Dental Implants in Temple, TX

Missing teeth do more than spoil an otherwise great smile. Gaps between your teeth can put other teeth at risk because your smile depends on each tooth to support its neighbor and form a natural barrier to bacteria.

At Lakewood Dental Trails, we want you to have all the benefits of advanced dentistry available. At our modern dental office, we're pleased to provide state-of-the-art restorative dentistry treatments, including dental implants.

Find Dental Implants in Temple, TX

Dental implants placed by our Temple, TX dentists are durable, natural-looking replacement teeth that are firmly anchored in place with titanium posts placed into your jawbone.

If you have been living with the discomfort and embarrassment of missing teeth and want to learn more, please read all about dental implants below. Then call us to schedule an appointment to see if implants are right for you.

• What are dental implants?
• Why are dental implants so popular?
• What's involved with getting a tooth implant?
• How do implant-supported dentures work?
• Are you an experienced dental implant dentist?
• Does insurance cover dental implants?

Dental implants are a tooth replacement that mimics the look, feel, and function of a real tooth. Each implant consists of three pieces: The dental implant is a titanium post that is designed to act as a replacement tooth root. It’s placed surgically in your jawbone during a comfortable procedure at our dental office. The implant abutment is a small connector piece that your dentist attaches to the implant post in your jaw. Your new tooth restoration is then secured to the abutment.

The tooth restoration is the only part of the implant that is visible when you smile. For single-tooth replacement, our dentists would attach a porcelain dental crown; for multiple teeth, they would attach a bridge or denture.

Why are dental implants so popular?

Dental implants are popular because they are the closest thing that dentistry has to a real tooth. Bridges and dentures also replace missing teeth but they just sit on top of the gums A dental implant is secured in your jawbone and takes the place of the missing tooth root. This is the unique feature of implants, and the presence of an artificial root offers several benefits!

• Replaces a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth
• Promotes a strong, healthy jawbone
• Prevents additional tooth loss
• Holds a dental crown, and bridge securely in place
• Stabilizes full dentures to prevent movement
• Can last for decades when cared for properly

If you ask our patients about the benefits, they would tell you that they are thrilled to have a smile that looks complete and natural and a full set of teeth that function well. They love going back to eating all their favorite food.

Dental Implant Evaluation Are you a good candidate for a dental implant? The first step is an evaluation with one of our dental implant dentists in Lakewood, TX. They use 3-D cone beam imaging, a leading-edge digital imaging system that shows them a detailed view of the structures of your mouth. This allows our dentists to determine if you have enough healthy bone in your jaw to place the implant.

Expert Implant Placement in Lakewood, TX

We understand that having a dental implant placed in your jaw sounds a bit daunting, but it really isn’t! Our experienced dental implant dentists perform the procedure at our comfortable Lakewood, TX dental office during an appointment that takes about an hour. There are actually no nerves in bone to cause pain, but we will numb the area completely before we begin to be sure you don’t feel anything.

Using the guidance of highly precise 3-D cone beam scans, our dentists place the implant post in the optimal position in your jawbone.

Implant Healing and Osseointegration

Another unique feature of a dental implant is that once placed in the bone, it undergoes a process called osseointegration. This means that the jawbone fuses completely around the biocompatible implant post as it heals over the next 3-8 months. When healing is complete, the implant becomes a permanent part of your dental anatomy, just like your real tooth root was.

Restoring Appearance and Chewing Function

The next step is to create a replacement tooth that will be the part of the implant you can see when you smile. If we are replacing a single missing tooth, our dentists will customize a dental crown that looks natural and blends in seamlessly with surrounding teeth.

For multiple missing teeth, they would recommend a dental bridge or full or partial denture. The replacement tooth or teeth will look and function just like the real thing. Also, the dental implant acts as a natural tooth root, so you won't experience the bone loss that commonly occurs after tooth loss

Your Temple, TX dentists have experience and expertise in all areas of dentistry. We are always working to improve our skills and take advantage of the most advanced technology available. Because of our skill, experience, and attention to detail, our implant dentistry is second to none.

You can be confident that your dental implant will be of the highest quality and blend perfectly with your natural teeth. Our dental team will explain each step of the process to you thoroughly and answer any questions you may have about your dental implant treatment.

You can feel confident that your dental implant procedure will be performed gently and quickly, and the implant will last for many years.

How do implant-supported dentures work?

A removable full denture sits on top of your gums with no other support. An implant-supported or implant-retained denture is a set of prosthetic teeth specially designed with attachments that snap onto 4-6 implants already placed in your jaw, a treatment referred to as All-on-4 or All-on-6.

We recommend implant-supported dentures for patients with no or few remaining teeth and who have enough healthy jawbones to support implants. There are numerous benefits to implant-supported dentures aside from the obvious aesthetic improvement in your smile.

Patients with implant dentures appreciate significantly improved comfort, chewing function, and speech capability. Perhaps the most exciting benefit for denture-wearers is that they know their replacement teeth will stay securely in place no matter how hard they laugh, sneeze, or cough.

Does insurance cover dental implants?

Yes, some dental insurance may cover part of the cost of dental implants. However, the answer depends on the benefits of your particular plan, as many plans consider implants to be a cosmetic treatment and not covered by insurance.

There are also additional costs to consider when getting an implant, including consultations with your dentist, x-rays and scans, and anesthesia. While your dental insurance may cover some portion of the crown, bridge, or denture used to restore your implant, you will likely have to pay out of pocket for the rest.

For example, your insurance will likely cover the cost of your initial examination and a portion of the cost of tooth extraction if needed. However, we recommend that you contact your dental insurance provider to determine your specific coverage.

We also welcome you to contact Lakewood Dental Trails, and a helpful member of our team will be happy to answer your questions!