4300 N Josey Ln Suite 100 Carrollton, TX 75010

Dental Implants Carrollton, TX

Dental implants are a great solution if you have missing teeth or need an extraction. A single implant comprises a titanium anchor or post, an abutment, and a dental crown. Dental implants can restore dental crowns, dental bridges, and dentures. Whether you need to replace a single lost tooth or all of the teeth in your smile, treatment with dental implants in our Carrollton, TX, office can help.

Tooth implants can give you back a natural-looking, comfortable smile. They are one of the restorative dentistry treatments we provide our patients in Carrollton. 

Dental Implants in Carrollton, TX

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants in our Carrollton, TX office can replace a single missing tooth or full tooth arches. A single implant consists of three parts:

Implant Post

The post is a small screw, usually made of titanium, that acts as the base for a dental implant. Titanium is strong and safe to use in the body. After the dentist places the post in your jawbone, it slowly fuses with the bone. This fusion creates a sturdy foundation for a replacement tooth, so it can work just like a natural tooth.

Implants are biocompatible, which means it will become a natural part of the mouth once the post fuses with the jaw. You should not have adverse reactions to treatment. 

Abutment

The abutment is a small connector piece that attaches the implant post to the replacement tooth or teeth. After the post fuses with the jawbone, the dentist places the abutment on top of the post. It serves as a secure attachment point. It holds the replacement tooth in place so the new tooth fits comfortably and functions just like a natural tooth. 

Restoration

A dental crown, or tooth cap, is the final piece for a single dental implant. It is made to match the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth so it blends in with your smile. The crown replaces the look of a missing tooth and lets you bite and chew like normal.

Implants can also do more than support one crown. They can hold bridges, which replace several missing teeth in a row, or dentures, which replace all the teeth in an arch. Anchoring bridges or dentures makes them more secure and comfortable, preventing slipping and making eating and talking easier.

What Are Immediate Implants?

Immediate implants are placed right after a tooth is removed. Normally, when a tooth is taken out, you would have to wait several months for the area to heal before getting an implant. But with this treatment, the dentist can put the implant in the same day. This means you can get a new tooth much faster.

Dr. Brijesh Patel provides All-on-Four and All-on-Six treatment for patients with full arches of missing teeth. These treatments use fewer implants to support an entire arch of teeth—either the upper or lower jaw. With All-on-4, we place four implants in specific positions to hold a full set of replacement teeth. All-on-6 works similarly but uses six implants for even more stability.

After Dr. Patel places implants, he attaches temporary teeth. You can leave the office with a new smile right away. This makes it easier for people who need several teeth replaced, and it can really improve their quality of life.

Am I A Candidate For Dental Implants?

The best candidates for dental implants in our Carrollton, TX, dental office have all three of these qualifications:  

Good Oral Health

Your teeth and gums need to be in good shape to support dental implants. If you have any tooth infections, gum disease, or abscesses, we will treat those problems before moving forward with the implant procedure. If your gums or teeth are not healthy, it can make it difficult for the implants to properly fuse with your jawbone.

Healthy Jawbone

Tooth implants work only if the jawbone is healthy and strong enough to hold it in place. After we place the post, the jawbone grows around it to make it stable. If you don’t have enough jawbone, we might suggest bone grafting. This procedure uses donor bone or bone from another part of your mouth to build up the area.

Missing Teeth

Dental implants are a great solution if you are missing one tooth or several teeth. Whether you need to replace a single missing tooth, several teeth, or even all of your teeth, implants can help restore your smile. If you have an old restoration that no longer works, an implant-supported restoration can replace it and provide a more durable and natural-looking result.

Am I Too Old For Implants?

Dental implants don’t have strict age restrictions. However, we recommend treatment for patients with a fully developed jaw. The jaw needs to be strong enough to support the posts.

Many seniors successfully receive implants and enjoy the benefits of a healthier smile. However, overall health is more essential than age. If an older adult is in good health, without serious medical issues, they can often get restorations.

