Do you have a single missing tooth? Perhaps you’re missing multiple teeth in your smile or you’re simply tired of having to rely on a denture that keeps shifting out of place. Whatever your reason might be, Encore Dentistry wants to make sure that you feel confident about your smile moving forward, which is why we offer the most detailed tooth replacement available: dental implants! This modern solution to tooth loss is one of the most effective ways to ensure long-term stability and function of your smile. To learn more about dental implants and if they are right for you, call our office today!
Natural teeth are made up of two parts: the white crown that you see when you smile and the hidden root structure underneath that holds it in place. Most tooth replacements only replace the crowns of missing teeth, making them much less stable than the real thing. Dental implants are the only option that can rebuild missing teeth from the roots up!
Dental implants themselves are small, screw-shaped posts that are usually made of titanium. They can be placed beneath the gums to replace the roots of a missing tooth. Once there, they fuse with the surrounding bone tissue to create a strong foundation for the replacement teeth. On top of the dental implant, a small connector piece called an abutment secures your custom-made restoration in place. This could be a crown, bridge, or denture depending on how many teeth you’re missing. When you replace the entire structure of a missing tooth, the result is a smile that looks, feels, and functions just like natural!
The process of getting dental implants is more complex than that of getting a regular denture or dental bridge. In total, your treatment may span several months to a year or longer. That being said, we think you’ll find that, thanks to their unmatched longevity and lifelike qualities, dental implants in Arlington are worth waiting for!
While no two patients have the exact same tooth replacement journey, most patients experience these same four basic steps in the dental implant process.
First, you’ll meet with Dr. Nancy Cabansag to make sure that dental implants are right for you. She’ll talk to you about what you want your new smile to look and feel like. Then, she’ll closely examine your mouth with her highly trained eyes as well as detailed X-rays. If she determines that you’re a good candidate for the treatment, she can walk you through the process and answer your questions about how dental implants work in Arlington.
Some patients may need to complete preliminary treatments, like bone grafting or gum disease therapy, before moving on to the next step. While these procedures lengthen your overall treatment process, they also give your new pearly whites the healthy foundation they need in order to thrive.
For the surgical portion of your treatment, Dr. Cabansag collaborates with some of the best oral surgeons in the Arlington area. Doing so ensures that your treatment is as successful and safe as possible, and that all of your needs are met.
During the surgery, your mouth is numbed, and the specialist creates tiny incisions in your gums. Then, they insert the implant posts into your jawbone at precise, predetermined locations and angles. Protective caps are placed over the implants to keep them safe during the healing process. Lastly, the surgeon stitches your gums tissue closed and sends you home to start healing.
Over the next four to six months, the implant posts stimulate the surrounding bone tissue to grow around them. Once this process, called osseointegration, is complete, your dental implants will be able to function exactly like the roots of your real teeth.
After osseointegration, you’ll undergo another oral surgery. This procedure is more minor than the initial dental implant surgery. It involves exposing the tops of your implant posts and installing abutments onto them. Abutments are small metal attachments that will let your implant dentist in Arlington secure your new teeth into place.
You should heal from your abutment surgery in just a few short weeks. At that point, you’ll return to our office to have your beautifully custom-made crown, bridge, or denture anchored in place on top of the abutments. Once we’ve made sure you’re pleased with your results, you’ll be ready to go out and enjoy your brand-new smile!
Thanks to their ability to integrate with your jawbone, there are many benefits of dental implants that traditional tooth replacement options cannot deliver. Because dental implants replicate the entire structure of your missing teeth, they are able to offer unparalleled reliability, durability, and longevity. Read on to discover more of the reasons why dentists and patients alike love dental implants!
Your smile is important, so choosing how you wan to rebuild it is a big decision. If you’re interested in dental implants, we encourage you to give us a call! Dental implants can be used to replace any number of missing teeth, and most patients qualify as good candidates. Even if you’re not immediately a good fit for dental implants, we can often help you get ready for your new smile with preliminary treatments. Read on as we go over more information about being a good candidate for dental implants in Arlington and how we might plan out your treatment depending on how many teeth you’re missing.
