If you’re looking to replace missing teeth, dental implants can be a great option. Implants are metal posts your dentist places in your jawbone to act as a sturdy base for crowns, bridges, or dentures. At our Arlington, TX dental office, we design implants to look and feel like your real teeth.
Implants are a strong and reliable way to restore missing teeth. They serve as artificial tooth roots and provide a long-lasting, natural-looking option. We can also provide implant-supported restorations that look natural and can last longer than other options.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant has three main parts:
- Titanium Post: This is the implant itself, which acts as the tooth root and is placed in your jawbone. It’s made from biocompatible material, meaning your body accepts it easily.
- Abutment: This connects the implant post to the replacement tooth.
- Crown: The crown is a tooth-colored cap placed over the abutment. It looks like a natural tooth.
Dental implants can replace a single tooth or multiple missing teeth. For larger gaps, implants can support bridges or secure dentures without relying on your natural teeth. For example, an or All-On-X or All-On-Four system uses as few as four implants to hold a full arch of teeth. We customize your treatment to ensure the best support for your restoration.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
- Improved Bite: Missing teeth or ill-fitting dentures can make it hard to chew your favorite foods. Implants restore your bite by providing a stable, durable foundation for chewing, even with tough or crunchy foods.
- Protect Your Jawbone: When you lose a tooth, the jawbone in that area starts to shrink, which can lead to facial sagging over time. Implants act like natural tooth roots, keeping the jawbone strong and preventing bone loss.
- Boost Confidence: Missing teeth, especially in the front, can make you feel self-conscious. Implant-supported restorations are designed to match the color and shape of your natural teeth, so you can smile with confidence.
- Long-Lasting Results: Unlike traditional dentures or bridges that need frequent adjustments or replacements, implants provide a permanent solution. While the crowns or dentures attached to implants may need replacing after several years, the implants themselves are made to last a lifetime with proper care.
Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Before starting implant treatment, we’ll make sure you’re a good candidate. This includes taking X-rays and checking your mouth for gum disease or tooth decay. Good candidates have healthy gums and no serious dental problems. If you have any issues like infections or abscesses, we’ll treat them before moving forward.
If your jawbone isn’t thick or strong enough, we may suggest bone grafting. This process adds healthy bone tissue from a donor or another part of your body to areas with low bone density. Grafting helps ensure your jaw is strong enough to support implants. While this step can extend your treatment time, it prepares your mouth for long-term success with implants.
Getting Dental Implants in Arlington, TX
Once you’re ready, we’ll coordinate your implant treatment. We partner with local oral surgeons to place the implants, while we handle the final restoration. Here’s how the process works:
- Implant Placement: Your oral surgeon will place a small titanium post into your jawbone. This post acts as an artificial tooth root. A protective healing cap is placed over the implant to keep the area safe while it heals.
- Healing: Over the next 3 to 6 months, your bone will naturally grow around the implant in a process called osseointegration. This step is important because it creates a strong and stable foundation for your new tooth.
- Abutment Placement Once healing is complete, the surgeon will attach a small connector piece, called an abutment, to the implant post. Your gums will need a little more time to heal around the abutment before we move on to the final step.
- Custom Restoration: When your gums have healed, we will take impressions of your mouth to design a custom dental crown, bridge, or denture that fits perfectly. Once the lab completes your restoration, we’ll check its fit, shape, and color. We will ensure it looks and feels natural before we securely attach it to your implant.
Caring for Your Dental Implants
Taking care of your implants and keeping them healthy is easy:
- Brush and Floss Daily: Just like your natural teeth, implants need to be cleaned regularly to prevent plaque buildup. Brush at least twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste. Flossing is also important—use regular dental floss, a water flosser, or special floss designed for implants to clean around the implant and gum line.
- Avoid Tobacco Products: Smoking or using tobacco can slow down healing and reduce blood flow to your gums, which increases the risk of implant failure. If you smoke, consider quitting to protect both your implants and your overall oral health.
- Watch for Signs of Infection: One of the biggest threats to dental implants is an infection called peri-implantitis, which affects the gums and bone around the implant. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, bleeding, or discomfort near the implant. Regular dental checkups and good oral hygiene can help prevent problems and keep your implants secure.
How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?
The cost of implants varies depending on several factors:
- Materials used
- Surgery and healing time
- Sedation or anesthesia
- Type of restoration (crown, bridge, or denture)
- Number of implants you need
While implants may cost more upfront than traditional options like bridges or dentures, they offer long-term benefits. Implants look natural, improve your bite, and last longer than other solutions, making them a worthwhile investment.
If you are concerned about implant cost, we’re here to help. We will provide an estimate of your treatment cost before treatment. Our office accepts dental insurance and CareCredit. CareCredit offers payment plans to break down treatment costs.
Restore Your Missing Teeth Today
Dental implants in Arlington, TX, are a lasting solution to missing teeth. They offer improved function, a natural look, and better oral health. Whether you need to replace one tooth or several, we’ll create a custom plan to restore your smile. Call Cooper Family Dental today at 817-646-1217 or schedule an appointment online to learn how implants can improve your life.