Traditional tooth replacement methods only restore the parts of patients’ teeth visible above the gumline. While they definitely improve patients’ appearance, comfort, and ability to chew thoroughly and speak clearly, the roots of the teeth are essential for a healthy and natural-feeling smile. The only tooth replacement that provides this benefit is dental implants, which can bring back any number of teeth for life. Dr. Manuel Pazmino is happy to offer start-to-finish dental implant care here at Pazmino Dentistry. Contact us today to get started with dental implants in Temple, TX!
Your teeth have two parts: the crown that is visible above the gumline, and the root underneath. Other tooth replacements, like bridges and dentures, only recreate the crowns, but dental implants go one step further by rebuilding the entire tooth structure.
The implant is a small titanium rod that is surgically positioned in the jaw to take the place of a lost tooth’s root. It then fuses with the surrounding bone over the next few months in a natural process called osseointegration, and after that, it can support a dental crown, bridge, or denture. As the most comprehensive solution to tooth loss, dental implants are designed to look, feel, and function precisely like the pearly whites you used to have!
Regardless of the number of dental implants needed to rebuild your smile, the process is the same, and it can all be completed under one roof at our practice. That means you don’t have to worry about visiting an outside specialist – we’ll be right by your side every step of the way! Although the entire process can take several months, many patients find the long-term benefits to be well worth the time and effort. Everyone’s treatment may differ slightly, but the four main steps are the same no matter what. Here’s what you can expect!
The first step on your journey towards a newly rebuilt smile is a consultation with Dr. Pazmino. During your initial visit, he’ll review your oral health and medical history to see if you’re a good candidate for dental implants in Temple. Some patients may need certain preliminary treatments (i.e., gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, bone grafting) to become eligible for this modern tooth loss solution. Once those procedures are taken care of, you can move forward with the dental implant process.
At our practice, Dr. Pazmino can perform your entire dental implant treatment from start to finish. To begin, a small incision is made in the gum line, and the implant is precisely positioned to provide optimal support for the prosthetic tooth or teeth. After your gums are sutured shut, a protective cap will be placed over the posts to shield them throughout the healing process.
For a period of between three and six months, the dental implant fuses with the supportive jawbone tissue, mimicking natural tooth roots in order to support the restoration. This natural process called osseointegration is what makes dental implants so reliable, as it allows them to merge with the jawbone. Once this process is complete, patients return to our dental office to have the final restoration attached.
Your final restorations will be created using impressions of your natural smile. A trusted dental laboratory will create your new crown, bridge, or denture using materials that closely resemble your real teeth. When you return to our office, we’ll attach your restorations to your abutments and ensure everything looks seamless. At the end of your appointment, you’ll have a set of pearly whites that look indistinguishable from the ones you were born with!
Why have over 3 million Americans chosen dental implants? It’s simple: they offer all kinds of benefits that traditional tooth replacement options can’t. We can go over these advantages with you during your initial consultation to help you decide whether or not implants are right for your smile. In the meantime, here are a few of the most important advantages that come with having new teeth supported by implant posts.
You’ll use your new dental implants every day to chew your food, speak clearly, and show off your dazzling new grin. As such, you’ll regularly notice the following benefits:
One of the biggest reasons we recommend dental implants to our patients is that they offer unique oral health benefits, such as:
You’ll be able to fully appreciate many of the advantages that dental implants have to offer right away. However, some benefits will only be obvious once time has passed. For example:
No matter how many gaps are in your smile, dental implants might be the perfect solution for you. Nearly any healthy adult can qualify for this treatment, even if they need some preparatory procedures first. We can use implants to replace any number of teeth.
A single tooth can be brought back by inserting an implant post into the gap and then attaching a personalized crown on top. Unlike a dental bridge, this option doesn’t require us to remove any enamel from your healthy teeth. Plus, it’s sturdier and lasts longer on average.
For three or four consecutive missing teeth, we can secure a dental bridge onto two implants, with each one being placed at an end of the gap. An implant bridge doesn’t rely on support from natural teeth, making it the healthier option. For several missing teeth that aren’t all in a row, a small number of implants may be able to hold a partial denture in place.
