Missing teeth can be a huge challenge, especially as you get older. For seniors, it’s common to deal with tooth loss. While there are several ways to replace missing teeth, dental implants stand out as the most modern and long-lasting option.
At Tyler Family Dental, we offer affordable dental implants to help restore your smile and improve your oral health. With our detailed implant treatment plans, we can replace lost teeth, recently removed teeth, and more.
Please, call us at 903-204-4441 and ask how we can help you today, or schedule an appointment online.
Meet Your Dentist, Dr Jennings, DDS
Dr. William Jennings grew up in Pflugerville during his younger years. However, he has traveled and experienced much of Texas, from Santa Anna, through Amarillo. After graduating from West Texas State University, he then went on to complete his dental education at Baylor College of Dentistry.
Dr. Jennings participates in the East Texas Dental Society, the Texas Dental Association, and the American Dental Association.
What Are Dental Implants?
Missing teeth can significantly impact your life. They often lead to bone loss and other dental complications, while also making basic activities like eating and speaking more difficult.
Fortunately, replacing missing teeth with dental implants can fully restore your oral function and confidence.
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that provide a permanent base for fixed or removable replacement teeth.
They are a popular and effective solution for people who have lost teeth due to injury, periodontal disease, or other reasons..
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants consist of three parts that work together to give you a natural-looking and fully functional smile:
- Implant Post: This is the titanium screw that’s surgically placed in your jawbone. It acts like the root of a natural tooth, which sets implants apart from other replacement options.
- Abutment: This piece connects the implant post to the final restoration, keeping everything secure.
- Final Restoration: The visible part of your new tooth, which can be a crown, bridge, or even dentures. Whether you’re replacing one tooth or a whole set, implants can support various types of restorations. For example, just four implants can hold an entire arch of teeth in place.
What to Expect
Getting dental implants takes a few steps, but the results are worth it. Here’s what the process looks like:
- Consultation and Exam: The first step is a consultation where we’ll determine if implants are the right choice for you. This includes a dental exam, reviewing your health history, and taking digital images of your mouth. To qualify, you’ll need healthy bone tissue in your jaw to support the implants.
- Bone Grafting (If Needed): If your jawbone isn’t strong enough, a bone graft might be necessary. This procedure adds bone to the area, creating a solid foundation for the implants. Bone grafts can come from your own body, a donor, or synthetic materials. Once placed, the graft needs time to heal and integrate with your natural bone.
- Surgical Placement: When your jaw is ready, we’ll place the implant posts into the bone. Over the next 3–6 months, your jawbone will fuse with the posts in a process called osseointegration. This is what makes implants so strong and reliable.
- Temporary Restoration: We can provide a temporary restoration while your mouth is healing. You won’t have to go without teeth during the process.
- Final Restoration: Once healing is complete, we’ll take impressions to create your custom restoration. Whether it’s a crown, bridge, or denture, we’ll make sure it matches the size, shape, and color of your natural teeth. At your final appointment, we’ll fit and secure the restoration, ensuring it feels comfortable and looks just right.
Why You Might Need a Bone Graft
Bone loss in the jaw is a common issue caused by things like gum disease, trauma, or missing teeth. Without enough healthy bone, implants won’t stay in place. Adding a bone graft builds up your jaw to make it stronger and increases the likelihood of a successful implant.
Your dentist will place bone material where it’s needed during the grafting procedure. Over time, the new bone integrates with your jaw and creates a solid base for the implant. We’ll evaluate your jaw during your consultation to see if this step is necessary for you.
At our Tyler dental office, we’re here to guide you through every step of the dental implant process. Our team will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs and gives you a smile you’ll love. Let’s bring back your confidence with dental implants.
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What are the Benefits of Dental Implants
One of the biggest perks of dental implants is that they replace the tooth root, not just the visible part of your tooth.
When you lose a tooth, the jawbone in that area starts to shrink. This changes the shape of your face and makes it look older.
A dental implant keeps your jawbone healthy and even encourages new bone growth because it acts like a natural root.
Other tooth replacements only fill in the gap but don’t stop the bone loss. Over time, your jaw keeps changing. This means you’ll need to adjust or replace those restorations regularly to keep them working properly.
However, implants are anchored in your jawbone, so they’re stable, won’t slip or shift, and don’t need frequent adjustments.
Implants also let you eat all your favorite foods without worry. You can confidently enjoy foods like apples, steak, and corn on the cob with their strong, natural-like bite force. Plus, caring for them is easy. Just brush, floss, and keep up with your regular dental checkups.
Another big advantage is that dental implants don’t rely on your surrounding teeth for support. This means your healthy teeth stay intact, and you won’t need to reduce or damage them to make the restoration fit. Implants are a stand-alone solution.
We will give you a complete smile without putting extra stress on your remaining teeth.
Before and after dental implant treatment to replace a missing tooth.
What to Consider Before Getting Implants
Dental implants have a lot of great benefits. It’s also important to know about the challenges that come with them:
- Cost: Implants are a more expensive option compared to other tooth replacements. This is because they involve high-quality materials, many steps and appointments to complete the process. While they’re a long-term investment, the upfront cost can feel significant.
- Time Commitment: Getting dental implants isn’t a quick fix. The process can take several months or even up to a year. This includes healing time between steps, like letting the implant fuse with your jawbone. You’ll also need to visit the office for multiple checkups along the way.
- Surgery Risks: Implants require oral surgery. Some risks include infection, nerve damage, or complications with anesthesia. After surgery, it’s important to follow all care instructions to avoid problems. Surgery may not be an option for patients with certain health conditions, or it could increase the chances of implant failure.
- Long-Term Care: Implants can last a lifetime, but they require you to stay on top of your overall health and oral hygiene. If you don’t maintain good habits, brush, floss, and attend regular dental visits, the implants may not last as long as they should.
Does Medicare Cover Dental Implants in Texas?
Original Medicare (Parts A & B) generally does not cover:
- Routine dental exams
- Tooth extractions
- Dentures or dental implants
However, you have options:
- Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) may offer partial coverage for dental implants. This depends on the specific plan provider in Texas.
- Supplemental dental insurance or discount dental plans may reduce costs.
What You Can Do:
- Review your Medicare Advantage plan details carefully.
- Check for in-network dental implant specialists.
- Look for “dental implant coverage” or “restorative dental services” in plan documents.
Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation Today
Dental implants offer a strong and functional solution to missing teeth, but they do take time, effort, and an upfront investment. At our Tyler dental office, we’ll walk you through every step of the process to make sure you’re confident in your choice and happy with your results.
If you’re missing teeth, dental implants may be the best tooth replacement solution for you. Schedule an appointment online or call our office today at 903-597-3940.