Dental Implants — Richardson, TX
The Closest Thing to Natural Teeth
Dental implants replace missing and hopeless teeth permanently. They restore the ability to eat, speak and smile confidently, and offer great advantages to your quality of life! Dental implants interact with the jawbone, replacing both the dental crown and root portions of teeth. Because of this, dental implants provide the closest replica of natural tooth structure of any tooth replacement. If you have missing or hopeless teeth, Dr. Stampe and Dr. Gater can help you determine if tooth replacement with dental implants at our Richardson, TX dental office are the right option for your smile. Our team is experienced at placing dental implant restorations and works closely with trusted specialists to complete your implant procedure. If you’re ready to learn more about rebuilding your smile with the closest thing to natural teeth, read on or give us a call to schedule your next appointment.
Why Choose CityLine Dental Center For Dental Implants?
- #1 Partnered with Local Specialists for Optimal Results
- #2 Permanently Replace Any Number of Missing Teeth
- #3 High-Quality Materials Used for Durable & Lifelike Results
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants consist of three main parts. The dental implant itself is a small titanium post that integrates with the jawbone. This provides a strong, stable foundation for the restoration it supports that replaces the crown portion of the tooth. An abutment is the third piece, and it connects the implant post with the restoration. Dr. Stampe and Dr. Gater collaborate with local periodontists and oral surgeons, who perform the surgical placement of implant posts within the bone. She then places highly esthetic, custom dental implant restorations that blend seamlessly with your smile. Once your dental implant or implants are in place, they’ll look, feel, and function just like natural teeth!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Why do many dentists and patients regard dental implants as the modern gold standard for tooth replacement? Simply put, it’s because they offer many unique advantages that you wouldn’t get from traditional dentures and bridges. Below, we’ve listed some of the most important reasons why dental implants might be the best choice for your smile; our team will be happy to explain these benefits in more detail during your initial consultation.
Day-to-Day Benefits
When you use dental implants to fill the space in your smile, there are several benefits that you’ll notice every day, such as:
- No Diet Restrictions: Patients with traditional dentures often have trouble eating certain foods. But with dental implants, your new teeth will have enough strength and stability to stand up to virtually any meal, allowing you to eat whatever you want.
- Improved Confidence: Your dental implants will be designed with your natural facial Esthetics in mind, making them look extremely natural. This can help you feel more confident about your appearance so that you can show off your new grin without reservation.
- Speaking Easily: Traditional dentures sometimes slip while you’re talking, which can cause you to slur your words. Dental implants will keep your prosthetic teeth in place so that you can speak clearly at all times.
- Easy Oral Hygiene: You won’t have to make any major changes to your oral hygiene routine. Dental implants can be brushed and flossed just like your natural teeth, which makes it easier to take good care of them.
Health Benefits
Because your dental implants act as new tooth roots, they’re able to offer a wide range of unique health advantages:
- Jawbone Preservation: The implants will provide the bone with stimulation from biting and chewing. This will prevent the jaw from deteriorating after tooth loss, allowing you to maintain a more youthful appearance overall.
- Protection for Natural Teeth: When you lose one tooth, it’s not uncommon for the remaining teeth to start to drift into the gap. Dental implants completely fill in the space in your mouth to prevent dental drift from happening.
- Better Nutrition: Since dental implants let you eat anything you want, it’s easier to maintain the nutritious diet you need to keep up a healthy lifestyle.
Long-Term Benefits
By choosing dental implants over traditional tooth replacements, you’ll be able to enjoy many important long-term benefits:
- High Success Rate: Dental implants have a success rate of around 95%, with the vast majority of them remaining in good shape even 20 years after being placed.
- Youthful Appearance: Because dental implants help you maintain a healthy jawbone, they can prevent the facial collapse that often occurs after tooth loss.
- Longevity: A traditional bridge or denture will likely need to be replaced after 7 to 10 years. Dental implants, in contrast, can potentially last for decades; in fact, many patients can keep them for a lifetime!
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants bring amazing advantages to your oral health, quality of life and self-confidence! Implants are a lasting solution to tooth loss. They do not rely on surrounding teeth for support, and are impervious to decay. However, implants do require a certain amount of bone for support. A consultation with Dr. Stampe and Dr. Gater can reveal if implants are ideal for your oral health needs.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Now that you know more about how dental implants work and who can benefit from them, you’re probably wondering how much they cost. However, the rate can vary from person to person because it depends on your unique circumstances. Once you’ve consulted with one of our CityLine Dental Center experts, our team can provide a detailed estimate for your approval before we proceed.
Continue reading below to learn more about the factors that impact your invoice, and feel free to contact us for additional information.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
In many cases, additional procedures are required to ensure that your mouth can support dental implants. If we find signs of gum disease, tooth decay, or insufficient jawbone density that can lead to their failure, those must be addressed before moving forward. You’ll be responsible for all dental work that applies. Thankfully, if you have a dental insurance policy, they might offer partial coverage.
