Dental Implants — Houston, TX

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Your oral surgeon will strive to learn about you and your oral health. After we use our CT scanner and other advanced technology to examine your mouth, we might determine that you need some preliminary treatments, such as a bone graft or tooth extractions, before you receive dental implants in Houston. We will let you know exactly what is likely to happen throughout your tooth replacement journey, from your implant placement surgery to your final restoration. We will also discuss pricing. Feel free to ask any questions you may have — we want you to commit to your treatment with confidence!

Dental Implant Surgery

As oral surgeons, we pride ourselves on our ability to place dental implants in the best way possible. We often use guided surgical techniques (as opposed to freehand), which helps us to determine the ideal place, depth, and angle for each implant.

The procedure starts when we make sure you are comfortable, using anesthesia and/or sedation. Then, we create incisions in the gums, place the implants, and close the incisions. (Some patients receive an immediate restoration during their surgical appointment, particularly if they are getting All-on-4 or Teeth in an Hour.) The surgery is fairly quick, and most patients are able to return to work within one or two days.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

Osseointegration is the remarkable biological process through which dental implants bond with the bone around them. It is what enables them to provide the strongest base possible for your new teeth. Osseointegration typically takes at least several months. Following it, you might need to undergo another surgery. We will expose the implants and place healing caps on them. Later, after your gums have recovered, you will receive abutments (small connector pieces that will keep your restorations in place). Some patients do not have to have this second surgery because they receive abutments during their initial implant placement procedure.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

To design your restorations, your implant dentist in Houston (whether that is our practice or your general dentist), will take detailed impressions of your mouth and then plan out the details of your new teeth. Their size, shape, and color will all be chosen with your unique oral anatomy and facial characteristics in mind. After a laboratory crafts your restoration, it will be attached to your dental implants, and you’ll receive some tips on how to get used to using it. Then, you can go and begin to enjoy all the remarkable benefits of your renewed smile.

Day-to-Day Benefits

The day-to-day benefits of dental implants in Houston include:

• Lifelike tooth replacement.Implant restorations are carefully designed to look as natural as possible. In fact, most people can’t tell the difference between a real tooth and a dental implant. Furthermore, implants feel so comfortable that even you might occasionally forget they’re there!
• Easy maintenance. In many ways, caring for dental implants is just like caring for natural teeth.
• Remarkable chewing power. Dental implants offer a strong bite force. In fact, they are able to handle virtually any food, including raw vegetables, tough meats, and all of your favorite movie-time snacks.
• Clear speech. Unlike traditional dentures, dental implants don’t slip around in the mouth and will not interfere with your pronunciation. After you get used to using them, you should be able to speak with confidence in every situation.

Health Benefits

Dental implants can support oral and overall health in numerous ways:

• Prevention of bone loss.Implants make it possible to stop the bone resorption that occurs after tooth loss, keeping the jaw strong and healthy. This allows your face to maintain its natural, youthful shape.
• Protection for natural teeth. Dental implants can prevent your remaining natural teeth from drifting out of place. Plus, unlike a traditional bridge, they don’t usually require that any nearby teeth be modified.
• A balanced diet. By enabling you to eat a wide variety of foods, dental implants can help you enjoy the disease-preventing benefits of good nutrition.
• No gum sores. Because they don’t rely on the gums for support, dental implants are unlikely to cause sores or sensitivity in the gum tissue.

Long-Term Benefits

You can start to enjoy the benefits of dental implants as soon as you receive restorations from your implant dentist in Houston, and you can continue to enjoy them for decades. Their long-term benefits include:

• Many years of function. For more than 90% of patients, their implants are still thriving 10 years after placement. With proper care, your implants could even last you an entire lifetime!
• Save money. Although dental implants present a significant upfront cost, their longevity may make them cheaper in the long run than tooth replacement solutions that wear out after just a few years.
• Save time. You won’t have to visit your dentist for denture relines or other significant maintenance. As long as no unexpected problems arise, dental implants require routine professional maintenance a couple times each year.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

To be eligible for dental implant treatment, you should:

• Have a fully grown jaw that contains enough bone tissue to secure the implants in place.
• Have a healthy mouth that is free of gum disease and other serious problems.
• Be willing to commit several months to completing the implant process.
• Have fair overall health.

