Dental Implants — Weatherford, TX
Permanently Fill the Gaps in Your Smile
Dental implants are a state-of-the-art option for tooth replacement that has become the “gold standard” for restorative treatment. Dr. Deborah Romack and Dr. Garrett Mulkey use their training and available technologies to create beautiful smiles that function comfortably and properly. At Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Weatherford, we perform both the surgical placement and restoration of dental implants, making the procedure convenient for our patients and allowing you to remain with the dental healthcare providers you trust. If you’re missing teeth, contact Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Weatherford to explore dental implants as a treatment option. Because we offer a range of services for Weatherford, Aledo, Brock, Millsap, Mineral Wells, Springtown, and beyond, we can help you navigate your choices and make one that meets your needs.
Why Choose Cosmetic & Family Dentistry of Weatherford For Dental Implants?
- #1 Entire Dental Implant Treatment Completed Under One Roof
- #2 State-of-the-Art Dental Technology for Precise Results
- #3 Dental Insurance Welcome & Flexible Financing Available
What Are Dental Implants?
There are two parts to your natural teeth. There’s the shiny white crown that you see when you smile, and there’s the hidden root structure under the gums that holds them in place. Classic tooth replacement options like dentures and dental bridges only replace the crowns of missing teeth. While these restorations are certainly better than nothing, they lack optimal stability and functionality without a root structure. Dental implants, on the other hand, replace the entire structure of a missing tooth from crown to root!
A dental implant is a small titanium post that can be inserted beneath the gumline and into the jawbone to replace the roots of a missing tooth. On top of it, a custom-made restoration is secured to replace the visible portion of your smile. One or more dental implants can be used to replace any number of missing teeth. No matter how many dental implants you get, the result is a smile that looks and functions just like natural.
The Dental Implant Process
After you have chosen to get dental implants, the first part of the procedure is to have them surgically placed into your jaw. For this, your doctor will make a small incision in your gums and place the small titanium posts that will serve as your new tooth roots. Often, this surgery only requires local anesthesia, and any discomfort afterward can be easily managed with medication.
Once your implants have been placed, you’ll be given 4-6 months to heal and allow the roots to naturally bond to the surrounding jawbone. Then, you’ll return to our office to have your custom-made crown, bridge, partial, or denture attached. After that, you’ll be all set to go out and enjoy your new smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
When you choose dental implants to replace your missing teeth, you’re choosing an option that allows you to feel comfortable, function properly, and look great at the same time. Dental implants help you maintain your natural facial shape and a smile that looks real. Dental implants are a lot like natural teeth, which gives them a lot of advantages over options like fixed bridges or dentures. The benefits of dental implants include the ability to eat whatever you want, a younger appearance, better jaw health, confidence, a natural appearance, and long-lasting results.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants can secure crowns, bridges, and full or partial dentures, giving you options that fit your specific pattern of tooth loss. They don’t require us to modify remaining healthy teeth, which is a big plus. Also, patients who opt for implant-supported dentures experience better security, better chewing function, and better overall digestion.
Missing 1 Tooth
One of the most common ways we restore implants is with a single crown. Just one dental implant post is placed into the jawbone. Then, it’s covered with a custom-made crown that is made of 100% dental porcelain, giving it both the strength and appearance of a natural tooth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Much like a traditional bridge, an implant bridge can be used to replace a row of consecutive missing teeth. One implant will be placed on either side of the gap to support a row of prosthetic teeth between them.
Missing All Teeth
Four to six dental implants can be used to anchor a full denture into place. While implant dentures may look like normal dentures, they have a variety of advantages over traditional ones. Once they are being held in place with dental implants as opposed to just natural suction or denture adhesive, they are much more stable and you won’t have to worry about them slipping or clicking. The implants support your jaw from the inside, and this prevents the bone recession that often makes a new set of dentures lose their fit after just a few years. They also enable a patient to eat a wider variety of foods more comfortably because they allow for a much stronger bite force than traditional dentures.
Alternatively, patients missing all their natural teeth may qualify for All-On-4 dental implants. This method allows people who don’t have enough healthy jawbone to support traditional implants to get an implant denture. It involves strategically placing four implants to provide maximum support. Two posts are located at the front of the jaw where the bone is naturally thicker, and two posts are placed at the back of the jaw at an angle. With just these four posts, a patient can enjoy an entire arch of new teeth.
Missing Teeth With Low Jawbone Density
In order to get dental implants, a person needs to have an adequate amount of healthy jawbone to support the new titanium roots. For people who have suffered extensive tooth loss, their jaw may be thin and brittle, which would normally disqualify them from getting dental implants.
