Dental Implants – Austin, TX
Replacing Both
the Roots and the Crowns of Teeth
Dentists have been able to replace missing teeth for decades, but dental implants take the process up to a whole other level. With dental implants, you can replace the entire root of your tooth, not just the crown that makes up your smile. The result is a tooth replacement that really feels like your natural tooth, even when you’re chewing your favorite foods! If you have missing teeth and you want the most comprehensive option available in dentistry today, give our dental office a call to schedule a consultation for dental implants in Austin!
Why Choose Snow Dental for Dental Implants?
- Comprehensive Treatment That Replaces Both the Root and Tooth
- Dentist Works with Some of the Best Implant Specialists in Austin
- High-Quality, Natural-Looking Restorations Provided
Partnered with Austin’s Best Dental Implant Specialists
To ensure the most comprehensive and successful tooth replacement possible, Snow Dental works with some of Austin’s most experienced specialists in implant dentistry. Once we’ve confirmed that you are eligible for dental implants, you’ll have the surgical portion of your treatment performed at their office, then come back to our dental practice to have the implants restored with natural-looking, customized restorations. By working with specialists in implant dentistry, we can make sure that your implants last as long as possible and integrate properly.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Compared to many other treatments, getting dental implants can seem very complicated to someone who is unfamiliar with how it works; however, it can be broken down into four simple stages: consultation, surgery, abutment, and restoration. At every step, we can guide you through the process and help you know what to expect next in your tooth replacement journey.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
Before you go through the time, investment, and effort of getting dental implants, we need to make sure it’s a good idea for your situation! During a consultation with Dr. Ifraitekh, he’ll examine your mouth, making sure you don’t have any infections or other impediments. If you have gum disease or another problem, we can resolve it and get you better prepared. When he gives you the green light, we will send you to meet with an implant specialist and schedule the placement procedure.
Dental Implant Surgery
Although the dental implant procedure does not take place at our office or with our team, we are still here to support you and will work with your specialist to carry out your personalized treatment plan. We trust only certain local experts, confident that they will care of our patients just as well as we do here at Snow Dental.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
For several months, usually between three and six, you’ll need time to heal from the placement procedure. Under the gums’ surface, your jawbone will produce new growth and surround the implant. This processes, which is called osseointegration, is essential for your smile’s success.
When osseointegration is complete, you’ll then need another minor procedure where the gums are opened superficially to put an abutment or connection piece in the post. The abutment will stick up above the gums.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
When the abutment is secure, we will take impressions of your upper and lower arches and send the impressions to our dental lab. Using this information, they will craft your custom restoration(s). Finally, you’ll come back into our office to have your restoration(s) attached to the implants, completing your smile and the dental implants process.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Unlike other methods, dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that actually accounts for the root portion of the missing tooth. By replacing the root, you can expect many restorative benefits that dentures and dental bridges cannot provide on their own. For example, being grounded in the jawbone, dental implants offer significantly more stability, and they more closely replicate real teeth, making them feel more comfortable.
Day-to-Day Benefits
With typical dentures, you always have the fear of slippage in the back of your mind when you eat or talk around others. However, implant restorations will not budge, which can give you exceptional confidence in your smile because they look and feel more realistic than dentures and bridges alone.
In addition to seeming like natural teeth, dental implants require the same maintenance every day. Instead of taking your dental prosthetics out for cleaning, you can brush and floss them just as you would real teeth. Also, you’ll need to continue coming in for regular checkups, but this relatively simple care goes a long way to keep implants in excellent condition.
Health Benefits
Once the implant has been placed, your biting force will dramatically improve. In fact, research shows that implants restore about 75 percent of your original biting power, whereas dentures restore only about 25 percent. This means chewing your favorite tough foods, whether they be steak, apples, nuts, raw vegetables, or something else, actually feels normal. Plus, this variety of nutritious foods can help keep your body properly fueled, helping your overall quality of life.
Additionally, your facial esthetics are dramatically improved, as stimulated bone is less likely to break down and change the shape of your jaw. Changes like these are rarely considered until you’ve already lost teeth, and dental implants intend to change that.
Long-Term Benefits
Furthermore, dental implants offer longevity that is unique in tooth replacement. Because they integrate with your organic structures, you can expect them to last at least 25 years without worry. In many cases, they often last a lifetime when properly maintained at home.
In contrast, traditional dentures and bridges must be replaced every 5 to 7 years and 7 to 10 years respectively. When you consider the cost of frequent replacements over time, the upfront price of dental implants may actually be less expensive in the long run, making this option the smarter financial choice.
Indications for Dental Implants
One of the most notable aspects of dental implants is their ability to replace single and multiple teeth at a time. They can easily be customized to attach to a denture that replaces all the teeth in a given arch or multiple consecutive teeth as part of a bridge. Learn more by reading below!
