Dental Implants – Azle, TX

Prevent Jawbone Deterioration

An incredibly unique quality of dental implants is that they replace the entire structure of your missing teeth from the roots up. The natural roots of your teeth provide necessary blood flow and stimulation to the jawbone, which promote growth. However, when those go missing and the area is no longer being used as a foundation for your teeth, the jawbone begins to deteriorate. Because traditional dentures or bridges only replace the biting surface of your missing teeth, they don’t prevent this from occurring.

Dental implants are surgically placed below the gum and into the jawbone. Through a remarkable process called osseointegration, your titanium implants will fuse with the bone, replacing the natural roots of your teeth and providing it with necessary stimulation.

Stronger & Sturdier Replacement Teeth

Traditional dentures commonly cause patients stability issues because they rely on natural suction and denture adhesive to stay in place while you eat and speak. If you’re not used to your dentures yet or you’re still building your cheek muscles, they can slip or shift in your mouth, creating embarrassing moments where you accidentally slur your words or have to readjust them without anybody noticing.

Implant-retained replacement teeth are secured to a strong and stable foundation that’s bonded with your jawbone. Because of this, you won’t have to worry about having them shift out of place, making everyday tasks like speaking and eating easier and less anxiety-inducing.

Replace One Tooth or Your Entire Smile

There’s nothing more convenient than a versatile tooth replacement solution that can be used to either replace a single missing tooth or all of your teeth. There are several types of dental implants, including crowns, bridges, and dentures, that are able to completely restore your smile by filling in gaps and holes. Not to mention, unlike traditional tooth replacement treatments, you won’t have to worry about altering your existing natural teeth in order to have them placed!

Don’t Worry About Replacing Them Anytime Soon

Traditional dentures, bridges, and crowns typically last anywhere from five to 15 years with the proper treatment. That means that you would need to visit a dentist regularly to have them replaced, repaired, or adjusted.

Dental implants are made from titanium posts that are biocompatible. When they’re placed, they form a thin oxide layer, which acts as a protective shield that prevents them from eroding or failing. Because of this, they’re able to last for up to 35 years or more with regular maintenance. This feature of the procedure makes it incredibly cost-effective because it allows patients to visit their dentist for pricey replacements less often.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Your consultation will include a thorough examination by a member of our team. Not only will they use advanced dental technology to view your gums, teeth, jawbone, nerves, and other facial structures, but they’ll determine if you need preliminary treatment before moving on to the next phase of dental implant treatment. Bone grafting, periodontal therapy, and even tooth extraction are normal procedures many patients must have to ensure a successful implant placement in the future.

Dental Implant Surgery

Because the dental implant surgery is completed in-house, you will not need to worry about seeing or paying for an outside specialist. Your implant dentist in Azle will administer local anesthesia to numb the areas around your tooth to ensure you feel no pain throughout the procedure. After making one or more incisions in your gums, the bone will be exposed, and the dental implant will be carefully placed in a way that promotes maximum support. Once finished, we will close the gum tissue and place a protective cap over the area before sending your home to begin the recovery process.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

Once you are home, you will need to follow our guidelines for a swift and successful recovery. It is necessary that osseointegration take place, as your dental implants in Azle will need to fuse with the bone and surrounding tissues. This will create a solid and firm foundation for your customized restoration. After 3-6 months of healing, you will return to our dental office to have your metal abutment(s) put into place. These serve as small connector appliances that attach to the implant and restoration.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

The final step in the dental implant process is to receive your finalized restoration. Dental implants are extremely versatile when it comes to treating tooth loss, so you can receive a single dental crown, an implant bridge, or a full implant denture depending on how many teeth you have missing. No matter the type of restoration you receive, you can trust that it will be made in a way that looks and feels completely natural when put into place. And because of the surgical placement of your dental implant, once the visible portion of your tooth is added, it will be virtually impossible for anyone to tell a difference between your real and artificial teeth.

