Dental Implants – Copperas Cove, TX
The Future of Tooth Replacement
Out of all the tooth replacement options available, dental implants are in a class of their own. They’re currently the only method to replace both the visible dental crown portion of teeth as well as the hidden root. This makes them the closest thing to recreating the pearly whites Mother Nature gave you. Are you curious about whether dental implants are right for you? Schedule a consultation with our Benchmark Family Dental and Orthodontics team today to discuss tooth replacement with dental implants in Copperas Cove, TX!
Why Choose Benchmark Family Dental and Orthodontics for Dental Implants?
- Start-to-Finish Dental Implant Treatment in One Location
- Comfortable, Precise Digital Impressions with iTero Scanners
- Dental Insurance Accepted & Additional Financing Available
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant itself is a screwlike post – typically made from titanium – that is positioned directly into the jawbone. Then, a natural process called osseointegration occurs, and the implant fuses to the bone, where it can function exactly like natural tooth roots. Once in place, the implant can anchor any number of replacement teeth for a lifelike, long-lasting smile.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Compared to other tooth replacements, dental implants have a more complex treatment process that spans several months and multiple phases. That said, you can rest assured they’re worth the time and effort! Benchmark Dental & Orthodontics performs the entire procedure in-house, so you'll benefit from Dr. Ahmed's expertise. She and our team will supervise all four steps of the dental implant process. In particular, these are consultation, surgery, osseointegration, and delivery of the final restoration(s).
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
To start things off, you’ll meet Dr. Ahmed for a brief consultation. This visit allows her to confirm your restoration goals, oral health background, and other relevant factors. These details then let us determine whether dental implants suit you and how to tailor your final treatment plan.
Please don’t panic if you don’t initially qualify for dental implants. To be honest, you can become a good candidate for them through extra dental work – gum disease therapy, tooth extraction(s), etc. These services would prepare you for the posts, ensuring your mouth is strong enough to support them.
Dental Implant Surgery
Should we approve treatment, your consultation will be followed by dental implant surgery. This phase of dental implant work is performed (and supervised) by our own Dr. Ahmed. With her at the helm, you can trust your new teeth will look and feel fantastic.
Dental implant surgery at our office involves the following:
- Anesthesia – Before anything else, Dr. Ahmed will numb your treatment site with anesthesia. Doing so ensures her placement work won’t hurt; you’ll only sense a slight pressure at most.
- A Minor Incision – Our team will make an incision in your gums after the anesthesia “kicks in.” By doing so, we’ll create space in your mouth for the implant post.
- Implant Placement – We’ll precisely place your implant post with advanced tools and methods.
- Gum Closure – After the placement is done, Dr. Ahmed will close your incision. She’ll then set a cap over your new post to wrap things up.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Not long after the placement surgery, your dental implant(s) will start fusing with your jaw. This fusion process (i.e., osseointegration) takes 4-6 months and firmly roots your posts. In other words, it ensures your new “teeth” become permanent parts of your mouth.
You’ll attend a follow-up surgery once the implant fusion has finished. At that point, we’ll place an abutment – a metal connector – on your implant post. A dental lab will craft your final restorations while you recover from this abutment work.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
At the end of treatment, we’ll deliver your implant’s final restoration. This dental prosthetic will vary based on how many teeth you’ve lost. To that extent, the device could be anything from a dental crown or bridge to an implant denture.
It won’t take us long to fit your final restoration. Once we’ve applied dental cement to your abutment, we’ll set the device, make some last-minute changes, and ensure your post fits well. With those tasks done, you can head out and enjoy your restored smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
By replicating the whole structures of lost teeth, dental implants mimic them in almost every way. They won’t slip out of place, they let you chew with the ease of natural teeth, and they can be brushed and flossed like your old pearly whites. Plus, they provide the stimulation your jawbone needs to prevent it from sagging. As a result, dental implants help you maintain a full, youthful facial appearance for many years to come.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Almost anybody with missing teeth can benefit from dental implants. A good candidate will already have good oral health and a strong jawbone, but certain preliminary treatments can make that a reality for you if it’s not already. The specifics of your dental implant treatment will be planned after you’ve attended a consultation that considers many factors, including the number of teeth you’re missing.
Missing One Tooth
If you’re missing just one tooth, then a single implant post can be vertically placed into the gap without altering the adjacent teeth. Then, we secure a lifelike dental crown on top that seamlessly blends into your overall smile.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Traditionally, a dental bridge is supported by natural teeth, but we can place one over implants to fill the space created by multiple consecutive missing teeth. A partial denture can also be anchored onto a small number of implants to replace several teeth at various points in an arch.
Missing All Teeth
Regular dentures can be notoriously inconvenient, but implant dentures solve all of those problems. They always stay firmly in place, they improve your biting strength, and they can be cleaned like natural teeth. Often, a full implant denture only needs between four and eight implant posts for support.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
If you’re looking to make the smartest financial choice for replacing your missing teeth, then dental implants are the way to go. That’s because they can potentially last for a lifetime, while dentures and bridges must be replaced every decade or so, which can rack up costs over the years. Dental implants are an investment that more than pays for itself in the long run.