You must also consider costs before your treatment. The cost of dental implants often depends on pretreatments, the number of missing teeth, and your type of restoration.

Teeth implants often cost more than traditional restorations because they require surgery and different materials. However, they are permanent. Restorations also last longer when secured by dental implants.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

Life with implants will be much more comfortable than without. Patients who receive new teeth benefit from the following:

Natural Look and Feel

Implants secure custom-made restorations that match the shape and shade of natural teeth. We work with local labs to ensure your restoration blends in with your smile. Because they restore teeth at the root, they will feel like natural teeth. 

Bite Function

Missing tooth gaps make it hard to eat certain foods. After losing permanent teeth, you may find it hard to eat healthy foods. You may lose valuable vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Compared to removable dentures, implants restore a large percentage of your bite function for easy eating. 

Improved Speech

When you have missing teeth or removable restorations, it can sometimes be difficult to pronounce certain sounds, like “ch” and “th.” This can make you feel self-conscious when you’re talking to others. However, if you get tooth implants, it can help you speak clearly.

Bone Retention

After you lose a permanent tooth, your jaw loses support from the tooth root. As a result, you can experience jaw recession. Jaw bone loss changes your facial appearance and can make you look older. Implants support your jaw bone health and improve facial shape.

Unlike traditional dentures, implant-secured restorations are more durable and feel more secure. They fill in gaps to improve your smile’s appearance and help prevent issues like facial sagging. Implants also support healthy bones and gums to prevent jaw bone loss.

Treatment with Dental Implants in Carrollton, TX

Before treatment, we will thoroughly examine your smile to determine if you are a candidate. Some patients may require bone grafting to have sufficient jaw bone to secure their implants. Bone grafting takes healthy jaw bone from another part of the mouth or donor bone. When we build up the jawbone, it helps the implant stays in place.

Other patients may need periodontal therapy, root canal treatment, or tooth extractions to treat tooth and gum infections. Once you are healthy, we will begin the dental implant process. 

Surgical Placement

We will place the metal posts in the jaw bone beneath the gums, where they will act as replacement tooth roots. Then, we can place a healing cap over them while we wait for them to heal. This cap helps keep the area clean and guides the gums as they heal. If we do not place the cap, we will place the abutment later. 

Healing

Over a healing period called osseointegration, the implant posts fuse with the jawbone to create a stable foundation for dental restoration. Healing can take three to six months. Our office will keep track of your healing until you return for impressions.

We recommend that you stop smoking or using tobacco products as your implants heal. The nicotine can restrict the blood vessels, which slows your healing. It also increases the risk of implant failure.

Abutment Placement

Once the posts fully heal, we will attach the abutments and wait for your gums to heal. Technicians will create your final restoration in a dental lab. You will need more time for your gums to heal after we place the abutments.

Final Restoration 

Finally, you will return to our office. We will check your restoration’s shade, shape, and size. Then, once we make the proper adjustments, we will attach the permanent, custom-made restoration.

How to Care for Dental Implants

Compared to removable dentures or traditional bridges, implant restorations provide simple care. To care for your implants:

Eat the Right Foods

Right after treatment, be gentle with your mouth so it can heal properly. For the first two weeks, eat only soft foods to avoid putting pressure on the implant area. This helps prevent pain, irritation, or damage as your gums and jaw heal.

Good soft foods include mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, applesauce, smoothies, soup (not too hot), and well-cooked pasta. Avoid hard, crunchy, or sticky foods like chips, nuts, raw vegetables, and tough meats. Also, stay away from very hot foods and drinks since they can slow healing.

As you heal and feel more comfortable, you can add firmer foods back into your diet. Start with softer solid foods. Chew carefully and, if possible, use the opposite side of your mouth to protect the implant site.

Brush and Floss

You can brush and floss your restoration like your natural teeth. Regular floss may not always reach around an implant as well as traditional teeth. We may recommend floss threaders or a water flosser can help clean these hard-to-reach areas.

