Dental Implants — Plano, TX

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step of your dental implant consultation. During this time, we will examine your smile and the surrounding facial structures. This will help us to determine whether or not you make a good candidate for implants and where they should be placed in your mouth. During this visit, we are also happy to discuss any parts of the dental implant process, including the cost.

Dental Implant Surgery

We work with a local specialist for your dental implant procedure to ensure that your dental implant placement goes as smoothly as possible. First, you will receive a local anesthetic to numb the area. Next, an incision is made in the gums so the implants can be placed in the jawbone. Your gums are then closed, and protective caps are placed over the posts to protect them as your mouth heals.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

Over the next few months, the dental implants will fuse to your jawbone in a process called “osseointegration.” This is what keeps your dental implants anchored in place so you can use your replacement teeth without worrying about them moving around. When osseointegration is complete, metal abutments will be placed on the end of your implants.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

Once your abutment is placed, your replacement teeth will be good to go. You may return to the practice where you will receive your new crown, bridge, or dentures. During the visit, we will check to ensure that your bite is aligned, comfortable, and looking good so that you can enjoy your new and improved smile!

Preserve Your Jawbone

Dental implants are designed to replace the tooth root from the roots up. As a result, they mimic your previous tooth’s structure, ensuring that it feels as natural as possible. After you regain the ability to chew food, your jawbone continues to be stimulated and maintains its overall shape.

Improved Appearance

Missing teeth dramatically accelerates the effects of aging. Because dental implants work to replace your tooth, this means they perform all the same functions as your natural tooth root. This includes blood flow, which is necessary for your jawbone and overall facial shape to receive the essential nutrients it needs to remain healthy and youthful.

Enjoy All Your Favorite Foods

Biting into a juicy steak or crisp apple feels incredible when you haven’t been able to do it for a long time. Of course, improved chewing helps you can keep a more balanced diet in general. That means your overall nutrition is improved, which can be crucial for participating in the activities you love.

Long-Term Durability You Can Count On

While dental implants can be expensive upfront, they’re often considered a lifetime investment. This is because they can easily last 25 years to a lifetime when properly maintained. Even after a 10-year period, dental implants carry success rates as high as 98 percent.

Reduce Your Risk of Future Tooth Loss

When teeth are missing, alveolar bone will begin to resorb back into the body. This can put your remaining healthy teeth at higher risk of coming out later due to the breakdown of your jaw. Dental implants prevent this process from occurring.

Easier Maintenance

If you’ve ever had a removable denture, then you understand the daily care they require. Since implants stay in place, they require no special care when compared to natural teeth. Plus, implant restorations don’t decay, which means you only need to worry about maintaining the abutment portion of your prosthetic.

Improved Confidence & Self-Esteem

It’s a common saying that the smile is a window into the soul. If you hide your smile, you’re hiding one of the most unique and personable aspects about your appearance. Alternatively, having a smile you’re proud to show off is far more likely to make you feel confident and promote higher self-esteem throughout your daily life.

Want to Learn More About Dental Implants?

When it comes to tooth replacement, there are no other solutions quite as comprehensive as dental implants. We hope that these benefits encourage you to contact our dentist in Plano and  schedule an implant consultation!

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Whether you’re missing one, several, or all your teeth, dental implants are a good choice for nearly anyone facing tooth loss. To be considered a good candidate for dental implants, you’ll generally need to have three things:

• Good overall health:  Placing dental implants is a surgical procedure, so you need to be well enough to undergo minor surgery.
• Great oral health:  Issues like tooth decay and gum disease can threaten the success of your dental implant, so they’ll need to be addressed first.
• Adequate jawbone density:  Your jawbone needs to be strong enough to support dental implants.

Even if you don’t think you’re a good candidate for dental implants, come see Dr. Stokes for a consultation anyway! He can help you create a plan to get you ready for your brand-new smile.

Missing 1 Tooth

Single teeth are replaced using one implant and one implant-retained porcelain crown. Once placed, the area takes anywhere from three to six months to heal depending on the location. An abutment is used to keep the restoration and implant attached to each other. Unlike a dental bridge, a single-tooth dental implant won’t require any alterations to your healthy teeth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Those who are missing multiple consecutive teeth can use a traditional bridge and dental implants together to replace three or four teeth at a time! However, only two implants on either side of the restoration are needed to bridge the gap in your smile. As a bonus, implant bridges do not require the buffing down of natural teeth in order to place like a traditional bridge would.

