While bridges and dentures have been around for a very long time and can address tooth loss to an extent, they can’t hold a candle to the benefits offered by more comprehensive solutions like dental implants in Irving. Because dental implants work to replace the entire tooth, you can expect better longevity, reliability, and esthetics, not just for your smile but your entire facial appearance! To schedule a consultation with Dr. Rafiq and learn more about this ground-breaking tooth replacement solution, give Daily Smiles MacArthur Dental and Orthodontics a call today!
Why Choose Daily Smiles MacArthur Dental and Orthodontics for Dental Implants?
We Place & Restore Dental Implants In-House
Calming Sedation Dentistry Available for Added Comfort
Modern, Relaxing Dental Office
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are essentially designed to mimic both the root and crown portions of teeth, something that cannot be said for dental bridges and dentures. They consist of a titanium post that integrates with the jawbone tissue, a restoration that sits on top, and an abutment that connects these components to ensure a sturdy and long-lasting fit.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
To replace teeth with dental implants, multiple phases of care must be completed. Learning how dental implants work in Irving can better prepare you for what lies ahead on your journey to a new and improved smile. From the initial consultation to the final placement of your dental restoration, you can count on us to ensure optimal results that will last a lifetime.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
The first phase is to schedule an initial consultation with a member of our dental team. During this visit, you and our implant dentist in Irving will discuss your smile goals as well as your oral and overall health, and your jawbone density. These factors will determine if you’re a candidate for treatment and if you require preliminary care before moving forward with dental implant placement.
Dental Implant Surgery
Once you’re cleared for dental implant surgery, Dr. Rafiq can complete this procedure right here in-office for maximum convenience! This procedure involves one or more incisions in the gum tissue, followed by the precise placement of one or more dental implant posts. Positioning it to ensure maximum support, our team will place a protective healing cap over the area.
Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment
After your surgery is complete, you will return home to begin the recovery phase of treatment. This includes spending 3-6 months allowing osseointegration to occur. This is the process of bone fusing with the dental implant(s). This is necessary to ensure a stable and solid foundation for your new teeth. Once you’re fully healed from surgery, you’ll return to our dental office in Irving to receive your metal abutments. These serve as a connector piece between the restoration and implant post.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
The final phase of dental implant placement is receiving your customized restoration, which will be secured on top of your dental implants in Irving. This can include a dental crown, bridge, or denture depending on the number of teeth you are having replaced. Made of lifelike materials, the restoration will blend into your existing smile, looking and functioning like normal. You’ll receive instructions regarding how to properly take care of your new teeth, ensuring they last 30 years or even a lifetime.
Benefits of Dental Implants
As one of the most popular treatments for tooth loss among patients, dental implants have a variety of benefits to offer that won’t just impact your ability to eat and speak, but also have a positive effect on your overall health. At Daily Smiles MacArthur Dental and Orthodontics, we want you to enjoy the best quality of life possible, from having a smile that’s fully functional to enjoying one that boosts your confidence. We welcome you to read more about the benefits of dental implants in Irving below, and if you feel inspired to, schedule a consultation with our team!
Day-to-Day Benefits
Speak With Ease: With implant dentures, you won’t have to worry about developing a lisp or other speech impediments due to slipping and shifting prosthetics. Because your dentures will be securely anchored to your dental implants, which are fused with the jawbone, you’ll be able to speak with confidence and ease.
Improved Bite Power: Dental implants can restore up to 80% of your bite power, allowing you to chew on meats, crusty bread, and other foods that may be difficult to eat with traditional dentures.
Easy Oral Hygiene Maintenance: Your new implant restoration will be easy to maintain—simply take care of your prosthetic as you would your natural teeth! Brush twice a day for at least two minutes, floss once a day, and remember to schedule your bi-annual checkups and cleanings with your dentist.
Smile with Confidence: One of the most life-changing benefits that implant restorations have to offer is their completely natural look and feel. Their stability and lifelike appearance will allow you to smile with confidence, allowing you to make wonderful first impressions.
Health Benefits
Preservation of Jawbone Density: Once placed into the jawbone, dental implants can fuse with the structure, providing it with the necessary blood flow and support to keep it from deteriorating over time.
