Dental Implants – Dallas, TX

Even just having one missing tooth can negatively affect your oral health, as well as your appearance and self-image. Fortunately, no matter how many of your pearly whites are missing, they can be replaced with dental implants! Long considered the gold standard of tooth replacement, dental implants can replace the entire structure of a missing tooth, from its roots to its crown—and the end result is beautiful, functional, and notably resilient. If you’re ready to address your tooth loss with perhaps the best solution around, continue reading below to learn more about dental implants and how Dr. Greer can help you rebuild your smile and enjoy life once more!

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants refer to small posts that are surgically embedded into the patient’s jawbone, which function as replacement “roots” for the missing natural teeth. Made from biocompatible materials, these implants are capable of healthily fusing with bone matter to provide a lasting, sturdy foundation for the replacement teeth. Once the implants have fused with the patient’s jawbone, lifelike replacement teeth can be added into the picture, setting patients up for several decades of optimal oral functionality and unparalleled beauty.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

When getting dental implants, you can expect these four primary steps throughout the process:

1. Initial Consultation – During this visit, we’ll answer the main questions concerning your treatment plan, including how many implants are needed, where they’re needed, and what preliminary work (if any) needs to be completed.
2. Implant Placement – Implant placement is technically an oral surgical procedure, but Dr. Greer can complete this step in-house to make your journey smoother. The procedure itself is straightforward and there is nothing you’ll need to fret about.
3. Osseointegration Period – Your implants will need a few months to naturally fuse with your jawbone. This process, called osseointegration, is the single most important factor concerning dental implant success, and you’ll want to follow your dentist’s instructions closely during this time.
4. Delivery of the Final Restoration – The final step is to attach your lifelike replacement teeth to your implant posts after they’ve successfully fused with your bone.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

The advantages of a comprehensive whole-tooth replacement make dental implants the premiere option following tooth loss. Some of the most cited benefits of implants include:

• Improved oral health with increased jaw stability.
• Replacement teeth that closely mimic natural teeth in terms of structure.
• No need for denture adhesives as the implants are fused to your jawbone.
• The implants fit correctly from day one onwards since they’re customized for your mouth.
• They restore a patient’s ability to eat, speak, and laugh with confidence.
• Dental implants last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

The ideal candidate for dental implant surgery possesses adequate oral health and doesn’t suffer from periodontal disease. It’s also important that a patient has enough present jawbone density; otherwise, the implants won’t be able to fuse via osseointegration successfully.  Fortunately, if a patient is found to be lacking in one of these departments, or has some other issue preventing them from being an eligible candidate, dental implants don’t have to be ruled out entirely—often, these issues can be remedied before a treatment plan is put into action.

Missing Single Tooth

A single dental implant can be placed between two healthy teeth without disturbing them at all, and it’ll then be topped with a custom-made crown that matches and functions in unison with the rest of your smile. Unlike a bridge, this “new tooth” won’t lean on the surrounding teeth for support.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Partial dentures and bridges have been used to replace multiple missing teeth for quite some time, and they can easily be secured to dental implants. This grants them all the benefits that dental implants have to offer in terms of stability; and since they’re attached to the implants, your remaining natural teeth are left alone.  

Missing All Teeth

Even if you’re missing all your teeth, dental implants can offer an unparalleled solution. Multiple implant posts can be used to support a full denture; this grants it much more stability than a removable denture, and it also grants the patient drastically improved bite force.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

While dental implants come at a higher initial cost than non-implant retained solutions, the benefits for overall health and the fact that they are a long-lasting investment make dental implants an excellent option for eligible candidates. In fact, dental implants can actually save you money in the long run since they won’t need to be replaced often like dentures, or maintained as frequently with special solutions. Our team is happy to review anything else relevant that might end up influencing the cost of your dental implant procedure, so don’t hesitate to visit us with questions—you’ll leave with answers!

Dental Implant FAQs