Dental Implants – Arlington
Restore Your Smile for Good!
Dentures and dental bridges are great for some patients, but when it comes to tooth replacement, dental implants are the most modern, effective, and beneficial option out there. Dental implants replace the root of the missing teeth, allowing them to serve all of the functions that your natural teeth once did. At We Smile Dental of Arlington, we are proud to offer in-house dental implant placement, so you don’t need to work with a local specialist. To learn more about dental implants or to schedule a consultation at our practice, give us a call!
Why Choose We Smile Dental of Arlington for Dental Implants?
- In-House Dental Implant Placement
- International Dental Implant Association
- Flexible Financing Options Available
What Are Dental Implants?
Your natural teeth are made up of enamel, pulp, and dental tissue inside the crown and root. To act as one of your teeth, dental implants are comprised of three main components as well. This includes the titanium post that is surgically implanted into the jawbone, the restoration that is placed on top, and the abutment that connects them.
Dental implants are the superior tooth replacement because they integrate with your existing bone and soft tissue. This fusion that takes place between the implant and your jaw is called “osseointegration.” This is what makes your replacement tooth feel so comfortable and natural when you eat, speak, and smile. Because of their longevity, functionality, and natural appearance, they have become the preferred tooth replacement option out there.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Dental implants offer unique benefits you can’t get elsewhere because they replace the entirety of the missing teeth – not just the chewing surfaces. To achieve this, they require a unique multistep process that can span over the course of several months. Every patient’s treatment is a little bit different, but here are the four main steps that one can generally expect.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
The first step when getting dental implants is the initial consultation. During this appointment, we will closely examine your smile and confirm your candidacy. Some patients need preliminary procedures before they can move forward in the process. If this applies to you, we can help you get them scheduled. Once your mouth is in good health, we will put together and discuss your treatment plan, including the timeline and cost.
Dental Implant Surgery
Getting dental implants requires a minor surgical procedure. We are proud to place your dental implants in-house, so you don’t need to worry about working with an outside specialist you don’t know at another location. First, the area is numbed with a local anesthetic. Then, an incision is made into the gum tissue so your implants can be placed at precise locations. Lastly, protective caps are placed over the implants to allow for healing over the next few months.
Dental implant Osseointegration & Abutment
The osseointegration process will take place over the next few months. This is when the implant fuses with the jawbone. Once this process is complete, you will need to undergo another minor procedure. At this time abutments are placed on the end of your implants. This is what will secure your restoration(s) to your dental implants. Lastly, we will take impressions and design your dental crown, bridge, or denture that will be made in the dental lab.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
Once we’ve received your restoration(s) from the dental lab, you can return to our practice. During this visit, we will attach your customized restoration(s) to your dental implants. Once in place, they should look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth! Then, you will be free to show off your new and complete smile to the world!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are one of the most popular dental treatments in the US, with over 500,000 of them being placed every year! These incredible tooth replacements are unique in the way they merge with your jawbone. This feature allows them to provide many benefits that other options like traditional dentures and bridges just can’t compete with. If you're curious how dental implants from We Smile Dental of Arlington can change your life for the better, read more below!
Day-to-Day Benefits
When you first receive your dental implants, there will be some immediate and impactful benefits you’ll notice right away. These include:
- Better Enjoyment of Foods: Missing teeth can make it difficult to chew some foods, decreasing your enjoyment of them. With dental implants, you can enjoy anything you want with no restrictions!
- Enhanced Confidence: Dental implants fill in gaps in your smile that might have been causing you some grief or embarrassment. This will give you back your confidence, increasing your willingness to engage with others.
- Improved Aesthetics: Tooth loss can take its toll on the look of your smile, causing feelings of anxiety and a decreased mood overall. Replacing your teeth with dental implants creates a beautiful, seamless grin that will instantly put your mind at ease.
Health Benefits
The benefits of dental implants extend well beyond looking good; they can have a tangible impact on your oral and physical health! Here are some of the ways dental implants can make you feel better overall:
- Prevent Jawbone Resorption: Whenever you lose a tooth, the underlying bone begins to deteriorate. Dental implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing resorption from occurring.
- Improve Your Digestion: Chewing your food is the first step in digestion. Large chunks of food take longer to process, causing symptoms like indigestion and acid reflux. Dental implants restore your chewing power, allowing you to eat and feel better.
