops. Swelling can be controlled by applying an ice pack or cold compress on the cheek or jaw; only apply the ice pack for 10 minutes at a time. As for the pain, over the counter medications can help, but you may also receive a prescription.

Diet

Your diet in the days following surgery should consist exclusively of soft or liquid foods that require little to no chewing. We recommend mashed potatoes, soup (as long as it’s not too hot), scrambled eggs, pasta, and yogurt. Ice cream and pudding can also make for nice treats while your mouth is recovering. You should be able to eat normally after the pain in your mouth is gone, which should normally happen in a few days’ time.

Health & Oral Hygiene

To avoid a post-surgical infection, keep your mouth clean by brushing and flossing like you normally would. You can brush near the surgery site, but be very gentle while doing so. You can also decrease the presence of harmful bacteria in your mouth by rinsing with salt water. Mouth wash is fine, but double check to make sure it doesn’t contain any alcohol.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Dental implant surgery is by far the most taxing step of the entire process. Compared to that, receiving your restorations is much easier. Your gums might be sensitive for a few days, and you may need to take pain medication to help manage it, but beyond that, there shouldn’t be any problems. Call our office immediately if you notice unusual symptoms like swelling or bleeding.