Our dental office is less than five minutes west of the intersection of I-30 and 360, just north of Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags. We’re also only minutes away from Peach Elementary and Nicholas Junior High School.
Dental Implants – Arlington, TX
The Ultimate Missing Teeth Solution
When it comes to aesthetics, strength, and longevity, the next best thing to your natural teeth is dental implants, making them an ideal option for patients missing one, several, or even all of their teeth. Other dental offices require their implant patients to see outside specialists for this procedure, but we have an in-house expert, Dr. Deepti Namineni, who can perform each stage under our roof, saving you time and stress. Are you ready to have your full smile back? If so, call today to learn more about dental implants in Arlington.
Why Choose Sonria Dentista of Arlington for Dental Implants?
- Beginning to End Dental Implant Care
- In-House Dental Implant Expert
- Low-to-No Interest Financing Available
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made of biocompatible materials, such as titanium or zirconia, that are surgically placed into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth, bridge, or denture. They offer a permanent and stable solution for missing teeth, improving oral health and overall quality of life. Dental implants are custom-made to match the color, shape, and size of natural teeth, providing a natural-looking and functional result. They also stimulate the jawbone, preventing bone loss and preserving facial structure. With proper care and maintenance, dental implants can last for many years.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
The average dental implant treatment timeline can take anywhere from six months to a year, depending on a variety of factors, like whether you require preparatory treatments, for example. Our goal is to make your journey as seamless as possible, which is why our expert implant dentist in Arlington has completed advanced training to do the entire procedure in-house, so no referrals will be needed! Below, we’ve outlined the four basic steps of getting dental implants so you have a better understanding of what to expect from the process. However, the best way to learn what your unique journey will look like is to schedule a consultation with us!
The Initial Consultation
Every dental implant treatment begins with an in-depth consultation with Dr. Deepti Namineni. During your visit, you’ll have a chance to speak with her about your expectations, smile goals, and all of your tooth replacement options.
Our team at Sonria Dentista of Arlington will also collect any necessary diagnostic information, like a scan of your facial structure with our cone beam CT scanner. This will allow us to determine whether any preliminary treatments are necessary, like a bone graft. In some cases, you may need to undergo additional procedures before you can successfully have your dental implants placed.
Dental Implant Placement
After Dr. Namineni has outlined your treatment plan with you and answered any lingering questions you may have, you’ll be able to choose whether you want to move forward with the next step, dental implant surgery. If so, our team will schedule your procedure for you. Due to Dr. Namineni’s extensive experience and training, she will be able to complete this part of the process in-house, eliminating the need for a referral to another office.
During the surgery, Dr. Namineni will make small windows in the gums to secure the dental implants within the jawbone. When finished, she will stitch the gums closed to allow them to heal around the implants.
Osseointegration & Abutment Attachment
For the following three to six months after your surgery, you’ll heal. During this time, your dental implants will also fuse with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This step is critical for the long-term success of your dental implants and restoration, so our team wants to make sure that this natural healing and fusion process is successful.
Once osseointegration is complete, you’ll return to our office for a minimally invasive abutment placement procedure. Abutments are small metal connector pieces that are attached to the tops of your implants that will be responsible for anchoring your prosthetic within your mouth.
Securing the Final Restorations
The final step of your procedure will be to complete your smile! When our team has received your custom-crafted dental crown, bridge, or denture from our dental laboratory and your gums have healed around your abutments, we’ll call you back into the office. We’ll make sure that the restorations match your natural tooth color and ensure they fit perfectly before attaching them to your abutments and completing your grin.
Benefits of Dental Implants
With so many tooth-replacement solutions to choose from, you might be wondering why dental implants are so popular. Well, there are several reasons! At your consultation, we will determine if you’re a candidate and, if you are, why dental implants are worth the investment. Of course, you’re also welcome to learn a bit more on the topic by reading on as well!
Day-to-Day Benefits
Like many other patients, you might not have truly realized how important healthy teeth are until they are gone. The good news is that dental implants are the next best thing, which means they can improve your overall quality of life. To be more specific, here are a few day-to-day benefits that you’ll enjoy with this state-of-the-art tooth-replacement solution:
- Easier Maintenance: While other tooth-replacement solutions require special oral hygiene products, like denture cleaner, dental implants don’t. In fact, you can use all of the same products you use to clean your natural teeth (i.e., soft-bristled toothbrush, fluoridated toothpaste, antimicrobial mouthwash).