Then, brush with a soft toothbrush. Clean the front, top, and sides of each tooth. Also, gently brush the gums and your tongue. If you have questions about cleaning your new restoration, please ask. We can provide tips to help you stay healthy.

Visit Our Dental Office

Regular dental checkups and professional cleanings help ensure your restoration stays in great shape. Our dentist will check for any signs of wear, gum disease, or other oral health concerns.

Even though implants are strong, the gums and bone around them must remain healthy for them to stay secure. Visit our dentist at least twice a year can help catch and prevent problems before they start.

Dental Implant FAQs

Learn more about dental implants in Carrollton, TX, dental office:

How long do dental implants last?

The posts that we place in the jaw bone are permanent. However, we must replace the crown, bridge, or denture after many years. Implant-supported restorations last longer than removable or traditional options.

How do dental implants look compared to natural teeth?

Implant restorations look just like natural teeth. We color-match restorations to your natural teeth and take measurements so your replacement teeth blend in seamlessly. If you need complete dentures, we will create a restoration that matches your desired tooth shade.

How can dental implants fail?

Implant failure can occur for several reasons. First, you need enough healthy jaw bone to heal properly. If there is not enough bone to support the implant, it can become loose or fail.

You must also keep your mouth clean. If you develop a tooth or gum infection, you are at risk of peri-implantitis. This condition is marked by swollen, bleeding gums around your posts and shifting or loose posts. 

Smoking can slow down healing and increase the risk of infection. For this reason, you should avoid tobacco products during the healing process. 

Can I eat normally with dental implants?

Yes, once you get used to your implant-supported crown, bridge, or denture, you can eat the foods you love. Traditional dentures and bridges often have food restrictions. Because the restorations are often not as stable, they make it hard to bite and chew foods like steak, apples, or nuts. Implant posts act like new tooth roots to support your full bite function. 

Will I need bone grafting?

You might need bone grafting before you get implants. However, it depends on your situation. During this procedure, we add a small amount of bone to your jaw to make it stronger. We recommend this treatment if you do not have enough healthy bone to support the implant post.

If you have lost teeth, the bone where the teeth used to be can shrink over time. This can make it hard for the post to stay in place. If you’ve had an injury to your jaw or an infection, it might have damaged the bone. Also, some health issues can affect bone health, which we will consider when we create your treatment plan.

Does dental implant surgery hurt?

No, you will not feel pain when you get your dental implants in our Carrollton, TX dental office. We will numb your mouth before we place the implant posts. You might feel some pressure, but it shouldn’t hurt.

After the surgery, you may feel some discomfort as the anesthesia wears off. This can feel like soreness or tenderness in your gums and jaw. We may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers to help with this discomfort, and it gets better in a few days.

Can I get treatment if I smoke?

Yes, you can still get dental implants if you smoke. However, smoking can make it harder for you to heal. The nicotine in vapes and cigarettes reduces blood flow in your gums. It increases the chances of infection and slows the healing process.

This might affect how well the metal posts bond with your jawbone. If you’re a smoker, we may recommend that you quit or cut down before and after the procedure for the best chance of success.

How much do implants cost?

Cost can depend on these factors:

  • Pretreatments like grafting, sinus lift, gum disease treatments
  • The number of dental implants
  • Cost of sedation
  • Type of restoration

If you want to replace lost teeth, we will work with you to keep treatment within your budget. We will also give you an estimate of the cost of dental implants before treatment. 

Restore Missing Teeth Today

Are you missing one or more permanent teeth and want a lasting dental restoration? Call Hebron Family Dental for dental implants in Carrollton, TX, at 972-236-5871. You may also schedule a dental appointment with us online. 

Our dental office serves Coppell, Addison, Farmers Branch, Highland Village, and Lantana. We also serve Copper Canyon, The Colony, Double Oak, Bartonville, and Lewisville patients.