Types of Dental Implants

There isn’t a pre-determined fee for dental implants because their cost is based on several factors, like the number of teeth you’re replacing. You can expect to pay more if you’re treating multiple teeth because you’ll need more implant posts, abutments, and restorations. Your treatment will vary depending on the type of restoration you need, such as:

• Single tooth implant
• Implant-retained bridge
• Implant-supported denture

What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?

Dental implants recreate your tooth from the root up. As a result, it requires a multi-phased treatment process that will take several months to complete. This can make it easier to afford dental implants because you won’t need to pay the entire amount upfront. Instead, each step in your treatment plan has a separate cost, including:

• Initial Consultation: In addition to a visual examination, you’ll also need a CT scan.
• Additional Procedures: You might need tooth extractions, periodontal therapy, or bone grafting before your placement surgery.
• Implant Placement: Sedation or anesthesia is used to promote your comfort as your implant posts are surgically placed into your jawbone.
• Abutments: Each post needs an abutment to attach your restoration.
• Restoration: Your restoration varies based on the number of teeth you’re treating.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

Dental implants are more expensive upfront than traditional treatments, but they are more affordable long-term. They are the most reliable option to treat tooth loss with over a 95% success rate. In fact, they are proven to last for decades with the right aftercare, so you should never need to worry about paying to have them replaced.

You can also lower your overall oral health expenses by investing in dental implants. They are the only treatment to replicate the root to preserve your jawbone’s density. This protects any remaining natural teeth from damage to prevent needing a costly treatment down the road.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Every insurance policy differs, but many plans offer some coverage for certain steps in your treatment after reaching your annual deductible. We will work on your behalf with your insurance carrier to maximize your yearly limits. A member of our team will file the necessary paperwork, so you have one less thing on your plate.

We offer several payment options to cover any remaining balance. We’ll take the time to explain the costs associated with your treatment and help you find the solutions you need to replace your missing teeth without draining your wallet. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.

3D Cone Beam Imaging/3D CT Scanning

X-ray technology has come a long way, but traditional X-rays simply aren’t enough to plan out dental implant placement. That’s where our 3D cone beam scanner comes in. This device captures several high-definition images of your mouth, jaw, and facial structures as it rotates completely around your head for a minute or so. Afterward, we’ll have a three-dimensional panoramic model of your oral and facial anatomy, which helps us plan the exact location and angle where we’ll place your dental implant. Unlike traditional X-rays, these scans also reveal nerve pathways, allowing us to avoid them during surgery.

Antibacterial Coating

As long as you follow our post-op guidelines following your dental implant surgery, your risk of infection should be slim to none. Still, it never hurts to cut down on that risk even further, and we accomplish this by coating our dental implant posts in an antibacterial substance. This thin layer of material works to combat any harmful bacteria that may arrive to the implant site, keeping the area safe while you heal. As a result, the antibacterial coating can give you greater peace of mind throughout the recovery process.

E4D Digital Impression System

When the time comes to create your prosthetic teeth that will go on top of the implants, we’ll need to take impressions of your mouth to do so. At many dental offices, taking impressions means biting down on a chunk of messy putty for a minute or longer, which doesn’t exactly taste good and can make some patients gag. That’s not the case here at Rubal Dentistry Azle! Our E4D digital impression system lets us capture fully digital impressions simply by scanning your teeth – no putty required. Not only is the process much faster and more comfortable, but digital impressions are often more accurate than traditional ones. Therefore, your artificial teeth are more likely to look exactly like your natural ones.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

With the dental implant surgery out of the way, you’re already through the most difficult part of the tooth replacement process. Now, all you need to focus on is resting and giving your mouth the care and attention it needs to heal properly.

Immediately after you finish surgery, you’ll want to take the following steps to protect the blood clot and prevent it from becoming loose. For example:

• Never touch the implant site with your fingers directly.
• Avoid spitting, especially with force. Use tissue instead or simply swallow your saliva.
• Do not smoke or use tobacco of any kind.
• Do not drink from straws for at least 24 to 72 hours after your surgery.