The surgery itself also incurs costs which are influenced by different factors. For instance, artificial teeth being placed further back in the jaw might require additional time and resources to access, which can drive up the rate. Also, the type and amount of anesthesia administered can impact the price. We’ve partnered with some of the best local specialists to complete your surgery, who can walk you through more detailed information about anticipated expenditures.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
These restorations are versatile solutions that can be adapted to meet your unique needs. Keep reading below to learn more about how the different methods used to make them can affect the total amount due:
- The number required. Patients receiving a single dental implant can expect to pay less than ones who need several.
- The type of replacement. Implants can anchor dental crowns, bridges, or dentures which each have different price points.
- The materials used. Typically, these include a titanium rod covered by a durable ceramic prosthetic, but other options, like zirconia, can also be used, though this may increase your invoice.
- The brand. Like any other product, your artificial teeth can be made by different manufacturers that create them differently to cater to specific needs, which can influence their price.
If you have any questions about how your dental implants are made, please feel free to ask!
How Dental Implants Pay for Themselves
Many patients considering different ways to refurbish their grins opt for dental bridges or dentures because they tend to be less pricey. However, dental implants provide unique advantages that can make them more cost-effective in the long run.
For instance, dentures are notorious for slipping out of place and frequently need to be relined or repaired because they don’t fit correctly. They also often need to be replaced after 5 to 10 years, and you’ll be paying for special adhesives, cleaning solutions, and pastes to maintain them in the meantime.
Dental implants are firmly embedded into your jawbone so they can potentially last the remainder of your natural life. Plus, they don’t rely on your gum tissue or surrounding teeth to stay put, making you less likely to experience sore gums. They’re also easier to clean because all that’s required is brushing and flossing twice daily as usual and routine visits to your dentist every six months.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Most dental insurance plans don’t include dental implants, though some exceptions exist. Our team is happy to work with you to review your benefits and fill out paperwork to help you maximize your coverage. Other portions or services, like X-rays or preliminary treatments, might be included that can reduce the total owed.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
Our team understands that not everyone has dental insurance, and we don’t want your budget to keep you from undergoing procedures to improve your oral health. That’s why we’ve partnered with CareCredit. If your application is approved, you can break down your final invoice into more manageable monthly payments that are easier on your wallet.
Dental Implant FAQs
How Long do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants might be the right solution for you if you're looking for a long-lasting restoration. They have been known to last 30+ years, much longer than dental bridges or dentures, although it can depend on how well you maintain them. You should brush and floss twice daily, followed by rinsing with mouthwash. Also, try to avoid biting into any overly hard or sticky foods or inanimate objects (like pen caps or fingernails) to prevent potential damage.
Finally, visiting our team every six months allows us to monitor your dental condition so we can identify and treat any areas of concern, like an injured implant, before they get worse.
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
It’s normal to feel anxious about major surgical procedures, but we want to assure you that we will do everything we can to help you feel comfortable. Before placing your dental implants, we will numb the area with a local anesthetic. This is often sufficient to avoid any potential pain because the jawbone doesn’t have many nerve endings, but in most cases, we will sedate you to help you remain calm and relaxed. Because of this, you might not remember the details of your appointment after the fact.
It’s normal to have some aches and inflammation for a few days, but typically, the worst subsides after the first 24-72 hours. If you’re feeling sore, it’s usually safe to take over-the-counter medications like Tylenol and ibuprofen to alleviate symptoms. You can also apply an ice pack or cold compress for some temporary relief.
If your pain doesn’t fade or lasts longer than a week, let us know so we can ensure that you’re healing as intended.
What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?
These prosthetics are incredibly resilient and have a remarkably high success rate of 95%. However, they’re not completely invincible. Although it’s uncommon, some circumstances can result in their failure, such as:
- Peri-implantitis. If bacteria penetrate your gums, you can develop an infection that spreads to your jawbone so it’s unable to support your teeth.
- Failed osseointegration. If you lack sufficient jawbone density, the titanium rod of your implant may be unable to fuse with it enough to provide a firm foundation.
- Using tobacco products. These contain nicotine, which is a vasoconstrictor that impacts your body’s ability to deliver nutrients to your mouth so it can fight disease and heal from surgery.
- Chronic teeth grinding can harm your restoration.
Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Eat with Dental Implants?
For the first couple of weeks following your procedure, you’ll likely be feeling somewhat tender and sensitive. You should avoid foods that are hard to chew, like tough meats or raw fruits and veggies. Also, steer clear of alcoholic, sugary, or acidic beverages that attract harmful bacteria and erode your enamel. Remember not to drink from a straw because the force of the suction can dislodge the blood clots over the implant site that are crucial for its healing.
After several weeks or months, your jawbone produces enough new bone growth around the implant that they permanently fuse together. Once this process is complete, your restoration is so strong that there are very few dietary restrictions. That said, you should still use caution when eating anything too hard or sticky that could loosen, dislodge, or chip your it.