Traditional dentures may cause a number of oral health concerns due to their friction against the gum tissue. Additionally, dentures only restore a small fraction of patients’ ability to chew foods limiting their diet. By using a strategic number of precisely placed dental implant posts to support a full denture, patients achieve a much more natural-looking and -feeling result and are able to return a number of more difficult-to-chew foods to their diets.
Like with most things, you get what you pay for when it comes to your tooth replacement. Dental implants are a highly customized treatment that can last for the rest of your life with proper care. While they tend to come with a higher price, their unique benefits make them well worth the investment. We will always do our best to make your treatment as affordable as possible, and our friendly team is ready for any questions or concerns you may have.
To ensure that your implant treatment is successful, we must address any preexisting issues first. Gum disease therapy, bone grafting, and tooth extractions are often necessary, which will add to the overall cost of dental implants in Temple. While these treatments do add to your total price, they are an integral part of how your implants can last so long. Next, your surgery will incur its own cost. Thankfully, Dr. Pazmino offers the entire process at the same convenient location, giving you more simple and compact fees.
One of the main factors that influences cost is the number of implants you need. One missing tooth will cost less than multiple implants. However, replacing a whole row of missing teeth with an implant denture is more cost-effective than replacing each tooth separately. The type of restoration you need will also affect pricing – usually, the bigger the restoration, the more it will cost. Lastly, the type of materials used can dictate price. We are transparent about using high quality implants for amazing results.
Dental implants often cost more than traditional bridges or dentures. However, they may actually be a more cost-effective choice in the long run. With the ability to last for the rest of your life, dental implants in Temple help you avoid replacements needed with dentures or bridges as well as the associated costs that come with them. Additionally, implants lower your risk of common dental issues like gum disease, making dentistry much less costly in general. Plus, they allow you to eat a better diet and smile more, improving your quality of life dramatically, which is priceless.
Typically, dental insurance does not cover dental implants, however there are some exceptions. We will always review your plan in detail to see where we can maximize your benefits. Certain parts of your treatment like preliminary services and a portion of your restorations may be covered. Every insurance plan is different, which is why we recommend communicating with your provider. We are happy to speak with your insurance directly to help you navigate and save money.
If you don’t have insurance coverage, there’s no need to worry! We have flexible payment options and offer low-to-no interest financing through CareCredit. With this solution, you’ll simply choose the monthly payment plan that works best for you. Our implant dentist in Temple is always happy to work with you to make our care fit with your budget. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team.
Patients who have experienced a significant reduction in bone density following tooth loss may not have adequate jawbone density to support a restoration especially a more significant prosthetic like a denture. In these cases, we may recommend bone grafting, a surgical procedure where bone is taken from other parts of the body or mouth, a tissue bank, or synthetic bone is placed on the jaw to strengthen the bone making it possible for the jaw to support a restoration successfully.
Most patients need to rest for at least one to three days after their dental implant surgery, and the recovery process (not including osseointegration) typically takes around one or two weeks. If you want your dental implants to be successful, then you need to take care of your mouth while it’s still in the process of healing. Below are some of the aftercare instructions that our team will give you following your dental implant procedure.
Obviously, you’ll want to take whatever steps you can to manage any discomfort you might be experiencing after your surgery. However, the most important thing you need to do right after implant placement is to protect the blood clot that forms at the implant site. The blood clot plays an important role in the healing process, so don’t do anything that might dislodge it. Things you’ll need to avoid include drinking from a straw and directly touching the implant site with your finger.
Soreness and minor discomfort are perfectly normal at the beginning of the recovery process. You generally don’t have to worry unless your pain gets worse or lasts longer than expected. In the meantime, you can use ibuprofen and similar over-the-counter medications to relieve your discomfort.
Some swelling might occur, but you can usually keep it down by applying a cold pack to the area. Also, there might be some bleeding every so often; when this happens, take some gauze and apply light pressure to the affected area.
Trying to chew hard foods while your mouth is still recovering could dislodge your blood clot and cause serious pain. Protect your smile by only eating soft foods, such as mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, or pudding. Cold soup is also a good choice; however, you should avoid any soup that’s too hot.
Once you’ve reached the point of being able to handle more solid foods again, make sure that you only chew with your real teeth. Do not chew directly on your dental implants while you’re still waiting for your crown, bridge, or denture.