Common Side Effects

The side effects that come with oral surgery are not obvious to everyone, especially those who have never had oral surgery in the past. Over time, any discomfort you’re experiencing will begin to naturally disappear. If it does not appear to be getting better, call us right away. Other common side effects that go away with time include:

• Intermittent bleeding. This can be handled by applying light pressure onto the surgical site using a gauze pad.
• This can occur over the next few days and can be addressed by placing a cold compress on your face for 10 minutes at a time. Remove and reapply the compress every 10 minutes for up to one hour.
• General discomfort. Take prescribed painkillers as well as over-the-counter options like ibuprofen as needed.

Diet

Sticking to a soft diet is very important after oral surgery as it helps prevent any stitches from coming out of your treatment site. Good foods to purchase ahead of your surgery include:

• Ice cream
• Smoothies
• Yogurt
• Mashed potatoes
• Applesauce
• Cold soup
• Scrambled eggs
• Soft-cooked pasta
• Pudding

Health & Oral Hygiene

You’ll still need to keep your mouth as clean as possible following oral surgery. We recommend the following:

• Brushing your teeth gently and using caution when brushing near the treatment site. Avoid touching it until it has had a chance to heal over the next few days.
• Floss as normal while avoiding the treatment site.
• Rinse your mouth with saltwater two to three times a day or use a prescription mouth rinse if recommended.
• Do not use mouthwash that contains alcohol.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Once the implants have fully fused with your jawbone and the abutment has been attached, you’ll be asked to come back to our office to have the permanent restoration placed as well. In some cases, you may notice some minor sensitivity after the crown, bridge, or denture is attached. This is normal and can be managed at home with medication. If you start to notice any swelling, bleeding, or other side effects that don’t seem right, give us a call!

Bone Grafting

Did you know that the jawbone starts to deteriorate the moment a tooth root is no longer present to stimulate new growth? Even if you have all your teeth, you can suffer from premature jawbone loss because of osteoporosis or other medical problems. Unfortunately, if you don’t have sufficient jawbone, you won’t qualify for implants, which rely on it for support and stability. A bone graft rebuilds your jawbone tissue, preparing it to hold the implant posts firmly in place.

Ridge Expansion

Not only does your jawbone need to have enough height to support dental implants, but it is also needs to have sufficient depth. In other words, the ridge needs to be able to completely surround the implant for maximum security. For some patients, this necessitates a ridge expansion, which is a procedure where we insert small wedges into the ridge to widen it. After a ridge expansion, the jawbone should be ready for bone grafting or for the implant placement procedure, depending on your situation.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

It’s important to keep the area around the implant posts free of plaque and bacteria buildup. Otherwise, you may end up developing gum disease, which could put your dental implants at risk. As such, brushing and flossing at least two times a day is vital, and you should always pay close attention to your dental implants and the tissues around them. You may also want to think about using mouthwash if you don’t already.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Maintaining healthy gums is essential for protecting your dental implants. Be wary of sugary and starchy foods; enjoying them in moderation is generally okay, but eating them too often could ultimately lead to gum disease. Instead, focus on foods that are good for the overall health of your mouth, such as fruits and vegetables. You should also try to sip water throughout the day to rinse away food debris in your mouth before it can cause problems.

Break Bad Habits

As strong as they are, dental implants can still break, so it’s best to avoid exposing them to any unnecessary pressure. Try to give up bad habits that can be hard on your implant posts, such as biting your fingernails, crunching ice, or chewing on the end of your pen. Additionally, stop using your teeth to open any sort of container; it’s better to take the time to look for scissors or another appropriate tool.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Many sports – especially those that involve contact such as football or basketball – carry a risk of getting hit in the mouth, which could seriously damage your dental implants. You should therefore always wear a mouthguard when participating in these kinds of activities. Additionally, it may be necessary to wear a nightguard if you routinely grind your teeth while you’re asleep.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Routine dental checkups are always important, and they become even more so when you have dental implants. Our team can check your dental implants to make sure they’re in good condition, and we can keep an eye out for any problems that might still be in their earliest stages. We can also give your dental implants and the area around them a thorough cleaning in order to get rid of plaque or tartar that might have built up since your last appointment.