Dental Implants Houston Tx

We all know how important our smile is for feeling good and making a fantastic first impression. This is why dental implants replacing missing teeth are among the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures you can find.  

Despite this, there are still some misconceptions about what dental implants are. Many people consider them expensive or a short-term solution that you will need to return to later on and fix again. This is not the case, though, and affordable dental implants are most accessible than ever before. There is also some uncertainty over what the procedure involves. With such a plethora of conflicting information everywhere you look, it’s difficult to discern whether tooth implants are right for you.

We want to clear up any misconceptions surrounding dental implants, and you’ll find the answers to all of your dental implant queries right here to help you feel confident that you’re making the right decision for you.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants, also known as tooth or teeth implants, are cosmetic dentistry procedures used to replace missing teeth. This is an ideal solution for people who have experienced tooth damage, whether through trauma or dental diseases such as tooth decay. It can fill the gaps or missing teeth with an implant that looks exactly like a regular tooth. 

Previously, dentists recommended either tooth bridges or dentures that were removable as a solution to missing teeth. However, as dental technology has advanced rapidly across the last few years, dental implants have quickly become the more popular and desirable method of replacing teeth. 

These advancements have also made dental implants more affordable than ever before. This means that practically anyone who requires dental implants can get them after speaking to their cosmetic dentist. 

When you combine affordability with the effectiveness of dental implants, you have the best solution for replacing missing teeth. This is because other solutions, such as dentures or bridges, can restrict you from eating particular food while also involving complicated care demands that often made them more hassle than they were worth. In contrast, dental implants are essentially a brand new tooth. All you have to do is care for them the same way you would your regular teeth, simplifying your dental care routine, and allowing you to eat and drink whatever you like with no risk of complications. 

What is the cost of Dental Implants?

The complete cost for a Dental Implant including the Abutment and Crown is $1999.00.
There may be other costs involved with Dental Implants like bone grafting, complex extractions or other procedures.
Grand Parkway Smiles offers a Free Consultation for patients interested in Dental Implants. The consultation includes all x-rays, evaluation by one of our implant specialists and treatment plan that will outline all costs.
We accept most PPO dental insurance, cash, and major credit cards; in addition, we have several financing options available for patients.

What Does the Procedure Involve? 

There is a range of procedures involved with dental implants, and your dentist will have several approaches to choose from when providing dental implants. Before all of this happens, though, your dentist will need to work with you to design a personalized treatment plan. This will address your needs and also determine which type of implant you need. This could be a single implant, full mouth dental implants, or All on 4 dental implants. 

Once the dental team determines which approach is more suitable for you, they will begin to arrange for the implant procedure. At first, you will receive a tooth root implant. This is a small titanium post that is fitted into the bone socket of the missing tooth. It will take between 12 to 16 weeks to fully heal as the jawbone grows around the post and anchors securely. 

After a successful bonding, your dentist will fix an abutment to the titanium post to hold the new tooth in place. Regardless of whether you need a single dental implant or a full mouth dental implants, your dentist will use a mold to create an impression of your bite. When the impression is completed, your dentist will use this as a model for creating the new tooth or teeth. 

The new tooth is known as a crown, which is a replacement fitted to the abutment. 

In some cases, your dentist will choose to use attachments rather than fit several individual crowns. This is more reliable than implanting multiple crowns and secures the new teeth better, offering dependable support. 

To ensure that the dental implant looks natural, your dentist will also match the color to how your natural teeth look. This can help improve aesthetics and make it less evident that you have undergone the dental implant procedure if this is something you are concerned about. 

As the implant is secured to your jawbone, it is virtually impossible to tell the difference between this and your natural teeth. It looks, feels, and acts the same as your natural teeth, which means you don’t need to adjust your regular chewing activity. 

What Is The Recovery Time?

As with many types of dental surgery, the recovery time for dental implants will vary between individuals. This is due to several factors, such as the scope of the procedure (a single implant versus multiple implants), as well as the patient’s overall oral health and the approach to the recovery process. Of course, the more closely the patient follows the dentist’s advice, the more likely it is that recovery will be swift and mostly comfortable. Despite this, there is always the risk of complications no matter how well you adhered to the advice, so don’t be concerned if the recovery takes slightly longer in some cases. 

There will be barely any difference in your regular routine for simple implants, and there also should not be too much, if any, discomfort following the procedure. Despite this, most patients still need to adjust your diet for seven to ten days following the procedure to minimize the risk of complications. This involves avoiding anything that is too hot and any food that is too hard that could affect the sensitive area. Instead, your dentist will recommend you eat soft foods. While most patients will be able to return to their normal diet after ten days, this can depend on the dentist and how comprehensive the procedure was. For full mouth implants, there is a chance you will need to stick to soft foods for up to eight weeks. 