A clean mouth significantly increases your chances of success with your dental implants. You don’t have to make any major changes to your brushing routine; as long as you’re careful around the implant site, you can simply clean your teeth the way you normally would. If you use mouthwash while you’re recovering, make sure that it doesn’t contain any alcohol.
By the time your prosthetic teeth are placed on your implant posts, the hard part will already be over. You may have to take some pain medication for sensitivity in your gums, but other than that, there shouldn’t be any major side effects. Please call us right away if there are any unusual symptoms that might point to a serious issue in your mouth.
Once your dental implants have integrated with your jawbone, they can potentially last for several decades or even a lifetime – but only as long as you take good care of them. Luckily, dental implant maintenance is quite simple compared to that of traditional dentures. In most cases, you can clean and protect your new teeth in much the same way as you would natural ones. Follow the tips below so that you can be proactive about keeping your dental implants safe and reliable for decades to come.
You might be wondering why you still need to brush and floss if dental implants can’t get cavities. Even though tooth decay won’t affect your implants, gum disease still can. If the gum tissue supporting your implants becomes infected and damaged, the implants might come loose and ultimately fail. Plus, any natural teeth you still have can still get cavities. For this reason, you’ll need to brush and floss every day with implants, but this routine should be very similar to how it was when you still had all of your natural teeth.
Sugary and starchy foods are often the main culprits of gum disease. Bacteria in the mouth like to feed on these substances and produce acid waste that erodes tooth enamel and gum tissue. Enjoying a candy bar or a few potato chips every now and then shouldn’t be a huge problem, but overindulging in items like these can turn your mouth into an environment where harmful bacteria thrive. Instead, your diet should primarily consist of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other foods that are high in nutrients that benefit your gums and jawbone, such as vitamin C and calcium.
Smoking – or using any form of tobacco – leaves the mouth more vulnerable to infection, which could spell disaster for your implants. Similarly, there are other bad oral habit you should attempt to quit if you don’t want your dental implants to break, including:
Whenever you play any type of sport without wearing a mouthguard, you’re putting your implants and remaining teeth at risk. A custom-fit mouthguard will cushion any blows to the mouth, jaw, or face, lessening the chance of severe injury harming your smile. You’re also putting your implants in danger if you grind your teeth while you sleep but don’t wear a nightguard. In the long run, the force from chronic teeth grinding and jaw clenching – also known as bruxism – can wear down your implants and teeth, but a nightguard can comfortably keep them safe.
Our team is expertly trained to catch the signs of dental implant failure in its earliest stages. Often, we can detect and prevent it long before you would even notice something was wrong – but only if you attend regular dental checkups and cleanings . Just two of these visits a year can go a long way toward keeping your new teeth in pristine condition for many years or even a lifetime to come!
Dental implants are a preferred tooth replacement option for dentists and patients alike, but they are quite an investment. It’s important that you are well-informed before committing to the procedure. Here are the answers to some of the most common queries we are asked about dental implants in Temple. If you don’t see the information that you’re looking for below, just give us a call. We’d be happy to answer your questions and get you started with an initial consultation.
The lifespan of dental implants completely depends on the patient’s health and lifestyle choices. To ensure that implants last, it is crucial to brush, floss, and rinse with a mouthwash every single day. Regular cleanings and checkups are also essential to keep your smile in good health. Avoid chewing on anything that is particularly hard or sticky to prevent damage. With proper maintenance, dental implants can last for upwards of 30 years! This is several times longer than traditional bridges and dentures.
Your jawbone doesn’t have many nerve endings, and your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic before the procedure begins. You will also most likely be sedated. While the surgery shouldn’t hurt, your mouth may feel sore for a few days afterwards. Take your prescribed pain relievers as directed. Cold compresses have also shown to help. If discomfort worsens instead of improving after two to three days, give us a call!
Most patients only need to take off one or two days to get dental implants. However, if your job is physically demanding, you may want to take off three to four days. This is because heavy exercise can divert blood from the implant site and delay healing. Of course, every case if different, so Dr. Pazmino will be able to give you a more specific recommendation depending on your individual case.
If your diabetes is under control, your odds of dental implant success are generally comparable to those of nondiabetic patients. Uncontrolled diabetes and chronic high blood sugar can slow down the healing process and make it more difficult for your implants 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.