The good news is, if you’re missing teeth, you’re likely a good candidate for dental implants! No matter how old or young you are and no matter how many teeth you’re missing, dental implants can help nearly everyone regain a complete, confident smile. In general, you’ll need three things to be considered a good candidate for this unique treatment.
Firstly, you’ll need to be in good enough overall health to undergo minor surgery. Secondly, you’ll need to have enough jawbone density to support a dental implant or be willing to complete a bone graft. Lastly, you’ll need to have great oral health. Issues like gum disease and tooth decay can threaten the success of your dental implant, so we’ll help you address these problems first if needed. Once you’re all set to begin your dental implant treatment, we’ll design your personal treatment plan around how many teeth you’re missing.
To replace individual teeth, a single dental implant is placed directly into the jaw, then given time to integrate with your bone tissue. Once several months of healing have passed, the abutment (connector) can be attached and an all-porcelain crown is placed on top. Dental porcelain is durable and well-known for how much it looks like natural tooth enamel, so the final results will blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile.
Replacing multiple teeth in a row is done via a pair of dental implants. One implant goes one either side of the empty space and between them is support a custom-made implant bridge. Unlike a traditional dental bridge, an implant bridge doesn’t require altering your remaining healthy teeth.
For missing teeth throughout the mouth, we may recommend using a few dental implants to secure a partial denture. This type of partial denture will never feel loose or slip out of place, and you won’t have to worry about tooth sensitivity or gum irritation.
To replace all the teeth in a given arch, a series of dental implants can be placed throughout the mouth, typically anywhere between four and eight. These implants can then be used to provide support for a full denture that’s unlike any traditional removable one! You’ll enjoy unmatched stability, comfort, longevity, and confidence as you show off a smile you know you can count on.
The cost of your dental implants will vary significantly from just about every other patient simply because your implant treatment will be highly personalized to meet your unique needs. Dr. Cabansag will be happy to go over the various factors that influence the cost of dental implants at your initial consultation. If you are concerned about the initial upfront cost, remember that dental implants are an extremely cost-effective tooth replacement method thanks to their durability and long-lasting nature. Want to know more? Keep reading below!
Some patients need to undergo preliminary treatments to prepare their mouth and jaw for dental implants. Procedures like gums disease therapy, extractions, and bone grafts add to overall costs but play a critical role in successful implant treatment.
The implant surgery itself, which often involves anesthesia, incurs its own cost. At Encore Dentistry, we partner with the best oral surgeons in Arlington to ensure this step of your treatment goes as smoothly as possible. Dental implant patients should expect to pay separate fees for the implant surgery and for the follow up appointments with Dr. Cabansag, which includes placing your restoration.
The number of teeth you want to replace as well as the materials used to make your dental implants will impact the overall cost of treatment. Both implant posts and abutment pieces are made from extremely strong biocompatible material such as titanium or zirconia. However, not all implant brands and materials are created equal. During your initial consultation, Dr. Cabansag will gladly share more details about the high-quality implants utilized at Encore Dentistry. The type of restoration that you attach to your implants will also influence the overall cost of restoring your smile.
Unfortunately, many dental insurance companies still do not cover dental implants. However, your insurance benefits may help reduce the cost of preliminary treatments such as gum disease therapy, extraction, or a bone graft procedure. In some cases, dental insurance may also partially cover the crown, bridge, or denture that your implants support.
Every dental insurance plan is slightly different. If you would like help confirming your insurance coverage before starting implant treatment, do not hesitate to ask us! Our knowledgeable team has many years of experience helping patients understand and maximize their insurance benefits.
Enjoying life with a complete smile should not depend on whether you have dental insurance or not. At Encore Dentistry, we proudly offer an in-house membership plan that enables uninsured patients to access the dental care they need at affordable rates. For a simple annual fee, you can enjoy valuable discounts on most of our services. Ask our staff for more details!
In addition, we also frequently work with CareCredit, a trusted dental financing organization. CareCredit allows patients to break down the cost of their dental care into manageable monthly payments. Their low-to-no interest payment plans can help you get dental implants without busting your budget.
