Dental Implants – Greater Inwood, Houston, TX
Replace Missing Teeth with Modern Dental Implants
Losing one tooth or several can result in serious problems for a patient that span far beyond purely aesthetic frustrations. Suddenly, your risk of tooth decay is heightened, your remaining teeth are in danger of shifting out of place, and the jawbone can start to deteriorate fr om a lack of stimulation.
Here in Greater Inwood, there’s no reconstructive option that Dr. Mark E. Lawton trusts more for his valued patients than dental implants. Dental implants are permanent, state-of-the-art restorations that are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth in look, feel, function, and longevity. We can’t wait to give you back the full, strong smile you deserve – contact our practice today to get started with an initial consultation.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Traditional tooth replacement services only bother with recreating the white crown of the tooth. While this is good news for your smile, the lack of a tooth root to support the crown results in reduced oral health over time. Dental implants are unique because they rebuild every part of a tooth from the ground up, starting with the root. The finished “tooth” succeeds from every angle, providing optimal function and durability while also maintaining a high level of aesthetic value.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
If you believe that dental implants are the right choice for you, the first step will be an in-depth consultation with Dr. Lawton. He will take a close look at your jawbone and general oral health to determine if you’re a suitable candidate for this procedure. Once you’ve been given the green light, a titanium implant post is surgically inserted into the jawbone so that it can fuse in place. While many dentists have to refer their patients to a specialist for this portion of care, Dr. Lawton is proud to have the advanced training and experience needed to personally offer it here in his Greater Inwood office.
Indications for Dental Implants
Once the new “root” is securely in place, the last step is to top it with a custom-made restoration. Dental implants can replace one tooth, multiple teeth, or even your whole smile. The type of restoration that we mount your implants with will depend on how many teeth you’re missing.
Missing Single Tooth
If you’re missing just one tooth, Dr. Lawton will use an implant-retained dental crown to restore your smile back to its full health, beauty, and function. This crown will be crafted from high-quality ceramic and color-matched to your existing smile.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Are you missing multiple teeth that are right next to each other? We can use an implant-retained dental bridge to literally bridge the gap in your smile. This can be done by placing a dental implant on either side of your custom-made restoration for maximum function and stability.
Missing All Teeth
If you’re missing all or most of your teeth, Dr. Lawton uses implant-retained dentures to replace your whole smile. Using some strategically placed dental implants to stabilize your denture, you can enjoy a full, healthy, and strong set of teeth.
Implant-retained teeth can easily last for the rest of a patient’s life as long as they’re cared for with regular brushing, flossing, and professional checkups. We look forward to helping you regain your best smile and quality of life with state-of-the-art dental implants!
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of your dental implants can range because of the variables associated with the procedure and restoration. Factors like the number of implants that you need, where you need them, and the condition of your oral health will influence the price. Then, the restoration itself must be added to the cost, which will also depend on the number of teeth you’re missing. The best way to receive a precise and fair estimate is to contact our office for a consultation. Dr. Lawton will carefully examine your mouth and develop a personalized treatment plan that will give you a better idea of the cost of your implants.
Dental Implant FAQs
When it comes to restoring your lost teeth, dental implants are truly in a class of their own. With all of their benefits that you read about earlier, it’s hard not to choose dental implants as your solution to tooth loss. However, they are a pretty large investment in the future of your smile. As a result, you undoubtedly have some questions. Not to worry; we have gathered some of the dental implant questions that we get asked the most often and answered them for you below.
Why Do I Need a Bone Graft?
At your initial consultation, we may tell you that you need a bone grafting procedure before you can receive your implants. This is because when you go without teeth for long enough, your jawbone starts to deteriorate. When your jawbone doesn’t have enough mass, implant failure is significantly more likely. With bone grafting, Dr. Lawton is able to graft artificial bone material onto your jawbone to strengthen it for the implant procedure.
Are There Any Risks Associated with Dental Implant Surgery?
It’s perfectly understandable to be concerned about any possible risks. Getting dental implants, after all, is a surgical procedure, which always carries some risks. This is especially true if your immune system is compromised in some way, such as if you have diabetes or HIV/AIDS. With these conditions, there is a slight chance of post-operative infection. However, if you are at risk for infection, Dr. Lawton should prescribe a round of antibiotics to keep you infection-free.
How Long Will It Take for My Dental Implants to Heal?
The duration of the healing process will be affected by a few factors, such as how many implants you’re receiving and the current density of your jawbone. More often than not, dental implants require several months to fully integrate with your jawbone before an abutment and permanent restoration can be placed. If you need procedures like a bone graft or gum disease therapy beforehand, that can significantly lengthen your treatment time. This is why it’s impossible to give you an accurate and precise time frame without coming in for a consultation so that we can evaluate your individual case.
Will the Implant Placement Hurt?
Thanks to plenty of local anesthetic and sedation if need be, you should experience minimal discomfort during your implant placement procedure. In fact, many patients report that placement hurts significantly less than getting a tooth extracted. Dr. Lawton can also prescribe pain relievers to alleviate any discomfort you may have following your procedure.