Dental Implants – Pecan Grove, TX

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are composed of 3 main parts: the implant, abutment, and crown. The implant is the threaded portion that is placed inside the bone. The abutment attaches directly to the implant and is the part that the implant crown attaches to. Finally, the crown is cemented or screwed onto the abutment.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option out there! Since they replace the roots of the missing teeth, they allow for a wide range of additional benefits that you can’t find with dentures or dental bridges. To achieve this, getting dental implants requires a multi-step process that takes place over the course of several months. Everyone’s treatment looks a little bit different, but here are the four main steps that everyone can expect.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

At your initial appointment, you’ll get to spend plenty of time with Dr. Kim speaking about each of your tooth replacement treatment options and discussing what the dental implant process would look like for you. Based on a thorough examination of your mouth as well as your medical and oral health history, our team will be able to let you know whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure.

Dental Implant Surgery

The next part of your treatment will be the surgical placement of the dental implants. Due to Dr. Kim’s extensive training, we’re able to complete this part of the procedure in-house. After numbing the mouth with a local anesthetic, an incision is made in the gum tissue so the dental implants can be placed at strategic angles and locations. Then, the gums are closed and protective caps are placed over the ends of the implants to keep them safe throughout the healing process.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Following the surgical placement of your dental implants, they’ll fuse with your jawbone over the next three to six months. This process is crucial to the long-term success of your restoration and is called osseointegration. After osseointegration is complete, our team will have you return to the office so we can attach a small metal connector piece called an abutment to your dental implant. Impressions are also taken so your customized restoration can be made for you at the dental lab.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

Finally, the last step of your treatment will be to attach your restoration to your dental implant to restore your smile! If everything looks and feels great, you will be free to show off your new, complete smile to the world!

The Benefits of Dental Implants

For many years, bridges and dentures were the only options for restoring a missing tooth, and bridges were the only fixed prosthesis available, which didn’t require daily removal and care. However, with rapid advancements and improvements in technology, implants have become the gold standard for replacing one or more missing teeth.

We can also ensure that the style and color of your implants match the shade of your current teeth so that your implants blend in with the rest of your smile. Since our implants do not have any removable pieces or require extra steps for care, you can treat your implants like the rest of your teeth. Moreover, your loved ones won’t be able to tell the difference between your implants and your original teeth.

Some additional benefits you’ll be able to enjoy by choosing dental implants over their traditional counterparts include:

• Ability to last 30+ years with good dental hygiene.
• Customized to look completely natural.
• Restores the entire structure of the tooth for a lifelike feel.
• Prevention of jawbone deterioration and facial collapse.
• Restores up to 80% of your natural bite power.
• Easier speaking with slip-proof restoration.

Who Can Dental Implants Help?

To be a good candidate for dental implants, you should have enough bone and healthy gum to support the fixture. A 3D X-ray will be taken at your initial consultation to evaluate both the depth and width of the bone. If you don’t have enough support for an implant, you’re not out of luck; grafting or other procedures can be performed to provide more space for the implant. From here, Dr. Kim may recommend any of the following pathways to restoring your smile.

Missing One Tooth

For a single missing tooth, we can place one dental implant below the gumline and into the jawbone. After it has fused with the bone, Dr. Kim will attach the abutment to the dental implant followed by a custom-crafted, free-standing dental crown. This eliminates the need to alter your healthy existing teeth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Instead of investing in a traditional bridge, which requires Dr. Kim and our Highline Dental team to alter your healthy dental structure, we can replace consecutive teeth by anchoring them to two or more dental implants. With higher success rates and a longer lifespan, implant bridges are easier to clean and much more cost-effective in the long-run.

Missing All Teeth

To restore one or both rows of missing teeth, Dr. Kim is able to attach a full denture to anywhere between four and eight dental implants strategically placed throughout one arch. After fusing with the bone, we can restore your smile by attaching a full denture that won’t slip or shift whenever you talk or eat.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

As one of the most modern and cutting-edge answers to tooth loss available to patients, it’s no surprise that dental implants have the highest price tag of all restorative treatment options. However, they also last the longest and offer life-changing results. Because of this, we always highly recommend them to our patients who are good candidates. During your initial consultation, our team will provide you with a cost estimate of your personalized dental implant treatment plan, helping you better understand the financial investment of moving forward with your journey towards a full, healthy, and functional smile.