Dental Implants — Richardson, TX
The Next Best Thing to Natural Teeth
Dental implants are small posts that resemble screws. When inserted into the area where a missing tooth once was, these implant posts fuse with natural gum and bone tissue. This allows them to seamlessly mimic the lost root structures of missing teeth. At EPO Dental Specialists, we can use dental implants to help our patients replace any number of missing teeth. If you’ve lost a single tooth or a full arch of teeth, contact our office to schedule a dental implant consultation. Our periodontal specialist, Dr. Yaritza Vazquez , has advanced training in the surgical placement of dental implant posts and can provide safe, effective treatment in our Richardson, TX practice.
Why Choose EPO Dental Specialists For Dental Implants?
- #1 Start-to-Finish Dental Implant Treatment
- #2 Highly Experienced Specialists with Years of Advanced Training
- #3 Permanently Replace Any Number of Missing Teeth
What Are Dental Implants?
Implants are small, titanium posts that are inserted into the mouth where a missing tooth once was. They offer a strong and natural support structure for a replacement tooth or teeth so they look, feel, and function just like healthy teeth. Unlike other tooth replacement options like dentures or dental bridges that restore missing teeth above the gum line, patients who receive dental implant-supported tooth replacements experience significant improvements in chewing ability, comfort, appearance, long-term well-being, and more. Overall, dental implants are widely considered by patients and specialists alike to be the next best thing to natural teeth.
The Dental Implant Process
Dental implants are surgically placed below the gum line to anchor one or more replacement teeth into position. Depending on the number and position of implants to be placed, the surgical procedure can last anywhere from half an hour to several hours. Our skilled periodontist has years of training and experience to provide safe, effective dental implant placement. Regardless of the number of implants necessary, the procedure remains relatively the same. We make a small incision in the gum tissue and position the implant post into the jawbone. Then, a protective cap is placed over the implant to preserve the space necessary to attach the abutment and restoration.
For some patients, we may attach a temporary restoration right away, but many patients need to wait several months to allow the implant post to fuse with the jawbone. This fusion between the dental implant post and the gum and bone tissue is known as osseointegration, and it is the key to optimizing the longevity of your replacement tooth or teeth.
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Who Dental Implants Can Help
During your oral and overall health evaluation, we’ll carefully examine your smile, capture X-rays, and partner with you to determine whether or not you are a viable candidate for dental implants. We’ll discuss your health history, any past surgeries, and explain the time and financial commitment involved in dental implant retained tooth replacement. This may include an evaluation of your dental or medical insurance coverage. If you ever have questions or concerns about the treatment, please let us know right away. Our skilled periodontist will be happy to walk you through even the most intricate parts of your procedures.
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Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
As remarkable as dental implants are, many people hesitate to commit to them because they are worried about the price of this procedure. Indeed, each step in the treatment process, from preparatory work to restoration, may come with a significant cost. But implants are more than worth the money! Furthermore, you may be surprised by how easy it is to fit this life-changing procedure into your budget when you take advantage of insurance and low-interest financing.
How Much Dental Implants Cost
It’s impossible to give a generalized estimate of how much dental implants in Richardson cost because every patient’s mouth is unique. There are a number of factors that go into determining the amount of the final bill, including:
- Preliminary work . Some patients require extractions or gum disease treatment before they can receive implants. Others may require a bone graft or sinus lift.
- The number and type of implants received . Logically, more implants your periodontist in Richardson has to place, the more your procedure will cost.
- The restoration . The materials used to make your artificial teeth, as well as the number of teeth that the restoration is replacing, will affect the total price of the treatment.
When you attend your consultation in our office, our staff can give you a concrete idea of how much your treatment will cost.
Keys to Affording Dental Implants
Although implants do cost quite a bit of money, many patients are surprised by how easy they are to afford. Here are a few resources you may be able to use to fit your new smile into your budget:
- Dental insurance . More and more dental insurance plans are changing their policies to cover implants. Even if your insurance doesn’t cover implants, however, it may still help with the cost of extractions, gum disease treatment, and/or your prosthetic teeth.