Missing All Teeth

If your denture is shifting constantly throughout the day, fitting your current or a brand-new denture with implants can make a world of difference. Not only can you reap the restorative benefits dental implants have to offer, but you can do so while only utilizing four to six implants at a time. This allows you to replace your entire arch while still making a huge improvement to your dental device’s stability and your smile’s appearance. Plus, with All-On-4 dental implants, you may be able to skip any preliminary treatments and have a denture placed the same day as your dental implant surgery!

<Learn More About Implant Dentures>

<Learn More About All-On-4 Dental Implants>

Types of Dental Implants

There isn’t a set fee for dental implants because the cost is determined by your specific treatment plan. There are several factors that might influence the amount you’ll pay, like the number of implant posts and abutments needed to stabilize your restoration. We’ll provide you with a custom estimate during your initial consultation and discuss your payment options.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

It is true dental implants are initially more expensive than other treatments, but they are more affordable long-term. Dental implants are the most reliable tooth replacement treatment. In fact, they have over a 95% success rate to last for decades with the right care. This will save you money down the road because you won’t have to pay to have them replaced in the future.

Dental implants are also the only treatment to preserve your jawbone, which protects your natural smile. With a strong jaw, you’ll have a decreased risk of cavities, gum disease, and additional tooth loss that are often associated with an incomplete smile. This lowers your overall dental expenses by maintaining your oral health.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Every insurance policy differs, but most plans offer some coverage for dental implants after reaching your annual deductible. A member of our team will file the necessary claim forms to maximize your yearly benefits to lower the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket. We’ll explain how your benefits are being used and if you owe a remaining balance. We offer several payment options to keep your new smile affordable.

You can replace your missing teeth without breaking the bank.  Contact our office  today to schedule your consultation for dental implants.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

A dental implant can't get cavities, but it’s still important that you practice excellent oral hygiene. The natural teeth in your mouth are still at risk of decay, and it’s important to keep your gums healthy to support your implants and natural teeth. Remember to brush twice, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day.

Eat a Healthy Diet

When you have dental implants, you don’t need to worry about eating restrictions. You are free to enjoy a full, nutritious diet. However, you shouldn’t overindulge in hard, sticky, or sugary foods. Instead, enjoy foods with calcium and vitamin C to keep your jawbone strong and your gums in good health.

Break Bad Habits

Bad habits can cause your dental implants to become damaged or even fail! You shouldn’t smoke or chew tobacco as this slows healing and encourages infection. Don’t use your teeth as tools either, and this can cause you to damage your restoration.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Dental implants are very strong, but they aren’t indestructible. You should always wear a sports mouthguard when participating in contact sports. If you have bruxism, you may want to consider getting a custom-made mouthguard to prevent wear and tear.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

You should continue to see us for regular cleanings and checkups every six months. This way, we can continue to monitor your dental implants and other teeth so we can spot any issues as quickly as possible.

Is Dental Implant Surgery Painful?

At first, hearing that placing dental implants requires surgery may sound daunting, but rest assured that you have nothing to worry about. We partner with local specialists to ensure this critical step of your treatment is as smooth, comfortable, and successful as possible. State-of-the-art dental technology will ensure that your treatment is as precise as possible, and modern numbing medications will keep you completely comfortable all throughout your procedure.

After your dental implants have been placed, it’s natural to experience some slight bleeding, swelling, and discomfort for a few days. You’ll be prescribed pain medication that will help manage your symptoms as your mouth heals. Most patients are able to go about their normal schedules the following day, and the majority of your symptoms should fade within a few weeks.

Why Does Getting Dental Implants Take So Long?

Unlike other tooth replacement options like dentures and dental bridges, getting dental implants is a multistep process that takes place over the course of several months. For patients who are anxious about replacing their missing teeth, this can be somewhat off putting. The reason dental implants require so much more time than other options is because of a process called osseointegration.

Osseointegration is how dental implants replace missing teeth both above and below the gumline. During this step, the small titanium implant posts that were placed in the jawbone fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. This happens very gradually, and it can take anywhere from four to six months for your mouth to heal and be ready for the next step. However, dental implants are well worth the wait! They offer unmatched stability, comfort, functionality, and longevity thanks to this unique step.