Even if you have suffered from bone loss in your jaw or have an oral health issue, implant placement may be possible after the necessary preparatory procedures have been performed by a qualified dental implant dentist in Houston. We will then design your treatment around how many teeth you are missing.

Missing 1 Tooth

While a bridge can often benefit patients who have lost a single tooth or a few teeth in a row, they require cutting down perfectly healthy teeth near the affected area in order to be placed. Bridges also usually need to be replaced multiple times over a person’s lifetime, requiring additional time and effort.

Dental implants, on the other hand, are a conservative treatment in that they preserve the maximum amount of tooth structure. A lone dental implant can be used to fill an empty space in your mouth no matter where it is located. Once the implant fully integrates with your jawbone, you will receive a beautiful crown to go on top of it.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Of course, tooth loss isn’t always as simple as one individual tooth falling out at a time. In some cases, patients have a much larger gap to contend with. Dental bridges are often used to replace multiple teeth at once, but when they’re attached to dental implants, you’ll enjoy all of their benefits without having to make permanent alterations to your natural teeth. It takes two dental implants to support a bridge that replaces at least three consecutive teeth. If you are missing only two teeth in a row, you may require just one dental implant.

Missing All Teeth

Are you tired of your dentures moving when they’re not supposed to? With just four to six dental implants, we can hold an entire arch of teeth in place at all times — no need to rely on natural suction or to apply denture adhesive. Your new smile will look and feel more natural this way, and it will help you recover most of your bite strength, allowing you to once again enjoy a wide variety of foods.

We offer multiple types of implant dentures, including removable ones, traditional fixed prostheses, and the innovative and streamlined All-on-4 treatment.

Learn More About Implant Dentures Learn More About All-On-4 Dental Implants Learn More About Teeth-In-An-Hour

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

Blood clots should form at your surgical sites. These are a key part of your body’s healing process, so they should remain undisturbed. To reduce the risk that they will be prematurely dislodged, you should:

• Avoid the use of drinking straws.
• Abstain from smoking for at least a full day (longer would be better).
• Avoid spitting. Instead, swallow excess saliva or use tissues to absorb it.
• Resist any temptation to touch your surgical sites with your tongue or fingers.

Common Side Effects

Patients commonly experience the following during the first few days after they receive dental implants in Houston:

• Intermittent bleeding. Gauze, applied with light pressure, can keep this under control.
• This may continue for a few days to more than a week. Cold compresses can help to minimize it.
• Taking pain medications, as well as getting plenty of rest, can help to take the edge off of any discomfort.

If you experience any severe or unusual side effects during your recovery, call your implant dentist in Houston right away.

Diet

At first, you should consume a no-chew diet, which may include things like yogurt, smoothies, applesauce, and brothy soups. After several days, you may progress to fork-tender foods, such as scrambled eggs, soft bread, meatloaf, and other items that are easy to cut with the side of a fork. When your soft oral tissues are fairly well recovered, you can try adding harder foods back into your diet. You should abstain from alcohol for as long as you are taking pain medications (or for as long as your oral surgeon recommends).

Health & Oral Hygiene

The day after your surgery, you can brush your teeth. However, you should be extra-careful around your surgical sites. Rinsing with salt water two or three times each day can minimize inflammation and promote healing. If you have a prescription mouthwash, be sure to use it as directed. However, any mouthwashes with a high alcohol content should be avoided.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Once your new teeth are attached to your dental implants, you should not experience any bleeding, significant swelling, or downtime. Your gums may be a little tender, but you can expect that to wear off pretty quickly. You may want to eat soft foods for a while, but after you adapt to your prosthetic, you can enjoy a robust diet.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Dental implants in Houston cannot develop cavities, but if the tissue around them gets infected, the implants could fail. Fortunately, thorough oral hygiene can greatly reduce the risk that such an infection will occur. You should:

• Brush your teeth twice a day.
• Floss daily.
• Use an antibacterial mouth rinse.
• Follow any hygiene instructions that are specific to your restoration. For example, you may need to remove an overdenture for daily cleaning.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Dental implants can handle virtually any food, so you should feel free to enjoy all of your favorite meals, snacks, and treats. However, keep in mind that some foods are tougher on dental implants than others. You should avoid overindulging in sugary, sticky, and hard items. Instead, try to center your diet around foods that support oral health, such as those that are rich in calcium, vitamin C, and vitamin D.

Break Bad Habits

Some bad habits that can adversely affect dental implants include:

• This is one of the biggest risk factors for dental implant failure.
• Chewing on hard objects. Biting down on ice, chewing on pen caps, or eating extremely hard candy could break your implants’ restorations.

Any effort you put forth to break such bad habits will be worth it! If You are struggling with tobacco addiction, ask your primary care practitioner for assistance. They may be able to offer practical guidance and help.

Protect Your Dental Implants

If you play sports, you should always wear a mouthguard to protect both your dental implants and any remaining natural teeth. Custom mouthguards from an implant dentist in Houston are more effective than store-bought ones.

If you grind your teeth while you sleep, you may need a different type of mouthguard. It can place a barrier between your upper and lower teeth at night in order to prevent premature wear and tear on your implants and oral tissues.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

You should continue to visit your general dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. They will monitor the health of your dental implants, remove your restorations in order to clean around your abutments, and give you practical advice on dental implant care. If you ever run into any unusual symptoms with your prosthetic tooth roots, call Piney Point Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery right away — we are specialists who can diagnose and address most problems with dental implants.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Some patients require preliminary treatments, such as gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, or a bone graft, before they can receive dental implants in Houston. Each of these services comes with its own price.

The implant surgery itself incurs a separate fee. As oral surgery experts, we can perform this complex procedure right here in our office. You can expect us to be transparent with you about pricing, and you won’t have to worry about dealing with the financial policies of an outside specialist.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Not all dental implant treatments are the same. Different patients require varying numbers of implants, and implants can come from a wide range of manufacturers. They also come in different sizes and materials. Different surgical techniques may involve the use of specialized materials or customized provisional prosthetics (as is the case with All-on-4). All of these factors have a bearing on the cost of dental implants in Houston. At Piney Point OMS, we strive to use only the best quality materials and techniques.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

Although dental implants cost more upfront than traditional forms of tooth replacement, they are actually a smart investment. Other prosthetics, such as traditional dentures, may last for just 5 – 7 years before they are no longer usable. They also leave you vulnerable to a range of oral health problems. Dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime, and their restorations can also endure for many years. They can even help you save money by protecting your health.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Some dental insurance plans cover implants, while others do not. Our team will be happy to help you understand the details of your coverage. Even if it does not apply to the implants themselves, it may cover a portion of the price of your final restoration or preliminary treatments. As a specialty oral surgery practice, we also are happy to work with medical insurance, which occasionally covers dental implant surgery.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

As your implant dentist in Houston, we want you to be able to afford your treatment! That is why we are partnered with third-party lenders that offer low-interest and no-interest payment arrangements. Most patients qualify for credit, and you might even be able to choose from a range of plans so you can settle on one that works with your monthly budget.

Would you like to learn more about dental implants, their cost, and your payment options? Get in touch with us today — our team is ready to assist you!

CBCT Imaging

A regular digital X-Ray provides valuable information about the jawbone and other oral structures. However, the level of detail it provides is not quite what we need to perform the best dental implant treatment possible. That is why we have invested in a 3D cone beam scanner, also called a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) machine.