However, they can now get mini dental implants. As the name suggests, they are only a fraction of the size of regular implants, and allow even more people to get the most reliable tooth replacement option available today.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Dental implants are a long-term investment in your confidence, health, and quality of life. Since every dental implant treatment is uniquely customized to the needs and preferences of an individual patient, there is no set price for them. What you can expect to pay will depend on a variety of different factors, including how many dental implants you need and what your oral health is currently. While dental implants initially cost more than traditional tooth replacement options like dentures or dental bridges, they have the potential to save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Read on as we cover everything you need to know about the cost of dental implants in Weatherford.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Before you begin your journey towards your brand-new smile, you may need to complete one or more preliminary treatments to become a good candidate. Cavities, gum disease, and jawbone deterioration can all pose a threat to the success of your dental implant treatment, so these extra procedures are an essential expense for your new smile.
Once you’ve completed any necessary preliminary treatments to become a good candidate, we’ll need to consider the cost of the dental implant placement surgery itself. This price can vary based on where in the mouth the implants are being placed and what type of sedation you choose. We’re proud to perform every step of the dental implant treatment process right here in our office, saving our patients the time and money of seeing an unfamiliar specialist.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
Next, we’ll need to determine the price of your dental implant or implants themselves, which will depend on variables like:
- Number of dental implants : While the price for your treatment will go up with every dental implant you need, the individual price of dental implants typically goes down.
- Type of restoration : Small restorations like single crowns cost less than larger restorations like dentures. However, keep in mind that it is often much more cost-effective to have multiple missing teeth replaced with a denture rather than individual crowns.
- Size or material : Dental implants can be made of titanium, zirconia, porcelain, ceramic, and many other materials, all of which will influence the final price.
- Brand of dental implant : We only use dental implants from highly-reputable brands with trustworthy products to ensure our patients receive the best dental implants possible. If you’d like to learn more about where your dental implant is coming from, don’t hesitate to ask.
How Dental Implants Can Save You Money
Dental implants are widely considered to be the gold standard of tooth replacement. Not only do they offer a wide range of benefits for your day-to-day life and health, but they can end up being far more cost-effective than dentures or a dental bridge in the long run. While these traditional restorations need to be replaced every five to seven years, dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime, which can save you thousands of dollars in replacements alone over the years! Plus, with dental implants, you won’t need to pay for frequent readjustments or special oral hygiene products. What’s more, studies show that replacing missing teeth can even lower your oral healthcare and cardiovascular care costs. However, perhaps most importantly, patients agree that the confidence and quality of life dental implants can restore is truly priceless.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Currently, most dental insurance companies do not offer coverage for dental implants, although this is gradually changing. Even if your dental insurance policy doesn’t cover dental implants, it’s very likely that it will cover parts or portions of your treatment, such as preliminary treatments, the consultation, sedation during implant placement, and the final restoration. Our knowledgeable team will be happy to review the details of your insurance plan and ensure that your benefits are being maximized.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
Dental insurance isn’t your only option for making dental implants affordable. In addition to our limited time special offers, we’re proud to offer our patients the CareCredit card for dental care services. Qualifying patients can choose from a variety of low- to no-interest monthly payment plans to sign up for, allowing them to begin their dental implant treatment and break up its final cost into smaller, more manageable monthly payments. You can apply for CareCredit online or give us a call to learn more!
Dental Implant FAQs
Dental implant treatment is a major commitment, so it’s only natural to have questions before you’re comfortable beginning the process. Our team wants you to feel confident that you’re making the right decision for your smile, which is why we’re happy to address your concerns when you visit us for a dental implant consultation. In the meantime, we’ve provided the answers to a few questions about dental implants that we get asked the most frequently. We look forward to meeting you!
How Soon After a Tooth Extraction Can I Get Dental Implants?
It depends. Some patients are able to receive dental implants immediately after their teeth are removed, while others may need to wait several months for the jawbone and gum tissue to heal. However, waiting for too long after a tooth extraction may cause the jawbone to deteriorate to the point where bone grafting is necessary before implant placement. If you need to get a tooth removed and you’re interested in replacing it with a dental implant, let our team know. From there, we can plan your treatment accordingly.
Do I Need a Bone Graft Before Getting Dental Implants?
The answer to this question also varies. If it has been quite some time since your teeth were lost, then there’s a high chance that you’ll need to undergo a bone grafting procedure before you can receive dental implants. This is because without support from your tooth roots, your jawbone begins to deteriorate over time. Eventually, it may become too weak to support implants. During your consultation, we’ll capture detailed images of your jaw to determine whether the bone needs to be strengthened or whether we can move forward with dental implant surgery.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Research shows that, even after more than a decade, over 95% of patients with dental implants are still enjoying their new teeth to the fullest. On average, a dental implant can last for about 30 years, but its lifespan depends primarily on how well you take care of it. Dental implant maintenance is relatively simple; just remember to maintain a daily oral hygiene regimen, and visit our office every six months for your routine checkups. That way, if there’s a problem with your implant, we can treat it in the early stages and help your implant last even longer.
Do Dental Implants Feel Natural?
Once you have recovered from your dental implant surgery and the posts have fully integrated with your jawbone, your implants should feel just like the teeth you used to have. In fact, you might even forget that your teeth even went missing at all! This is due to their unique structure; by recreating every part of a missing tooth, including the root below the gumline, a dental implant is the closest thing to having the old tooth back.