Dental Implants
- David Mueller
5.0
Dental Implants in San Antonio, TX
Restoring Your Smile From The Roots Upward
Why Choose Legacy Dental SA For Dental Implants?
Schedule your next appointment with us.
What Are Dental Implants?
The 4 Step Dental Implant Process
Dental implants in North Central San Antonio are quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to replace missing teeth. This revolutionary treatment offers durable, lifelike, comfortable, and long-lasting results that you simply can’t get from more traditional methods. Although the dental implant process is a bit more complex than that of getting dentures or a fixed dental bridge, each step adds to the long-term success of your newly rebuilt smile. Learn more about this unique journey below, and contact Dr. Brian Eck and his friendly team at Legacy Dental SA when you’re ready to schedule your consultation!
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
Dental Implant Surgery
Next comes the surgical placement of your dental implant. Dr. Eck partners with local specialists to achieve the best results for missing teeth in North Central San Antonio. That way, you can trust that you’re receiving the best possible care from highly trained and skilled oral surgeons.
To mimic the roots of your missing tooth, small, biocompatible titanium posts will be inserted into your jawbone. As you relax under sedation or anesthesia, small incisions will be made in your gums to access the jawbone. Once the posts have been planted into the bone tissue, the gums are sutured closed, a protective cap is placed over the post, and the healing process begins.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Over the next several months after your surgery, the titanium post will naturally fuse with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. As your jaw heals, it provides a solid foundation for your new tooth that promotes jawbone health and long-lasting results. While this step may take four to six months to complete, the results have the potential to last a lifetime!
Once your jawbone and gums have fully healed, you’ll return to our office for the next step in the dental implant process. During this appointment, Dr. Eck will access the top of your implant posts to place small connector pieces called abutments that will eventually hold your new teeth on top of the implant post. He’ll also take impressions of your mouth, which will be used to create your final restoration.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
Benefits of Dental Implants
Day-to-Day Benefits
- Natural look and feel: Since dental implants are rooted in the jawbone like natural teeth and are topped with a carefully crafted restoration, they look and feel just like natural teeth.
- Easy to care for: Dental implants can be cared for just like natural teeth, no soaking, pastes, special brushes, or other products required.
- Freedom to eat whatever you want: While dentures and bridges only restore about 25-30% of your chewing ability, dental implants can restore 75% or more of your natural biting force, allowing you to comfortably eat and drink whatever you want.
- Smile with total confidence: Thanks to their unique placement, you should never have to worry about your dental implant feeling loose or slipping out of place at embarrassing moments.
Health Benefits
- A healthy option for your smile: Dental bridges require removal of healthy tooth enamel and dentures rely on your gums for support, which can lead to sensitive, weakened teeth and sore gums. Dental implants are self-supporting, and therefore the healthiest option for your smile.
- Prevent jawbone deterioration: Since dental implants are the only tooth replacement option to replace the roots of missing teeth, they’re the only one to stop the jawbone deterioration that typically follows tooth loss.
- Better oral health: Keeping your jawbone strong will help prevent future tooth loss. And, since dental implants are easy to clean, they’ll help you lower your risk of oral health conditions such as cavities, gum disease, and oral infections.
Long-Term Benefits
- Long-lasting replacement teeth: Dental bridges and dentures only last about 10 years or so before they need to be replaced. In contrast, dental implants can easily last a lifetime with the right care!
- Improve your long-term health: Studies show that maintaining great oral health (which dental implants can help you do) can significantly lower your risk of health conditions like heart disease, memory loss, diabetes, arthritis, and more. Others show that replacing your missing teeth can even help you live longer!
- Save money in the long run: While dental implants have a higher upfront cost than other options, they can save you thousands of dollars in replacements, repairs, and extra trips to the dentist over the years. In the end, they will likely pay for themselves.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
- Good enough overall health to undergo minor surgery
- Great oral health, including no tooth decay or gum disease
- A jawbone that is strong and healthy enough to support dental implants
If you don’t meet all of these requirements initially, we may still be able to help you become a good candidate for dental implants! Many of our patients undergo preliminary treatments like gum disease therapy and bone grafting to maximize the success of their dental implants.
Once you’ve been cleared as a good candidate, we’ll plan out your treatment. This includes how many dental implants you need as well as what type of restoration. Dental implants are a versatile tooth loss solution that can replace any number of missing teeth, including all of the following:
Missing 1 Tooth
Missing Multiple Teeth
Missing All Teeth
To replace an entire arch of teeth, we’ll likely recommend an implant denture that is held in place with four to eight implant posts. Since these dentures will be securely anchored into your jawbone, you won’t have to worry about slipping, shifting, or causing gum irritation.
In addition to traditional implants, our team also partners with local surgical specialists in order to provide All-on-4 restorations as well. In these cases, a full denture is anchored securely in place with just four dental implants placed strategically in the thickest parts of the jawbone. This is a great option for patients who may not have enough jawbone density to support a traditional implant denture, plus the implants and restoration can often be placed on the same day! During your consultation, we’ll discuss whether All-on-4 is a good choice for you.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Because of the variety of factors that can impact the cost of dental implants in North Central San Antonio, it’s impossible for us to give you an estimate before setting up a consultation. Each patient’s smile is unique, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” price when it comes to dental implant treatment.
Admittedly, this option is more expensive at first, but dental implants are actually the more cost-effective solution in the long run. Our team will gladly answer any questions you may have regarding cost. At Legacy Dental SA, we also do everything we can to maximize your dental insurance benefits and even offer additional financing through CareCredit!
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Some patients do not qualify for dental implants right off the bat. Instead, they require additional procedures, such as bone grafting, tooth extractions, and gum disease therapy, to ensure their mouth is ready to support implants. These preparatory treatments lay the foundation for successful implants, but they also add to your overall treatment costs.
It’s also worth mentioning that because we refer you to an outside implant dentist in North Central San Antonio for the surgical placement of your implants, you’ll have to pay a separate bill to their practice in addition to ours.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
How Dental Implants Pay for Themselves Over Time
- You won’t have to constantly buy adhesives to keep your teeth in place.
- You won’t need specialized cleaning solutions – all you need to clean your implants is a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash.
- Your implants won’t need to be repaired or replaced every five to seven years like dentures and dental bridges do.
- Dental implants promote better oral health, lowering your risk of gum disease and other issues that could require expensive treatments.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Making Dental Implants Affordable
Maintaining & Caring For Your Dental Implants
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Eat a Healthy Diet
Break Bad Habits
Protect Your Dental Implants
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Advanced Dental Implant Procedures
Bone Grafting
Sinus Lift
PRP/PRF Treatment
Ridge Expansion
Dental Implant FAQs
Getting a titanium post inserted into your jaw may sound painful, but most dental implant patients are pleasantly surprised by how comfortable their procedure was. In fact, if you’ve ever had a tooth extracted, you can expect your implant placement surgery to feel similar.
Before the surgery begins, your mouth will be fully numbed with local anesthetic, and you will most likely be sedated. Your mouth may feel a bit sore for a few days afterward, but your procedure itself shouldn’t hurt.