Dental Implants – Spring, TX

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step in your journey to a more complete smile is to schedule a consultation with us for tooth replacement. During this appointment, we’ll discuss a customized treatment timeline with you as well as go over all of your options for restoring your dental implant. We may also recommend one or more preparatory treatments, such as gum disease therapy or tooth extractions, in order to increase your odds of a successful dental implant placement. 

Dental Implant Surgery

Unlike many dentists, who have to refer you to an outside specialist such as an oral surgeon in order to place your implants, Dr. Joshua Kuykendall can perform the entire procedure in-house. The surgery itself is pretty straightforward. We will begin by making a small incision in your gum tissue, then placing the implant directly into your jawbone. To protect the implant throughout the healing process and maintain the shape of your gum tissue, a protective cap is placed over it.  

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

After the implant has been placed, a remarkable process known as osseointegration will occur. The implant post will fuse to your jawbone until the two of them are essentially the exact same structure. This process may take anywhere from three to six months, which is why we usually can’t install your replacement teeth at the same time as your implant placement.

Once osseointegration is complete, you’ll return to our office for another minor surgery where we’ll place the abutment. An abutment is a metal connector piece that will serve as the anchor for your implant restoration.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

After we receive the restoration (either a crown, bridge, or denture) from our partnered dental lab, we can finally attach it to your implant via the abutment. If we placed a temporary restoration when we installed your implant, we’ll begin by removing the temporary. We’ll place your permanent crown, bridge, or denture and let you leave our office with a new and improved smile that should last for decades to come!

Are you ready to restore your smile with dental implants? Then give us a call today to book your consultation.

Replacement Teeth That Can Last a Lifetime

Because of their durability and potential for longevity, dental implants are often considered the most cost-effective solution when it comes to tooth replacement. Dentures and bridges, on the other hand, must be re-fitted or even replaced once every decade or so, while implants can last up to 30 years (or even longer with proper maintenance). Although implants may carry a high initial price tag, you’ll find that it saves you money in the long term by not needing a replacement every few years.

Natural-Looking and -Feeling Teeth

Dental implants replace not just the visible portion of the tooth (called the crown), but also the root structure that lies underneath the gums. While bridges and dentures may offer cosmetic benefits for your smile, they fail to stimulate your jawbone in the way that dental implants do. Because of this, they don’t feel quite as natural as the teeth with which you were born. Replacing your missing teeth with implants allow you to attain a smile that looks and feels 100% natural. As an added bonus, bacteria are incapable of breaking down the porcelain material of your implant crown, meaning it’s not susceptible to cavities.

No Alteration of Natural Teeth Required

When placing a dental bridge, your dentist has to shave down some enamel of the teeth on either side of the gap in your grin. This is done in order to ensure that your bridge has something onto which it can be anchored. If you’re missing multiple teeth in a row, you’re much better off getting an implant bridge rather than a bridge alone. In that case, none of your remaining healthy enamel needs to be filed down, allowing you to retain more of your natural tooth structure.

Incredibly High Success Rate

When placed by a dental professional, such as Dr. Joshua Kuykendall (who has the training necessary to place implants himself rather than referring you to an outside specialist), implants have a success rate of more than 95%, even after several decades. You can rest easy knowing that your replacement tooth has the potential to last for upwards of 30 years, provided you take proper care of it with regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups. In fact, dental implants have a higher long-term success rate than dentures, bridges, and even root canal therapy.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

The majority of adults who are in good physical health can get dental implants without a problem. Here are a few of the important criteria that we look at when we determine candidacy:

• General Health: Placing a dental implant requires that you undergo a surgical procedure, so you need to be in good enough health for this.
• Oral Health: Cavities and gum disease increase your risk of dental implant failure. If you have any existing dental problems, they need to be eliminated before you can move forward with the treatment.
• Jawbone Density: You must have adequate jaw density to be a sturdy foundation for your replacement teeth.

If you aren’t currently a good candidate for dental implants, this doesn’t always rule them out for the future. Many patients need to undergo preliminary procedures beforehand. This includes tooth extractions, gum disease treatment, and bone grafting. We are happy to help you get these scheduled. Once your gums and jaw are in good shape, we can discuss moving forward with the rest of the dental implant process.

Missing One Tooth

To replace individual teeth, a single titanium implant is combined with a porcelain crown and abutment connector. The abutment keeps the restoration stable, while the implant organically integrates with bone tissue thanks to its inherent biocompatibilities.

Missing Multiple Teeth

A traditional bridge requires the removal of tooth structure to be placed and anchored properly, but implant-supported bridges only require implants to hold a restoration. If you have consecutive missing teeth in your jaw and don’t want to remove existing tooth structures, dental implants offer a viable alternative. If you are missing teeth in different areas of an arch, a partial denture can be fixed to a number of strategically placed dental implants.

Missing All Teeth

Implant dentures, whether they are full or partial, fixed or removable, provide a more stable and longer-lasting solution to extensive tooth loss. If you’re tired of having to reline, repair, or replace your denture every several years, implant-supported solutions can make your daily life a whole lot easier.

Learn More About Implant Dentures

Types of Dental Implants

The number of implants you need and the type of restoration you will receive depends on how many teeth you’re missing. Dental implants can be used to replace anywhere from one tooth to a whole mouthful of missing pearly whites. The cost of your treatment will also depend on these factors.

• Single tooth: If you’re only missing one tooth, we suggest an implant-retained crown to fit into your smile like the missing piece of a puzzle.
• Multiple teeth: For multiple consecutive missing teeth, we can place an implant-retained dental bridge to restore both the beauty and structure of your smile.
• All teeth: Using implant dentures, we can replace your entire smile using four to six implants per arch. This option is significantly studier and longer lasting than conventional dentures.