After investing so much time and money into restoring your smile with dental implants in Arlington, it makes sense that you’d want to take care of them so they last as long as possible. Just like your natural teeth, routine at-home oral hygiene and preventive dental care is absolutely crucial to keep your dental implants healthy. Below, we have a few suggestions on how you can keep your new and improved smile looking great.
Even though your replacement teeth can’t get cavities, maintaining good oral hygiene is an absolute priority. If you don’t, it could lead to dental implant failure. Be sure to brush your teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush twice each day for two minutes at a time. You’ll also need to floss daily to make sure that no food debris accumulates between your teeth. If you aren’t able to easily maneuver dental floss between your teeth or would like an easier and more effective alternative, you can also try a water flosser. Finally, be sure to rinse your mouth daily with alcohol-free mouthwash.
Steering clear of processed foods that contain high amounts of sugars and carbohydrates will keep your mouth from becoming the perfect environment for harmful oral bacteria to thrive. Instead, snack on fruits and vegetables and other fresh foods to keep your gums healthy.
Studies have shown that bad habits like tobacco use can drastically increase the chances of implant failure by drying out your mouth and inhibiting your immune system. Not only does this make it difficult for your implants to fuse with your jawbone and your gums to heal after your surgery, but by not having enough saliva to wash away harmful oral bacteria, you may also get a gum infection called peri-implantitis. By working on quitting smoking or chewing tobacco before you begin treatment, you’ll be able to rest-assured that the time and money you spend on the dental implant process won’t be for nothing.
If you play contact sports or grind your teeth, it’s important to protect your dental implants from damage by wearing a customized nightguard or sportsguard. These are made from a durable, shielding acrylic material that’s custom-fitted to your smile to provide maximum protection.
Even with your dental implants, you’ll need to schedule routine checkups and cleanings with your dentist in Arlington. During these appointments, our team will examine your mouth to make sure that your dental implants are functioning properly and secure. We’ll also look at your gums for any signs of infection. If we spot any issues, we’ll develop a treatment plan to take care of them before they have a chance to progress into something more serious.
Although you’ve heard about the benefits of dental implants in Arlington, it’s normal to have a few concerns before you’re ready to commit to the procedure. Don’t worry, we’ll explain everything during your initial consultation. Here are the answers to a few of the most frequent questions our patients ask us to calm your nerves until your appointment.
A dental implant is unlike any other treatment because it recreates the entire tooth, including the root. Your bone will fuse to the titanium post through a process called osseointegration. As a result, they can only be removed by a dental professional; however, some implant dentures can be taken out for cleaning.
Dental implants are the most reliable solution for missing teeth. They are proven to last for 30 years or longer with the proper aftercare, like your home oral hygiene routine. Several factors contribute to the lifespan of dental implants, such as your health and lifestyle. Besides caring for your new smile at home, it’s best to visit your dentist at least twice a year to promote its longevity. You can avoid any unnecessary complications by skipping hard or sticky foods. We also suggest keeping inedible objects out of your mouth and don’t use your teeth as tools. With a proactive approach to maintaining your smile, your dental implants can last for decades longer than traditional bridges and dentures.
Generally, if a patient has good oral and overall health, dental implants are safe when placed by a qualified dentist. Your implant dentist in Arlington will review your medical and dental history to look for any risk factors for potential difficulties, like bone loss, cancer, or diabetes. If you have any pre-existing conditions, that doesn’t disqualify you from dental implants. Instead, your dentist will take a few extra precautions and may recommend additional procedures to ensure the success of your smile, like bone grafting.
The risk for dental implant failure is typically less than 5%; however, it’s important to keep an eye out for any signs of a problem. Quick treatment lessens the likeliness of complete dental implant failure. We recommend contacting our office right away if you develop pain or inflammation around the implant. If your implant feels loose, you’ll need to get to our office right away.
It’s a common misconception that tooth loss only affects older people, but people in their 20s and 30s can have missing teeth. Age isn’t necessarily a determining factor for your dental implant candidacy. As long as you’ve finished growing, you’re never too young or old for dental implants. Typically, dental implants won’t be recommended for patients younger than 18. In some cases, a person’s jaw doesn’t stop growing until the mid-20s, which is more prevalent in men. If you’re younger, we’ll carefully examine your jawbone to ensure it’s the right time to get dental implants.