Prevent Shifting Teeth & Orthodontic Issues: If you’re missing one or several teeth, you may notice that over time, your existing teeth will begin to shift to fill in the gaps in your mouth. When you rebuild your missing teeth with dental implants, you won’t have to worry about future orthodontic issues like bite problems and misalignment developing as a result of this.
Maintain a Balanced Diet: Along similar lines as improved bite power, you can more easily maintain a balanced diet because you’ll be able to enjoy all of the same foods as you used to!
Long-Term Benefits
While dental implants in Irving have countless benefits to offer that distinguishes them from their traditional counterparts, one of the most pertinent is their ability to last for 35 or more years. With routine maintenance and good oral hygiene practices, this treatment can continue improving your day-to-day life and health for decades to come. This means fewer visits to your dentist and less money spent on prosthetic repairs and replacements!
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Whether you’re missing a single or several teeth, dental implants are an exceptional solution. Consider how we address we situation below!
Missing One Tooth
A single implant is placed, then covered with an implant crown. The implant is more than strong enough to hold the restoration independently.
Missing Multiple Teeth
A pair of implants are placed next to teeth sitting adjacent to the gap in your smile. Because the implants are doing all of the heavy lifting, there’s no need to modify existing enamel just so they can hold a bridge.
Missing All of Your Teeth
Whether you’re missing all teeth in your top, bottom, or both arches, a series of implants can be surgically placed into the jaw to hold a dedicated implant denture. These prosthetics can be customized to be removable or fixed based on your preference.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Every dental implant case is unique, which is why it’s so important to complete a consultation with our office to receive a more detailed estimate of your tooth replacement procedure. However, certain factors can impact the cost, including the number of teeth missing, preparatory treatments necessary for the best results, and restorations created to complete your smile. Our office is happy to go over your dental insurance benefits and other financing options one-on-one to make your care more affordable.
Preliminary Treatments
In some cases, like when patients have been missing teeth for a long time, or depending on their facial anatomy, preliminary treatments may be necessary in order to successfully place dental implants. For the best results, Dr. Hirji will thoroughly examine your facial structure and mouth before the treatment to determine whether services like gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, bone grafting, or a sinus lift are necessary. Once these are completed and you’ve healed, our team can move forward with the placement of your dental implants.
Parts of Your Dental Implants
There are several different details that will determine the overall cost of dental implants in Irving, including:
Number of Dental Implants: Hirji will determine how many dental implants you need to have placed based on the number of teeth you’re missing.
Type of Prosthetic: Similar to the number of dental implants, the more teeth needing to be replaced, the larger and more complex the prosthetic you’ll require.
Materials Used: Both implants and your replacement teeth can be made from a variety of different materials that can affect the cost.
How Dental Implants Can Help You Save in the Long-Run
Several studies have found that dental implants can last for over 25 years after 10 years of placement, and in many cases, up to 35 years. This is nearly four times the lifespan of traditional prosthetics, which typically last between five and 15 years. The result is fewer dental bills, which makes the treatment a much less expensive investment in the long run.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
At Daily Smiles MacArthur & Orthodontics, we proudly accept all PPO dental insurance plans to make taking care of your smile as easy and affordable as possible. Our knowledgeable team will file insurance claims on your behalf, even if we’re out-of-network with your provider, to maximize your coverage and minimize your out-of-pocket expenses.
Although the entire dental implant treatment typically isn’t covered by dental insurance companies, they will sometimes pay for certain parts of the procedure, like your dental prosthetics or certain preliminary treatments. Before you move forward with our recommended treatment plan, we’ll also provide you with a detailed cost estimate so you know exactly what to expect moving forward.
Making Dental Implants More Affordable
In addition to filing dental insurance claims on your behalf, we also work with CareCredit to offer patients little-to-no interest financing. This trusted, third-party financer allows you to split the cost of your treatment into smaller, more manageable monthly payment plans that can easily incorporate into your budget. Simply apply on their website to find out if you qualify. We also offer cash-pay discounts, like our straight-forward pricing of $2,500 for the placement of a single dental implant.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
Dental implants have the potential to last the rest of your life, but that will only happen if you give them the right kind of care. As durable as implants are, they can still be damaged, and they can fail if the tissues holding them in place become infected. Fortunately, implant maintenance is quite simple; in fact, it’s not much different than taking care of your natural teeth. Follow the steps below to keep your newly rebuilt smile in good shape for the long term!