- Increased Confidence: If you’ve had dentures in the past that didn’t fit quite right, they might have slipped at inopportune moments, like when talking to a friend. You won’t have to worry about that with dental implants because they don’t compromise on look or stability!
- Ability to Eat Most Foods: While tooth loss limits your diet, dental implants expand it! Once you’ve healed, you’ll be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods, which helps prevent everything from malnutrition to boring meals.
Health Benefits
In addition to improving your day-to-day life, dental implants can improve your oral and overall health. A few examples include:
- Jawbone Preservation: Unlike traditional dental bridges and dentures, implant-supported teeth are rooted in the jawbone. This not only makes them extremely stable and secure, but it also saves the gums from experiencing constant pressure during chewing which can lead to soreness and infection.
- Protection for Natural Teeth: Some tooth-replacement solutions require the teeth surrounding the gap to be altered, even if they are completely healthy. Not dental implants! Since they are self-supporting, they can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth throughout your mouth while leaving your natural ones perfectly intact.
- Better Overall Health: Tooth loss can lead to several unwanted consequences, including trouble chewing, restricted diets, and malnutrition. Since dental implants replace the root and crown of the tooth, they restore your bite power and, in turn, improve your overall health.
Long-Term Benefits
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons roughly 500,000 patients a year choose dental implants is because of the long-term benefits they offer, including:
- High Success Rate: Dental implants have an unheard-of 95% success rate, and some studies have found that number is even higher among non-smoking patients.
- Youthful Appearance: In addition to preventing bone loss, dental implants fill out your smile, preventing your cheeks from looking sunken in.
- Long-Lasting Results: Dental implants have been shown to last for 25+ years with routine care, which is multiple times longer compared to other prosthetics that typically need to be replaced every 5-10 years.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants can help anyone with one or more missing teeth. They are a great option for those who cannot or do not want to wear dentures as well as individuals who want to improve their oral health and smile. Dental implants may also be recommended for people with jawbone loss or other oral health issues.
Missing One Tooth
The idea is simple: a single dental implant is placed into the jaw, and then it is topped with a custom-made crown that is designed and shaded to perfectly match the surrounding teeth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Rather than connecting a bridge to natural teeth, two implants can be used to support up to four consecutive replacement teeth. Multiple implants can be positioned along one of the jaws and serve as the foundation of a partial denture as well.
Missing All of Your Teeth
Instead of relying on natural suction or metal clips to stay in place, implant dentures are rooted to the jawbone just like real teeth. It typically takes just four to six implants to restore an entire row, after which a patient won’t have to worry about taking their prosthetic out to clean it.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of dental implants varies depending on factors such as the number of implants needed, the type of implant, and what kind of restoration will be placed on top. Each step of the implant procedure incurs its own cost, including the surgery, imaging, and sedation if needed. While dental implants may seem costly, they can last for many years with proper care and typically allow patients to save money on their teeth in the long run.
Dental Implant FAQs
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
The jawbone doesn’t have very many nerve endings. You will also be numbed with a local anesthetic before the procedure begins. Sedation is also often used, lowering your body’s ability to register pain. Even though the surgery won’t hurt, your mouth may be sore for a few days afterward. Take a prescribed or over-the-counter pain reliever to address this. Cold compresses can also help to numb discomfort.
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
When placed by a skilled professional, dental implants have an incredible success rate of over 95%! The success rate of your dental implants will depend on how well you take care of them with oral hygiene routine checkups, and a healthy diet. Success can also vary depending on the location of the implant in the mouth. Molars receive more strain from chewing than front teeth, so they have a slightly lower success rate.
Can I Get Dental Implants If I’m Diabetic?
If your diabetes is under control, your odds of dental implant success are generally comparable to those of nondiabetic patients. However, uncontrolled diabetes can slow down the healing process, making it more difficult for your implant to integrate with your jawbone. If you are interested in getting dental implants, talk to your endocrinologist or primary care doctor about getting your blood sugar levels under control beforehand.
Do Dental Implants Decay?
Dental implants are not made of tooth enamel, so they are unable to decay. However, your remaining teeth can still develop cavities. Your gums can still become infected as well. That’s why oral hygiene is still extremely important after you have gotten dental implants.
How Soon After a Tooth Extraction Can I Get Dental Implants?
In some cases, if the jawbone is healthy, a dental implant can be placed right away after a tooth extraction. However, dentists often recommend waiting three to six months for the mouth to heal. Waiting longer than this can cause the jawbone to shrink due to lack of stimulation from the tooth’s roots. Ultimately, when you can get your dental implants will depend on your individual case.