A CBCT machine is basically a super-powered X-Ray. It uses a cone-shaped beam of radiation to create highly detailed, three-dimensional images of the areas it scans. Not only can it show us your jawbone and teeth, but it can also alert us to the positions of nerves and connective tissues. Used as part of the dental implant planning process, a CBCT machine minimizes human error because it helps us anticipate what we will encounter during your implant placement surgery. Following your surgery, it can allow us to monitor osseointegration (how well the implants are bonding with the bone).

The scanning process is fast, painless, and noninvasive. All you have to do is hold still while the machine does it work. After the scan, we will have immediate access to images of your oral structures. CBCT scans are also safe for the vast majority of patients. Although the machine uses more radiation than a normal X-Ray, it uses much less than a regular CT machine that you would find a hospital.

Guided Dental Implant Surgery

Many implant dentists in Houston and specialists use freehand techniques to place dental implants. Essentially, they take a highly educated guess as to where, how deep, and at what angle dental implants should be inserted into the jaw. In most cases, especially simple ones, freehand placement is successful.

However, guided implant surgery is more accurate and reduces the risk of human error. Prior to your surgery, we will use detailed scans of your mouth to design a surgical guide. After a laboratory creates the guide, we will use it during your procedure to ensure that we place the implants precisely where they belong. Guided implant surgery is especially recommended for patients who are receiving multiple implants as well as those who have other complicating factors in their case. Although creating the guide may add to your overall treatment timeline, the peace of mind that it provides is well worth it.

Antibacterial Coating

Dental implants are consistently successful, but there is always a small chance that an infection could compromise their function. Fortunately, we can reduce that risk by using dental implants that have an antibacterial coating, which fights harmful micro-organisms that could otherwise cause a problem. Research even indicates that antibacterial coatings on implants can promote improved osseointegration. (Osseointegration is the biological process through which dental implants bond with the surrounding bone.)

E4D Digital Impression System

Often, we partner with local dentists, who design and create the restorations that get attached to dental implants. However, in some cases, we design the restorations ourselves. To ensure that your prosthetic teeth fit as comfortably as possible, we must take impressions of your mouth. Whereas many practices still use manual, putty-based impressions, we have upgraded to digital impressions. We simply move a wand-like device around your mouth, and advanced software assembles the captured data into a digital, three-dimensional representation of your mouth.

Would you like to learn more about the technology we use to place dental implants in Houston? Our team is ready to answer your questions.  Give us a call  today — we look forward to hearing from you!

Bone Grafting

The alveolar ridge is the portion of your jawbone that supports your teeth. Tooth roots stimulate the ridge, helping to keep it strong and whole. Once a tooth goes missing, that stimulation is gone, and the bone begins to be resorbed (the body recycles its raw materials). Eventually, the alveolar ridge may become so thin that it is not able to support dental implants. Even some patients who have recently had their teeth extracted may find that their jawbone is not strong enough to accommodate their new smile.

In such cases, a bone graft using synthetic bone or natural bone from another part of your body can be placed next to the thin bone and allowed to heal for 4 – 9 months. After the graft has fused or become integrated with your pre-existing bone, the alveolar ridge will be re-contoured, and the dental implant will be placed. In some instances, patients are even able to receive a dental implant on the same day as their bone graft.

Sinus Lifts

Your sinus cavities are located just above your upper molars. If the bone in your upper jaw is relatively thin, or you have naturally large sinuses, this poses a problem for dental implants. The implants might puncture the sinus membrane and lead to complications. Fortunately, there is a special type of bone graft that is designed to prevent this issue. A "sinus grafting procedure," which is also known as a sinus lift in Houston, can fortify your upper jaw and prepare your mouth for dental implants.

Usually, this treatment is performed in our oral surgery office with local and intravenous anesthesia. During your appointment, the membrane that lines the sinus will be located and elevated. Bone will then be added to restore height to the jaw and ensure that dental implants of an adequate length can be placed. This procedure can often be carried out at the time of dental implant placement, but in some cases, patients must go through a healing period of a few months before it is possible to place implants.