Your dentist will be able to provide all the aftercare advice you need, and as long as you follow this advice, you should not encounter any problems following your dental implant procedure. They will also prescribe medication to minimize discomfort and also avoid the chance of infections. 

Your lifestyle can also impact your recovery time. If you smoke or drink alcohol regularly, there is a significant chance of complications, leading to infections. Your dentist will recommend avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and it is in your best interest to follow this advice. Otherwise, you risk causing problems before the implant has time to set correctly, which could lead to more expensive treatment later on. Furthermore, some dentists will outright refuse treatment if they recognize that patients cannot stop smoking or drinking, which can cause severe problems for you if you require a dental implant. 

What Happens After Dental Implants?

Your implants will continue to bond with the bone following the recovery time, so you may need to revisit the dentist at a later date. This is a typical part of the process. It does not mean that anything has gone wrong along the way. 

As your dentist is almost as responsible for your dental implants’ success as you are, they will want to make sure that everything has bonded the way it was supposed to. You will be expected to attend the dentist for a follow-up appointment. Here, your dentist will discuss the success of your dental implants with you and answer any questions you have regarding care, discomfort, or swelling. 

If everything has worked, this will be the last time you need to visit the dentist about your dental implants. However, if there are any problems, your dentist can prescribe antibiotics to reduce swelling and remove infections. They may also want to check your implant to get a better idea of the cause of any problems. 

Once the problems are fixed, you can get on with your life as usual. Your dental implants will be as good as your natural teeth, and you will be able to eat hard foods and food with seeds or bits (such as popcorn), as well as go back to hot drinks or meals such as soup.

How To Take Care Of Your Dental Implants

Your dentist will recommend that you take care of your dental implants to prevent any complications or issues. This should be expected, but it’s essential to know how to take care of your implants properly to minimize the risk of any problems after the procedure is completed. 

As dental implants act as a general tooth replacement, you must make sure you care for them correctly. Thankfully, the advancements in dental implant technology mean you do not need to undergo any unique care. 

However, if you want the implants to last and the surgery to be successful, you must still follow the aftercare guidelines that your cosmetic dentist will provide for you. This involves everything you would expect from surgery aftercare and can speed up the healing process. 

Brush At Least Twice A Day

The primary advice provided by dental professionals is to clean your teeth at least twice a day. You will find the most success from brushing in the morning after breakfast, in the afternoon following your lunch, and in the evening, just before you go to bed. You should use a soft-bristled brush for everyday cleaning, but you can also use an interdental brush with nylon coating when brushing the trickier hard to reach areas of your mouth. 

Use a Suitable Toothpaste

Picking the right toothpaste to care for your dental implants and the rest of your teeth is also vital. Non-abrasive toothpaste is the best approach in this instance, as it will prevent any wear and tear on your new implants while also cleaning the rest of your teeth sufficiently. 

Take Care Around the Implant

After your implant, you might be apprehensive about brushing too hard as you don’t want to risk dislodging the implant and damaging it. However, you still need to clean it properly. Using your toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste, make sure you brush around and under your implant. This will loosen any stuck food and get you more comfortable with cleaning your new dental implants, making the process more natural. 

Floss Every Day

Even if dentists recommend daily flossing, there is still a percentage of people who neglect to do it, despite knowing that it is one of the most effective ways to maintain healthy teeth and gums. After receiving your implant, you will need to floss every day and develop consistent flossing habits to maintain the quality of the implant and eliminate the risk of complications. 

Don’t Forget Mouthwash

Similarly, mouthwash is also essential for ensuring excellent oral health. If you use it in conjunction with toothpaste and floss, you shouldn’t need to worry about any problems. You shouldn’t need to worry about finding any specific implant-ready mouthwash, and everyday mouthwash will be suitable for ensuring proper care of your teeth and dental implants. 

Drop Bad Habits

Bad habits such as smoking, overindulging in sugar, and excessive alcohol intake can all contribute to oral health problems. As you won’t want to have another dental implant, you must drop any bad habits to prevent further problems. 

Starting these good oral health habits as soon as you get your dental implants will make it easier to care for your implants. They can give you a fresh start regarding your oral health and reduce the chance of dental issues, ensuring healthy teeth and a happy smile. 

Get in Touch Today 

If you live in the Houston, Texas area and want to find out more about which dental implant services and care we can offer, don’t hesitate to contact our office at 8322220016.  You can book an appointment or consultation with an experienced and friendly dental implant specialists at Grand Parkway Smiles who can help you understand whether dental implants are the best choice for you.