- Flexible Financing. Our office partners with CareCredit, which provides low- or no-interest financing for dental treatments.
Are Dental Implants A Worthwhile Investment?
Are implants really worth all that money? Yes! Since they have the potential to last a lifetime, you’ll never have to worry about replacing them. That is in contrast to other tooth replacement options, which may fail after 5 – 10 years or so. Also, since implants help to preserve the jawbone and provide an extremely strong bite and natural appearance, the practical benefits they provide offer unquantifiable value.
To learn more about dental implants or to get started on exploring your options for paying for this procedure, get in touch with our friendly team today.
Advanced Dental Implant Procedures
It is essential for a patient’s mouth to be healthy in order to get dental implants. Additionally, the jawbone needs to have adequate density to successfully support the replacement teeth. As tooth loss naturally results in bone reabsorption, these factors can often be a hinderance for patients who would otherwise be excellent dental implant candidates.
Fortunately, we offer a variety of advanced dental implant procedures that can help you become eligible for a successful dental implant treatment. During your initial consultation, we will closely evaluate the imaging of your mouth to determine if you need any of these services before moving forward with dental implants. Depending on your unique situation, you may need a bone graft, a sinus lift, ridge expansion, jawbone regeneration, or nerve repositioning. We also offer ridge preservation to support the jawbone and surrounding oral structures once a tooth or teeth have been lost.
Learn More About Advanced Dental Implant Procedures
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Dental Implant Post-Op Instructions
Once your dental implants have been surgically placed, you’ll need to follow a set of post-op instructions. Not only will these guidelines help you stay comfortable while you heal and speed up the process, but they will maximize your chance of enjoying long-term success.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
With proper care, dental implants will last two or more decades without the need for repair or replacement. Many patients are able to maintain their implant-supported tooth replacement for the rest of their lives.
Dental Implant FAQs
If you’re considering an advanced dental treatment like dental implant-supported tooth replacement, the EPO Dental Specialists team members know you’ll have a lot of questions. Our caring dental specialists and team are always happy to talk to you about your concerns, treatment options, and questions. Whether you’re in our office for a dental appointment or call on the phone, one of our knowledgeable team members will be happy to help. If we don’t know the answer to your questions, we’ll find it and get back in touch with you quickly. Below, you’ll find the answers to some of the questions we hear most often from patients planning for dental implant tooth replacement. If you don’t see the question you’re looking for, please give our caring Richardson dentistry team a call today. We’ll be happy to help.
How Many Dental Implants Do I Need?
The number of dental implants you need will depend on how many missing teeth you have. In most cases, we recommend the following:
- Replacing one individual tooth or two consecutive teeth is often accomplished with a single dental implant and a dental crown (or two dental crowns fused together).
- Three or four consecutive missing teeth will typically be replaced with a dental bridge that is supported by two dental implants on either side.
- Replacing multiple missing teeth throughout the mouth with a partial implant denture or an entire arch of missing teeth with a full implant denture may take anywhere from three to six dental implants.
How Long Does The Dental Implant Tooth Replacement Process Take?
The implant placement and tooth replacement restoration can take several months to a year or longer to complete. The majority of this time will be spent simply waiting and monitoring the implant posts as they fuse with the supportive tooth structures. You will only need to visit our office for a few treatment appointments.
How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?
The cost of your dental implant restoration will vary greatly depending on a variety of factors, including, the implant material, the number and placement of missing teeth, the need for preparatory treatments, and more. We will walk you through costs associated with your particular treatment plan, dental insurance coverage, and other factors that may impact the cost of your dental care. Before we get started with your implant-supported tooth replacement plan, we’ll be happy to help you budget for your treatment.
What Are Dental Implants Made Of?
Dental implant posts are available in a variety of materials that each have advantages and disadvantages. The longest used is titanium, and this material has been utilized in tooth replacement and bone repairs for decades. You can also receive dental implants crafted from a variety of materials, including metal-free zirconia.
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