Dental Implants Killeen

What Are Dental Implants?

If you were to place a dental implant next to a traditional screw, they might look quite similar. However, while a screw is primarily used to hold objects together, a dental implant supports a new tooth by fusing with the jawbone upon the completion of surgical placement. The titanium post mimics the function of a regular tooth root by stimulating the bone to not only prevent facial collapse but also bone and additional tooth loss over time.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

There is no need to seek a referral when choosing to receive dental implants because our team is skilled and equipped to perform the entire process in-house – one that requires four distinct steps:

• Initial Consultation: You will meet with an implant dentist in Killeen to go over the details of your oral and overall health. We’ll also examine your jawbone density to determine if it can support your dental implants. If we find problem areas, such as decay, gum disease, or existing damage, we will recommend additional treatment first.
• Dental Implant Surgery: Our Killeen dental practice will be the location for your dental implant surgery – a procedure that requires you to receive local anesthesia before placing each titanium post into its appropriate location along your jawbone.
• Osseointegration/Abutment: Once your surgery is completed, you will return home to rest and allow osseointegration to occur. This 4-6-month process involves your dental implants fusing with your jawbone so that a firm foundation is created for your new smile. When ready, you will come back in to receive your metal abutments, which will attach to the tops of your implants and help hold your restoration in place.
• Delivery of Final Restoration: The last step in the dental implant process is receiving your custom crown, bridge, or denture, which we will position on top of your implant posts, revealing a complete smile that can last a lifetime.

Benefits of Dental Implants

When you look at the benefits of dental implants as well as those of dentures or dental bridges, you will find there is simply no comparison. By choosing permanent prosthetics to rebuild your smile, you will:

• Experience a stronger bite force that allows you to eat all your favorite foods
• Enjoy a set of teeth that can potentially last a lifetime as long as you take proper care of them
• Enjoy better oral health by eliminating the possibility of dental drift as well as bone and tooth loss
• Maintain a denser and fully stimulated jawbone because of the placement of each dental implant
• Embrace a more youthful appearance and improved confidence
• Take advantage of greater opportunities in your personal and professional life

Who Dental Implants Can Help

If you are missing one or more teeth and have generally good oral and overall health, there is a high probability that you will be a good candidate to receive dental implants. Having a dense jawbone is also essential, but one important thing we want all patients to remember is that even if your mouth is not ready for implant surgery, we can provide the additional care you need to ensure greater success with these prosthetics down the road.

Missing One Tooth

Instead of resorting to a dental bridge that requires altering two natural, healthy teeth, we can install a single dental implant into the vacant socket created by the missing tooth. With only one titanium post, metal abutment, and custom dental crown, we can rebuild the entire structure from the root up to create a full, complete, and more radiant smile.

Missing Multiple Teeth

As an alternative to a fixed dental bridge, we can once again avoid altering healthy teeth by using two dental implants to hold this custom restoration in place. We’ll position the titanium posts into the outer sockets before topping them with the new bridge. This will not only fill in the gap but also restore your bite force and speaking ability with ease.

Missing All Teeth

Whether you’ve been living with a traditional denture or want to avoid one altogether, an implant denture can be the ideal alternative if you want to ensure a more stable and lasting smile. Using 4-6 dental implants that are strategically placed along the jawbone, we can secure a custom denture on top to create a healthier, natural-looking, and fully functional set of teeth that make daily life more enjoyable.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

The cost of dental implants differs from patient to patient. Since no two cases are the same, a set price cannot be determined until a scheduled consultation occurs. This meeting will determine not only how many dental implants you need but also if additional treatment is required, whether you will need sedation, which type of restoration will need to be crafted, and if you plan to use your dental insurance to help minimize any out-of-pocket costs. Our team will be here by your side to walk you through the process to ensure you remain confident in your decision to pursue this type of treatment.