Dental Implants Cypress

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are titanium posts that act like missing tooth roots, offering stability and support for the custom crown, bridge, or denture that rests on top. They are positioned within the jawbone and fuse with surrounding tissues to form a firm bond that offers continuous stimulation over time. Instead of the bone continuing to deteriorate because of tooth loss, the implant keeps it dense, so facial collapse does not occur.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

The process for dental implants in Cypress is longer and more intensive than what you would experience with traditional forms of tooth replacement. However, it is well worth it! Our highly skilled oral surgery team can handle even complex cases, and we can coordinate your treatment plan with your general dentist so you receive top-quality care during every stage of your journey. Before your new smile is complete, you will need to go through four main steps: an initial consultation, the dental implant surgery, osseointegration and abutment placement, and delivery of your final restorations.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

During your initial consultation, our team will thoroughly evaluate your oral health and review your medical history. We will take digital images and X-rays, possibly along with CBCT images, to assess your bone structure and determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants. Our oral surgeons will explain the entire process, answer your questions, and discuss your treatment options.

If necessary, we may recommend preparatory procedures, such as bone grafting or tooth extractions, to support your implants. Our goal is to create a personalized plan that aligns with your needs and coordinates closely with your general dentist.

Dental Implant Surgery

During the dental implant surgery, we will place high-quality titanium posts into your jawbone at pre-planned positions. This procedure typically takes place in our state-of-the-art surgical suite, where we will use advanced techniques to promote optimal outcomes. We can even use our CBCT machine to create custom surgical guides, which minimize the risk of human error and can help us place your implants precisely where they belong.

Local anesthesia or sedation is available to maximize your comfort throughout the procedure, so you should feel little to nothing while our team is working. In most cases, the surgery takes 1 – 2 hours.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

After implant placement, your jawbone will gradually bond with the titanium posts in a process called osseointegration. This phase is essential for developing a strong foundation that supports your future restoration (crown, bridge, or denture). It may take several months to complete.

Once osseointegration is successful, we may perform a second procedure to attach small connector pieces, known as abutments, to the implants. These abutments will serve as anchors for your restoration. (In some cases, abutments are placed during the initial surgery, so this second procedure is not always necessary.)

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

In most cases, your general dentist will craft and deliver your final dental implant restoration, such as a crown, bridge, or denture. Occasionally, our practice provides restorations directly. The restoration will be custom-made to match the color, shape, and size of your natural teeth for a seamless appearance. Its design will be based on highly detailed, accurate impressions of your mouth.

During the placement appointment, the restoration will be attached to its abutment(s) and your care team will verify that it does not interfere with your bite. You will receive instructions for maintaining your new teeth, and we will remain available to support you throughout your long-term oral health journey.

Benefits of Dental Implants

• Long-Lasting Results: Unlike traditional tooth replacement options, like dentures and dental bridges, dental implants can last 30+ years with the right kind of care.
• Jawbone Stability: The titanium posts that integrate with the jawbone deliver continuous stimulation each time you bite down or chew, keeping it dense and supportive.
• Lifelike Smile: The implants blend in with your existing teeth, so you can expect your smile to appear lifelike and seamless.
• Improved Bite Force: Instead of worrying about your teeth slipping or falling out, you can remain confident they’ll stay in place – a factor that makes eating all your favorite foods easier, especially since you’ll have a nearly fully restored bite force.
  

Who Can Dental Implants Help?

Dental implants are considered a good solution for almost anyone who is experiencing tooth loss. Although certain issues may prevent immediate access to surgery (i.e., lack of jawbone density, poor oral health, etc.), you can discuss ways to address these issues with our oral surgeons. We’ll identify proper treatment options to improve the health of your mouth so that your future dental implants thrive.

A scheduled consultation with one of our team members is essential, though, as we’ll need to make sure you are in good enough health to undergo surgery. We’ll also discuss which type of treatment you will need based on the number of teeth you are missing:

Missing One Tooth

Instead of altering healthy teeth to support and anchor a dental bridge, we can replace a single missing tooth with one dental implant. Once placed within the vacant socket along the arch, the post will be topped with a custom dental crown provided by your general dentist.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Our doctors can use two dental implants to rebuild a section of your smile where multiple teeth are missing. This eliminates the need to alter healthy teeth and use metal clasps to hold artificial teeth in place. Instead, a custom dental bridge can be secured on top of the implant posts for a more comfortable and longer-lasting fit.

Missing All of Your Teeth

When replacing an entire row of teeth, we can use between four and six titanium implant posts to create a stable and supportive base for the new denture. With the help of our CT-guided implant surgery, we can make sure each post is accurately positioned so that when ready, your dentist can affix the denture in place for optimal function and aesthetics.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Each step of the dental implant process incurs a cost, which is why delivering an estimate is not possible until we have a chance to meet with you for a scheduled consultation. The cost of dental implants varies between patients, so we must first identify how many implants you will need, as well as if you require sedation in addition to local anesthesia. The various factors we will consider will help formulate your estimate, which we will discuss with you during your consultation. Our team will determine if you plan to use your dental insurance and/or if you will need to seek alternative payment options to avoid out-of-pocket expenses.