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What are full-mouth dental implants?
If you’re considering full-mouth dental implants, you need to understand the basics of dental implants. A dental implant is a titanium screw/ post that’s drilled into the jawbone underneath the missing tooth’s empty socket to replace the underlying root structure of the missing tooth. Over time, the jawbone tissues heal around the titanium implant, making it a firmly rooted part of the dental anatomy. Once the dental implant heals and fuses with the jawbone, the dental implant dentist places the dental crown, bridge, or denture, thus replacing the missing teeth.
In most cases, one dental implant can replace one or a few missing teeth — you can get an implant-supported crown or an implant-supported bridge. If you’re missing most or all of your teeth, the dental implant dentist can place multiple dental implants at various parts of the jawbone to replace the entire row of teeth with dental crowns, bridges, or dentures. In the past, patients missing most or all of their teeth needed 10+ implants on both jaws to replace the entire set of teeth. But thanks to recent innovations, you can replace an entire arch of missing teeth with only four implants.
All-on-four implants is a specialized technique that involves placing four implants at strategic locations on the jaws to support a complete arch of dentures. The dental implant dentist places four implants in strategic locations, following which a complete denture is attached. The complete denture is firmly attached to the dental implants, so it ensures optimal stability and comfort. Full mouth dental implants provide the same appearance, stability, sensation, and functionality as natural teeth, making them the ideal teeth replacement option.
What is the dental implant cost?
The cost of dental implants depends on numerous factors, including the number of dental implants you need, the location of the dental implants, the type of dental implants, and the dental implant restoration, such as dental crowns, bridges, or dentures. The specific cost of dental implants can vary vastly, so you can only determine the overall cost after a thorough evaluation with your dentist.
When you contact your dental implant dentist, they will examine your teeth, discuss your goals, and perform intraoral and extraoral x-rays to curate a personalized dental implant plan. The dental implant specialist will also determine if you need a tooth extraction or bone grafting procedure before the procedure, which will also determine the overall cost of your dental implant process.
What is the dental implants procedure?
The dental implant process starts with a thorough evaluation with your tooth implant specialist. The dental implant surgeon will carefully examine your teeth, discuss your goals, and perform x-rays to visualize the internal structures of your oral anatomy. You need to have sufficient jawbone tissues to receive dental implants. If you don’t have enough jawbone, the dental surgeon may recommend a bone grafting procedure to facilitate natural bone regeneration, thus improving your dental implant candidacy.
During dental implant surgery, the dentist will administer local anesthesia with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia to ensure comfort. The surgeon drills an access hole into the jawbone underneath the missing tooth’s empty socket, following which the titanium implant is carefully placed. After the dental implant surgery, you can initiate the dental implant surgery recovery process. Your jawbone tissues will naturally heal around the titanium implant, making it a firmly rooted part of your mouth.
What happens after dental implants are placed?
After the dental implants are placed, the natural jawbone tissues in your mouth will gradually heal around the titanium implant. The implant surface and your jawbone will essentially fuse together and become intrinsically connected components of your body. This process is known as osseointegration, and it can take 6 months or more, depending on your oral health and lifestyle. After the osseointegration process, the dental implant specialist attaches the abutment and prosthetic, thus replacing your missing teeth.
What does dental implant aftercare involve?
The dental implant surgery recovery is fairly simple and painless. You should be on a liquid diet for a few days after surgery, following which you can gradually start eating soft foods. You may experience some pain, discomfort, and soreness around the treatment site, but these side effects dissipate within a few days. After a week or two, most of the healing process will continue in the background without your conscious awareness, so you can proceed with your daily activities. The dental implant surgeon will provide a list of aftercare guidelines that you must follow.
Will I have to continue to see the dentist after I have implants placed?
You will have to continue seeing the dentist regularly after the implants are placed to ensure optimal healing. The dentist will carefully examine your jawbone tissues to ensure they’re healing properly and there are no risks of complications. Furthermore, even after receiving the final dental prosthetics, you must visit the dentist once every 6 months to ensure optimal oral health. Dental implants can last a lifetime with proper oral health, but gum disease and other dental problems can increase the risk of peri-implant complications.
Schedule an appointment with a tooth implant specialist near me in Houston
URBN Dental is a group of state-of-the-art dental implant centers specializing in cutting-edge dental treatments and technologies. We provide cutting-edge dental implant solutions, including all-on-four full-mouth dental implants, to help you achieve optimal results. We have state-of-the-art dental implant centers in Uptown Houston, Midtown Houston, and Montrose. The Montrose dental implant clinic is located at 3201 Allen Pkwy, Houston, making it ideal for patients from Museum District, West University Place, Upper Kirby, and River Oaks. Please schedule an appointment with a tooth implant specialist in Houston for more information.