PRP/PRF

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are products that are created from a patient’s own blood. The blood is placed into a centrifuge, which separates its components. Then, we can use the platelet-rich part of the blood to encourage wound-healing after your dental implant placement surgery. This advanced dental implant procedure in Houston could speed up your recovery time, lower the risk of postoperative infections, and even reduce your need for pain medication.

What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?

Dental implant failure is quite rare. When it does happen, it is usually due to peri-implantitis, an infection in the tissue around an implant. It can cause so much damage to the gums and bone that they are no longer able to support the implant.

Another possible reason for implant failure is failed osseointegration. In other words, the implant does not bond properly with the jawbone. This may occur due to underlying health conditions or other factors.

You can minimize your risk of dental implant failure by avoiding tobacco use, maintaining excellent oral hygiene, and regularly visiting an implant dentist in Houston for preventive care.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Dental Implant Surgery?

Most patients are able to resume work and other normal activities within a day or two of their surgery. However, you should continue to avoid strenuous physical exertion for at least a week because it could delay healing. Within a few days, bleeding should subside, and within weeks, the soft tissue at your surgical sites should be fairly well-recovered. However, the bone will heal much more slowly; it may take 4 – 6 months to form a strong bond with your implants.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

We determine candidacy for dental implants on a case-by-case basis. Smoking will not automatically disqualify you from the procedure. However, it is a major cause for concern because it could slow down your body’s healing process, increase your risk of infection, and heighten your chances of experiencing dental implant failure. We highly recommend that you make efforts to kick the habit before your implant surgery. However, if you do not quit entirely, you should at least stop for the two weeks before and 2 – 3 months after your implant placement procedure.

Will People Be Able to Tell That I Have Dental Implants?

We carefully place dental implants so they are well-concealed beneath the gumline. We everything we can to ensure that their dark color is never visible through the gums.

The restorations on top of implants are designed with the purpose of making them look as natural as possible. Whether your restorations are provided by your general dentist, a prosthodontist, or our office, you can rest assured that all the small details will be given appropriate attention during the design process. Once your new teeth are in place, onlookers may have no idea that they are not the same pearly whites you have had since you were a teenager!

How Long Do Dental Implants Last? 

Dental implants are designed to last a lifetime. Once they integrate with the surrounding jawbone, their bond with your body should be permanent. However, whether or not they live up to their longevity potential depends on how they are cared for. You should diligently stick to a thorough oral hygiene routine, visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup, and protect your implants against physical trauma. It would also be wise if you abstain from tobacco in all its forms.

Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

You can expect the surgery itself to be painless. Your mouth will be thoroughly numbed. It is likely that you will also be sedated, so you will feel calm and relaxed throughout your procedure. Following your surgery, after any anesthesia and sedation wear off, it is normal to experience some soreness and swelling. Pain medications, whether they are prescription or over-the-counter, should be able to take the edge off of your discomfort. Cold compresses are also helpful. You should give us a call if you experience any severe or worsening pain after your surgery.

Am I Too Young to Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are reserved for patients whose jawbones have finished growing. People reach physical maturity at different ages, so there is no hard-and-fast rule about when someone can receive dental implants. Generally speaking, though, most oral surgeons and other dental professionals will not approve anyone under age 18 for dental implants. Some people are not eligible until their early to mid-20s.

Am I Too Old to Get Dental Implants?

There is no upper age limit for dental implants. Tooth loss is more common among older individuals, so seniors often take advantage of this treatment. Of course, it is worth noting that many older people have underlying health issues that could affect the success of their dental implant treatment. Your implant dentist in Houston will thoroughly assess all relevant factors before determining which form of tooth replacement may be best for you.

Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Eat with Dental Implants?

Dental implants in Houston can enable you to eat virtually anything, including tough and chewy foods that are off-limits with traditional dentures. Keep in mind, though, that you may not be able to dig into all of your favorite dishes immediately after you get your new teeth. It may take a bit of time for you to adjust to them.

Also, remember that right after your implant placement surgery, you will have to stick to a soft diet while your body is healing. As you recover, you will gradually be able to expand your dietary choices.