- Enhance Your Oral Health: Once a tooth is lost, the adjacent ones begin to shift to accommodate. Over time, this can lead to bite issues, jaw pain, and a higher risk of cavities and gum disease due to the difficulty of cleaning. Dental implants replace your teeth, preventing this shift and maintaining your smile.
Long-Term Benefits
Dental implants are an incredibly successful treatment with an over 95 percent success rate, so you’ll be able to enjoy their benefits for a long while. Here’s what you can expect over time:
- Durability and Longevity: Implants are very durable and hold up easily to repeated bite forces without damage. This means that as long as you’re taking care of them, they’ll serve you well for many, many years.
- Save Money: Because dental implants are so long-lived, your initial investment will be stretched over decades. In addition, unlike dentures or dental bridges that will need to be replaced over time, dental implants can remain functional, saving you money on replacements and adjustments.
- Keep Your Youthful Appearance: You’ll notice the aesthetic benefits of dental implants right away, but they really shine as you age. By keeping your jawbone intact, you can prevent some age-related shrinkage in your jaw and facial features, preserving your youthful visage.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Whether you are missing one tooth, a few teeth, or all of your teeth, dental implants can help you get your smile back! Here’s how they work in these different scenarios:
Missing One Tooth
If you are missing a single tooth, this can be replaced using a single dental implant and a customized dental crown. The crown is customized to match the rest of your teeth, so no one will be able to tell that your tooth was ever missing!
Missing Multiple Teeth
If you are missing multiple teeth in a row, a dental bridge can be supported by two or more dental implants to replace the consecutive missing teeth. If you have missing teeth that are not consecutive, we may recommend an implant-supported partial denture. This restoration includes the correct number of replacement teeth and a gum-colored base to support them. The denture can be crafted to fit between your healthy teeth and fill in the gaps.
Missing All Teeth
If you no longer have any healthy teeth in an arch, multiple dental implants can be placed throughout the arch to support a full denture. These dentures look just as natural as traditional ones, but they come with additional benefits, like increased stability and a stronger bite force.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Everyone’s smile is different, and so is the cost of dental implants. Because of this, we aren’t able to confirm the cost of your dental implants until you see us in person. When you attend a consultation, and we can thoroughly examine your smile, we will discuss the cost of your treatment in detail. We are happy to help you navigate the cost of your treatment, so we will go over all of your options so that you don’t come across any surprises.
Dental Implant FAQs
How Can I Tell If My Dental Implant Is Failing?
Your dental implant should feel secure, allowing you to smile, chew, speak, and laugh with complete confidence. If yours feels loose – even if it’s just slightly – we recommend scheduling an appointment with our Arlington dental team. We also encourage patients to reach out if they are experiencing other abnormal symptoms, including pain when biting down or sensitivity around the implant.
Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?
Yes, especially if your job is physically demanding. In most cases, taking one or two days off suffices, but there are some cases where we recommend taking three or four days off instead. If you have a heavy workload and taking that much time off isn’t ideal, then consider scheduling your procedure on a Thursday or Friday so you have Saturday and Sunday to recover.
Do I Need a Bone Graft Before Getting Dental Implants?
It’s possible! That’s because your jawbone starts to deteriorate following tooth loss. So, if it has been several months, years, or decades since then, you may need a piece of bone tissue added to your jawbone to strengthen it. That way, it can accommodate the dental implants.
Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?
Tobacco products, like cigars and e-cigarettes, can wreak havoc on your oral health. They can also lead to dry mouth, interfere with osseointegration, and slow down healing, which is why patients who smoke often aren’t candidates. That said, candidacy is determined on a case-by-case basis, so don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with us to find out if dental implants are right for you. Even if they aren’t, we may be able to restore the look, health, and function of your smile with a different tooth-replacement option, like a denture.
Am I Too Young to Get Dental Implants?
Infants, toddlers, young children, and teens are not candidates for dental implants because their jaw is still growing. Typically, that process is done in the mid-20s, at which point patients become candidates for this state-of-the-art tooth-replacement solution. The best thing to do is talk to our Arlington dental team about your dental needs and smile goals. They can review your treatment options with you, answer any questions you have, and help you on the road to the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
One of the biggest perks of dental implants is that they can last for over three decades with proper care. If you want to prolong the lifespan of yours, we recommend brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash daily as well as coming to our office every six months for a dental checkup and cleaning. Make sure that you also quit any habits that can damage your teeth, your gums, or your dental implants, like chewing on ice cubes, biting your nails, or smoking.