Missing Single Tooth
Replacing a single tooth requires one implant placed into the jaw, which is then given several months to heal. Next, an abutment is placed on top, which keeps the permanent restoration stable and even with the rest of your teeth. A porcelain dental crown is placed on top for the most natural esthetics possible.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Instead of modifying existing teeth to hold a traditional bridge, a pair of dental implants can be used to hold a three- or four-crown bridge. This option is especially ideal if you do not want to remove any existing tooth enamel just to have your teeth replaced.
Missing All Teeth
To hold either a full or partial denture, a series of dental implants can be placed throughout the jaw. This prevents the need for having a dedicated implant for each tooth you intend to replace.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of your dental implant treatment depends largely on your specific needs. Factors like the number of implants required and any necessary preliminary treatments such as bone grafting or gum disease treatment will influence both the overall cost and duration of your treatment. Despite potential initial expenses, dental implants offer a long-term investment in restoring your smile for decades to come. To learn more about the expected cost, continue reading!
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Before proceeding with dental implants, we'll assess if preliminary treatments like bone grafting or gum disease treatment are necessary. While these procedures may increase both the cost and duration of your treatment, they are necessary to ensure the longevity of your new smile. Additionally, the expenses associated with your dental implant surgery vary depending on factors such as implant location and sedation type. Since we’re able to conduct this phase of treatment right here in our office, we eliminate the need for our patients to seek care from an outside specialist.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
As you can imagine, the primary factor influencing the cost of your treatment is the dental implants themselves. The estimated price is determined by several factors:
- Number of dental implants. The total cost increases with the number of implants required. However, the cost per individual implant typically decreases with higher quantities.
- Type of restoration. Dental implants can support restorations such as crowns, bridges, partials, or full dentures, each with its own associated cost.
- Size or material. The specifications of the dental implants, including length, width, and material composition (such as titanium, zirconia, or other materials), are tailored to each patient's unique needs, influencing the final price.
- Brand of dental implants. We prioritize the use of dental implants from reputable brands known for their high-quality products, ensuring optimal results.
How Dental Implants Can Save You Money
Despite potential higher upfront costs, dental implants offer long-term financial benefits:
- Minimal ongoing expenses. Unlike traditional options, implants don't require special maintenance products, reducing long-term costs.
- Prevention of further tooth loss. Implants prevent jawbone deterioration, preserving surrounding teeth and reducing the need for future procedures.
- Fewer oral health costs. Improved oral health from implants lowers long-term maintenance expenses.
- Implants can last a lifetime, minimizing replacement costs associated with bridges or dentures.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
While dental insurance typically doesn't cover implants directly, some plans may cover aspects like preliminary procedures or sedation. Our team can review your insurance coverage beforehand to help maximize your benefits.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
Beyond insurance, we offer CareCredit financing for patients seeking alternative payment options. CareCredit provides flexible, low- to no-interest payment plans tailored to your needs, making dental implants more accessible.
Dental Implant FAQs
Dental implants are one of the most powerful tooth replacement options. They have a realistic look and feel that can provide a lot of confidence to patients who have been missing teeth for a while.
If you’re interested in learning more about what dental implants can offer you, Dr. Ifraitekh would love to bring you in and talk to you about the treatment. Until we meet you in person, here are answers to a few common questions people have about this procedure.
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
One of the things that distinguishes dental implants from other kinds of tooth replacement options is the fact that they involve surgical placement in the jaw. However, this shouldn’t make you think that dental implants are riskier than dentures or bridges—on the contrary, around 95% of dental implants are successful at 20 years, and many last as long as 30 without issue.
Dr. Ifraitekh is an experienced professional who knows how to help you avoid the pitfalls of dental implant surgery and can direct you to some of the best implant specialists in Austin. That way, you have the highest chances of long-term success possible.
Am I Too Old to Get Dental Implants?
Many people who could really benefit from dental implants think that it isn’t an option for them, partially because of their age. Fortunately, the good news is that you’re never too old to get dental implants. So long as your mouth is fairly healthy, we can usually find a way to make the procedure work.
It is worth noting, however, that there are some health conditions that do make it harder to get dental implants, and many of these are more likely among older people. Diabetes and cancer, for example, can cause complications while healing from the surgery.
If you have one of these conditions, you may want to talk with your doctor before getting dental implants.
Do Dental Implants Feel Natural?
The fact that dental implants are secured directly to the jawbone makes them feel much more realistic than other tooth replacement options. It affords them a level of strength and security that dentures and bridges don’t have, meaning you can use them to talk and eat very naturally.
However, it’s also the case that dental implants don’t contain any nerve endings, so you won’t necessarily be able to feel them the way that you can your natural teeth. Instead, any sense of feeling you get from the tooth will come from the surrounding gum tissue. This might be a little strange at first, but you should get used to the feeling of eating with them fairly quickly.
Do Dental Implants Decay?
Dental implants are made of incredibly sophisticated materials and are therefore much more resistant to decay than your enamel. As a result, you won’t really have to worry about your dental implants developing cavities.
However, your natural teeth are still as prone to tooth decay as ever. Bacterial infection is also a concern, and severe gum disease can potentially put your dental implant in jeopardy if you don’t deal with it properly. You can’t ignore your dental hygiene just because you have an artificial tooth.