What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?

Getting dental implants takes at least a few months and several separate treatments. First comes the initial consultation, where we’ll take detailed x-rays to determine exactly where your implants will go. Sometimes we may determine that a preliminary procedure, like a bone graft or sinus lift, is necessary before placing implants.

During your implant surgery, tiny holes will be made in your jawbone, into which the implants will be placed. Afterward, your jawbone must heal for at least three or four months while the implants fuse to your jaw and become a part of you. When you’re all healed up, you’ll return to our office, where we’ll place your permanent restorations, allowing you to enjoy a complete, beautiful smile.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

Although dental implants may come with a higher price tag than other tooth replacement options, they actually have the potential to save you money in the long run. With proper care, dental implants can last for decades to come, maybe even the rest of your life. This means you spend less time and money getting your restorations repaired or replaced, like you would with a bridge or denture. Dental implants also come with several other health benefits that other solutions don’t offer, like jawbone preservation, which prevents additional tooth loss and keeps you looking young. For these reasons, most patients find that dental implants are well worth the investment.  

Does My Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Unfortunately, most insurance companies don’t cover the full cost of dental implants. However, our team is more than happy to file insurance claims on your behalf to make sure you’re getting the maximum amount of benefits possible from your plan. Sometimes, insurance companies will cover the cost of part of the treatment, such as a bone graft or the restoration. To find out more about how much of your new smile your insurance plan will cover, give us a call today to schedule a consultation.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Once you return home to heal after having your dental implants placed, you will need to continue your regular oral hygiene routine. However, you will need to be careful around the surgical sites to avoid irritating or harming your implants.

To ensure that your mouth remains decay and disease-free during this time, make sure to:

• Avoid brushing near the implant sites for a few days. After this time, you can begin to use a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Instead of using mouthwash to rinse your teeth and gums, opt for saltwater, as this will help speed up the healing process.
• Make sure to rinse your mouth after eating each time.
• Try not to chew on the side of your mouth that have new implants.
• If dental floss is too difficult to use, consider a water irritator that is much gentler.
• Use a cold compress or ice pack to reduce swelling and minimize discomfort.
• Take any antibiotics or medications as directed.

Protect Your Dental Implants

When it comes to caring for your dental implants, there are several steps you can take to keep them looking and feeling their best, including:

• Allowing the anesthetic to wear off before attempting to eat anything
• Avoiding tobacco or smoking until your implants are healed. If possible, try to quit before you have them placed
• Avoiding any strenuous activity for at least 48 hours after placement
• Trying not to touch or prod at the implant sites
• Wearing a mouthguard if you are prone to teeth grinding
• Wearing a sportsguard if you plan to engage in sports-related activities
• Avoid hard, crunchy foods, as these can damage both natural and artificial teeth
• Maintain a good oral hygiene routine to help strengthen your natural tooth enamel and avoid gum disease that can negatively impact your dental implants

Should you being to feel as if a dental implant is causing problems, or if you experience damage to one of your implants, don’t wait to call us. We will need to see you as soon as possible to determine how severe the problem is and what course of action to take to remedy the issue.

Schedule Regular Recall Visits

It is necessary that you maintain regular visits to see our team. Why? Because it is still important that we help you maintain a healthy smile with regular checkups and cleanings, but we also want to be able to examine your restorations to ensure they are still firmly in place and presenting no problems to your oral cavity or smile. These regular recall visits make it possible for us to immediately diagnose any issues early on and avoid unnecessary dental care in the future.

How long do dental implants last?

With the proper care and maintenance, your dental implants can last for up to 35 years, as opposed to only seven years with traditional restorations. That means that you’ll be spending less money and time on dental visits, adjustments, and replacement restorations. Plus, your dental implants will be easy to care for. Here are some basic preventive tips to extend your dental implants’ lifespan:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes twice each day.
• Floss your teeth daily.
• Rinse with antibacterial mouthwash regularly.
• Visit Dr. Kuykendall every six months for your checkups and cleanings.

By keeping up with routine dental hygiene, you’ll be able to prevent oral health issues such as gum disease from developing, keeping the foundation for your dental implants (your gums and jaw) as healthy as possible.

What is it like recovering from dental implant surgery?

Recovering from dental implant surgery isn’t as bad as many patients feel it will be. In fact, many of our patients are able to go back to their daily routines the very next day! In the first 24 hours, you may experience some bleeding, which can be minimized by biting down on a gauze pad placed on your wound. To keep any swelling down, be sure to place a cold compress on your cheek for 10 minutes on and 10 minutes off. Other than that, any pain can easily be managed with over-the-counter medications such as Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol. If we prescribe you pain medication, be sure to take that as directed to minimize any discomfort.

Is dental implant placement painful?

The actual dental implant surgery is actually easier than taking a tooth out. We use local anesthesia, so you don’t feel a thing while we’re placing the titanium posts. If it’s also a comfort, you won’t be awake either. The jawbone where we’ll be placing the implant doesn’t have many pain-sensing nerves either. If you do feel nervous before the surgery, at Spring Dentist, we also offer sedation dentistry techniques to help you feel relaxed.

Why is it important to replace missing teeth?

Even if you’re just missing a single tooth, it’s still important to get it replaced. Without anything stimulating the area of your jawbone where your missing tooth roots are, it will begin to deteriorate, or thin out. This can cause your facial shape to change and cause you to need a bone graft before you’ll be able to have dental implant surgery. Plus, each of your teeth helps hold the others in place, so having a gap in your mouth can cause your existing natural teeth to drift out of place.