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
While you don’t have to worry about your dental implants getting cavities, you still need to keep them clean with regular brushing and flossing. Any bacteria that accumulate around your implants might eventually lead to gum disease, which is a major cause of dental implant failure. As such, you need to pay extra close attention to the area around your implants while brushing. Don’t neglect the spot where the implant restoration meets the gums.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Dental implants don’t come with any diet restrictions, meaning you’re free to enjoy all of your favorite foods. But when it comes to foods that are high in sugar, you’ll want to exercise caution. Consuming sugar too often can increase your risk for gum disease, leading to problems with your implants. You should instead focus on foods with calcium and vitamin C that keep the jawbones strong and the gum tissues healthy.
Break Bad Habits
Dental implants can break or fail if you’re not careful with them. You need to stay away from any habits that might be putting your implant posts in danger, such as:
Using your teeth as tools to open packaging.
Crunching ice, peppermints, and other overly hard foods.
Chewing on fingernails, pen tips, and other hard, inedible objects.
Smoking or chewing tobacco, which increases the risk of infection around your implants.
As soon as you’re aware of any habits that could be putting your implants at risk, you should take steps to break them.
Protect Your Dental Implants
Dental implants may be stronger and sturdier than other forms of tooth replacement, but they are not indestructible. When playing sports that carry a risk of getting hit in the mouth, you should wear a mouthguard at all times to keep your implants safe. It’s also a good idea to get a nightguard to wear while you’re sleeping; this will protect your implants from any involuntary clenching or grinding that you might do during the night.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Every six months, you should visit our office for a regular checkup and cleaning. While we’re looking at your natural teeth, we’ll also check your dental implants to see if any problems need to be taken care of. Addressing small issues can help you avoid bigger problems like implant failure.
Dental Implant FAQs
If you’re interested in the most effective way to replace missing teeth, then you’ll want to consider getting dental implants in Irving! With their ultimate support, you’ll be able to enjoy a fully restored smile while preserving your jawbone for a lifetime. Although they offer many benefits, it’s natural for you to want to know as much as possible about the treatment before committing to it. Dr. Rafiq will want you to feel completely confident in the decision you make to replace your pearly whites. For this reason, we’ve gathered and answered several of the most common questions about dental implants below. Read along or give us a call if you wish to learn more today!
Do Dental Implants Feel Natural?
While the posts themselves will be made of titanium, the restorations that are fitted on top of them will be designed to look exactly like your natural teeth. Unlike other replacement options which require the support of your gums and adjacent teeth, your dental implants will be directly anchored into your jawbone, simulating a permanent root. Because of this, you won’t have to worry about jaw pain, gum irritation, tooth sensitivity, or restorations that feel weak or loose. Once the osseointegration process is successful, you can expect to enjoy a more natural-feeling smile in the long run.
Does It Hurt to Get Dental Implants?
Although dental implant surgery may seem complex and overwhelming, it’s a rather straightforward procedure. Not only will Dr. Rafiq numb the area of your mouth where your metal post will be placed, but he also has specialized training to make sure you receive smooth and painless treatment. Our team can also provide sedation therapy to help you relax if you’re feeling anxious or nervous about your appointment. Once your surgery is done and the effects of the local anesthetic are gone, you may experience some mild discomfort or soreness in your implant site. This should only last a few days and can easily be managed with OTC pain relievers. If any discomfort persists, be sure to call us right away.
Am I Too Old or Young to Get Dental Implants?
Almost everyone who suffers from tooth loss can benefit from dental implants. However, we’ll generally recommend this treatment for patients whose jaws are fully matured. This typically occurs around 18 years old for boys and 16 years old for girls. Fortunately, anyone older than this who has healthy gums and jawbone tissue can be a good candidate for dental implants. Be sure to consult our team if you’re interested in this option, and we’ll be glad to examine your dental situation and create a treatment plan to restore your smile.
Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?
Smoking or chewing tobacco can significantly increase your risk of dental implant failure. This is due to the interference it causes in your natural recovery process. Since your healing ability is essential for your dental implant to integrate with your jawbone, smoking can make it difficult for the bone tissue to properly bond with the metal post. This habit also makes your mouth more susceptible to infections, allowing harmful bacteria to attack your connective tissues. While it’s still possible to get implants if you smoke, it’s best to quit two weeks ahead of your surgery and to avoid these products for at least a month to ensure a higher rate of success!
