A Natural-Looking Tooth Replacement Option
If you have ever felt frustrated about the function of your bridges or dentures, it is time to consider the benefits of implant dentistry. The natural look, feel, and reliability of implanted teeth has given thousands of those who have suffered from serious tooth loss the perfect solution. Vaca and Kirby Dental offers several treatment options, allowing you to experience a better way to recover your smile.
Dental implants can be placed by Dr. David Vaca or Dr. Chris Kirby, both of whom have been setting the standard for dental care in the East Texas area for over 20 years. They understand the positive impact implant dentistry can have on our patients. If you are in Longview, or another part of East Texas, call for a consultation at Vaca and Kirby Dental to discuss dental implants in Longview, TX. They can provide a permanent, fixed solution that can enhance your quality of life. Reach out to us at 903-663-0861.
What Are Dental Implants?
Implants are a unique and beautiful dental treatment that completely restores missing teeth. Where many restoration options replace only the visible biting surface, implants create an entire synthetic tooth replacement, all the way from root to crown.
There are two primary parts to a dental implant.
- The Implant Post | The implant post acts as your new tooth root, and it is valuable in several ways. Attaching your crown to a root makes it stronger, more durable, and long-lasting. This post is usually made out of medical grade titanium, and is placed directly into your jawbone, where it will heal and fuse into a powerful anchor for your crown.
- The Dental Crown | This is the visible portion of your tooth. It is attached to the implant post for a strong and comfortable hold. Each dental crown is uniquely crafted to precisely match the rest of your smile, healing the gap in your bite with both function and beauty.
Benefits Of Dental Implants
Before we begin your dental implant supported treatment plan, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of all of your available treatment options. We want to make sure you feel completely confident before we begin repairing your smile.
Some of the many benefits of tooth replacement using dental implants include:
- Implant posts replace tooth roots and provide improved dental health by creating the necessary stimulation to ensure you maintain jawbone density and gum tissue volume.
- Completely self-sustaining, implant-supported replacement teeth do not rely on your surrounding healthy teeth and other oral structures for support, making them better for your oral health.
- The close-to-natural end results mean that you can speak clearly, eat all of your favorite foods, and smile with complete confidence.
- When properly cared for, dental implant-supported restorations have a 90 to 95 percent success rate after 20 years.
Implants and Their Impact on Your Health
As integrative dentists, we want each and every treatment we do to benefit the health of your smile and body. Implants are one of the healthiest replacements for a tooth, as they maintain your jawbone long after a natural tooth root has been lost. When a natural tooth falls out, the jaw bone can lessen in density, causing pain, inflammation, or brittleness.
An implant replaces that tooth root safely and effectively. Once the implant is restored with a dental crown, your implant will prevent other teeth from shifting, and keep your gums healthy as well.
Not only does replacing the tooth keep your smile healthy, but it promotes healthier digestion. Digestion is negatively impacted when it becomes more difficult for food to be chewed properly. An implant functionally returns missing teeth, helping your mouth and stomach do its job properly.
Placing Dental Implants At Vaca and Kirby Dental
The placement of a dental implant comes in three major stages.
- 1. Implant Placement.
- 2. Osseointegration.
- 3. Crown Placement.
Implant Placement | Digital x-rays, scanners, and computer-guided treatment planning will help decide the perfect location for your root, after which it will be surgically implanted into your jawbone.
Osseointegration | Every procedure needs healing time, and implant placement is no exception. Not only do the gums need to heal, but so does the bone. In a process called osseointegration, the bone and the implant post fuse together, making each stronger together than they were alone. This fusion process is one of the keys to the huge success of dental implantation.
Crown Placement | After everything is healed properly, your custom-crafted dental crown is added to a small attachment piece that will permanently connect it to the implant rod.
Missing One Tooth
For a single tooth, an all-porcelain crown will be attached directly to the implant post. Dental porcelain is ideal for this procedure because it is able to mimic a natural tooth in shape, size, color, and even feel.
Missing Multiple Teeth
A row of missing teeth can be replaced using an implant-retained bridge. These restorations are anchored to implant posts on both ends, and they have the advantage of being able to be placed without needing the surrounding healthy teeth to be filed down to provide support. For both consecutive and nonconsecutive missing teeth, we will be happy to offer a partial denture to fill the gaps in your smile. These partials are attached to between four and six implant posts.
Missing All Your Teeth
To replace one or both rows of teeth, we will use an implant-retained denture. We offer a variety of implant denture options. Traditional implant dentures use four to six strategically positioned implant posts for support. We also offer the innovative All-on-4 and Teeth-in-a-Day denture treatments to improve success rates and comfort for these advanced restoration options.
How Dental Implants Work
Dental implants are small posts that function like your tooth roots. In order to receive a functioning dental implant, you need to have adequate gum tissue volume and jawbone density. Then, the implant post is inserted into the jawbone. Over the course of several months, the implant fuses with the supportive bone and gum tissue. Then, we attach abutments that anchor your replacement tooth or teeth. Once the abutments are in place, we design and craft your replacement tooth or teeth, recreating your flawless smile from the roots up.
Understanding The Cost Of Dental Implants
During your tooth replacement consultation, we’ll walk you through every step of the treatment process, including the cost of each phase of treatment. There are three main phases of treatment you’ll need to consider the cost of when budgeting for dental implants—preparatory procedures like extractions and tissue grafts, implant placement surgeries, and the attachment of an abutment post and replacement tooth or teeth.
Every patient’s plan will be different, and the cost fluctuates based on a variety of factors, including:
- The number of missing teeth
- The number of dental implants
- Any materials and manufacturers
- The use of dental sedation to ensure comfort
We are happy to help you file your dental insurance claims for any covered aspects of dental implant tooth replacement, and we will work with you to receive low and no interest financing when possible.
Caring For Dental Implants
Dental implants allow you to make a long-term investment in your quality of life. If you care for them properly, you will enjoy a 95 percent success rate. There are several things you can do at home to ensure your new smile lasts for several decades. Besides brushing and flossing, it is best to take the time to protect your new smile from any potential complications.
Vatech Green CT Scanner
We utilize the Vatech Green CT scanner for many treatments available in our dental office, including dental implants. The Green CT system provides ultra-low X-ray doses, rapid scanning, and multiple Field of View (FOV) sizes, allowing us to see a complete, three-dimensional view of the area where a tooth needs to be replaced and how the whole bite fits together. This advanced imaging technology enables us to precisely plan your dental implant surgery and design your replacement teeth, enhancing our ability to care for patients at every stage of the implant process.
Call Vaca and Kirby Dental today at 903-663-0861 to schedule your appointment for dental implants in Longview, TX.