Dental Implants – Harlingen, TX

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is unlike other kinds of tooth replacement. It doesn’t replace the part of the tooth that can normally be seen – it actually serves as the replacement for the roots of the teeth. Since the posts are made out of biocompatible materials, they can fuse with your jawbone and as a result can hold your new teeth tightly in place. You can get dental implants to replace any number of teeth as long as your jaw is healthy enough to support them.

The 4 Step Dental Implant Process

• Consultation and Preliminary Care: A thorough checkup needs to be performed before the implant process can begin. Gum disease, bone loss, and other oral health issues must be dealt with.
• Implant Surgery: A specialist will surgically place the required implant posts into the jaw.
• Osseointegration and Abutment: You will wait several months for the bone to join with the implant post. Then a special piece called an abutment will be placed. (The abutment is what will hold the crown, bridge, or denture.)
• Final Restoration: Once your mouth has fully healed, we’ll handle the process of designing and placing the necessary restoration.

Benefits of Dental Implants

• Natural Functions: Dental implants restore the full chewing power of your natural teeth, letting you eat completely normally.
• Long Lifespan: A well-cared for dental implant has the potential to last a lifetime in contrast to bridges and dentures that may only last around 10 years.
• Prevent Bone Loss: The stimulation from dental implants stops the underlying bone from deteriorating so that the jaw doesn’t start to break down.
• Improved Oral Health: Having a dental implant placed can prevent other teeth from drifting into the gap left by a missing tooth, which could lead to oral health issues in the long term.

Who Can Dental Implants Help?

Virtually anyone suffering from tooth loss – from those who just lost a single tooth in an accident to those who are tired of the inconveniences associated with traditional dentures – can benefit from having dental implants placed. We’ll have to evaluate your oral health to see if there’s anything that needs to be addressed before the surgery. Once your mouth is ready, implants can be used to replace your teeth in the following ways:

Missing One Tooth

A crown is attached to a single implant that has integrated with the jawbone. Using an implant instead of a dental bridge means that you won’t have to have your natural teeth permanently altered to make room for the restoration. The crown will be designed to blend in seamlessly with the other teeth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Using an individual implant for each missing tooth could get costly. To save time and money, a pair of dental implants can be used to support a dental bridge that replaces three or more teeth in a row. This is also a good option for those who do not have enough healthy teeth to support a traditional bridge.

Missing All Teeth

Traditional dentures are not without their uses, but over time you might get tired of them moving and slipping. Four to six implant posts are enough to guarantee that your dentures stay in place, and the extra stability will make it easier to enjoy many different types of food.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

As you might expect, dental implant restorations are more costly than traditional ones, with the final price depending on the number of posts needed, the kind of restoration you receive, and the steps that end up being part of the implant procedure. Remember that dental implants last longer than other restorations (and in some cases can last a lifetime), so you won’t have to pay for replacements nearly as often as the years go by.