Dental Implants – Fort Worth, TX

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Before we can place dental implants, Dr. McIntosh will perform a detailed examination of your mouth and capture X-rays of your jawbone to confirm if dental implants are right for you. She’ll also make sure you have sufficient oral and overall healtrooh. For example, you should not have gum disease or tooth decay, both of which will require additional treatment before implants can be placed. If you have reduced bone volume that makes you ineligible for dental implants at this time, a bone graft can be performed and given time to heal. This will ensure you can receive dental implants at a later date.

Dental Implant Surgery

For the first phase of the dental implant process, we partner with a highly trained, board-certified oral surgeon who will place your implants. Working with an oral surgeon for implant placement ensures the most successful outcome for your dental implants.

During the procedure, a small incision is created in your gum tissue so a tiny hole can be made in the jawbone. After the implant is placed and secured, the gums are stitched closed so the integration process can begin.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Once the implant post is in position, patients will need to wait three to six months to allow the implant to fuse with the gum and bone tissue through a process called osseointegration, which allows the implant to mimic the function of natural tooth roots. Once the dental implant post has fully fused with the jawbone, you will have your abutment put in place so that it can eventually hold your replacement tooth or teeth. To do this, the gum tissue is opened back up and the abutment is attached. After it is closed, the tissue will be given a few more weeks to heal around the implant and abutment.

Delivery of Dental Restoration(s)

At your final appointment, we’ll attach the permanent restoration to the top of your abutment. The abutment is an important component for your tooth replacement because it provides the restoration, whether it’s a crown, bridge, or denture, the stability it needs to withstand regular biting and chewing. It also ensures your restoration does not slip or shift out of place, which is something that should never occur with your dental implant. Our implant restorations are made from durable, color-matched, natural-looking dental ceramics to ensure your smile looks as beautiful as possible.

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Restored bite – Unlike bridges and dentures, dental implants are firmly embedded in the jaw. Therefore, you can trust that your teeth will remain in place no matter what you’re eating. Plus, implants bring back almost all of your original chewing power, so feel free to dig into all of your favorite foods!
• Flawless appearance – When you look at a dental implant right next to a real tooth in someone’s mouth, you almost certainly won’t be able to tell them apart. That’s because each implant is topped with personalized restorations that are designed to perfectly mimic natural tooth enamel.
• Easy maintenance – In terms of daily hygiene, caring for dental implants is almost exactly the same as taking care of natural teeth. All you have to do to keep your new smile strong and healthy is brush and floss every day and regularly visit your implant dentist in Fort Worth for checkups.

Health Benefits

• Jawbone preservation – Currently, dental implants are the only tooth replacement that can stop and even reverse the jawbone deterioration that occurs after teeth have been lost. Not only does this maintain a strong foundation for your remaining teeth, but it also prevents your face from prematurely wrinkling due to a weakened jawbone.
• Protection of your natural teeth – Placing a dental implant doesn’t require your natural teeth to be modified for support, unlike placing a dental bridge. Additionally, implants keep your remaining teeth from drifting out of position after tooth loss.
• Greater comfort – Dentures are notorious for causing sores and irritation as they rub against the gums. Dental implants won’t do this, resulting in greater comfort; in fact, dental implants are often so comfortable that many patients forget they even have them!

Long-Term Benefits

• Results you can trust – With a success rate of more than 95 percent, dental implants in Fort Worth are truly the most reliable method of replacing missing teeth.
• A solution that is built to last – As long as you take good care of them, dental implants can last for several decades – potentially even a lifetime! This actually makes them more cost-effective in the long run than bridges and dentures that must be replaced every five to ten years on average.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Your oral health matters when it comes to your candidacy for dental implants. Certain oral health issues such as gum disease can potentially lead to dental implant failure; as such, these types of problems need to be identified and properly treated before you can receive your implant posts.

The level of bone density in your jaw is also an important factor. Without a sufficient amount of bone tissue, your jaw won’t be able to give your implant posts the support they need. That said, even people who have experienced bone loss in their jaws can often still get dental implants after bone grafting.

Missing One Tooth

If you have only lost one tooth, the now-empty socket can be filled with a dental implant post. After said post finishes forming a lasting bond with the jawbone, it will be able to support a dental crown, which will be made out of materials that will allow it to match the appearance of the rest of your smile.

When it comes to single-tooth replacement, an implant post topped with a crown can be a great alternative to a traditional dental bridge. Because a traditional bridge uses your natural teeth for support, it would require us to remove some of your enamel. With a dental implant, this step is unnecessary, allowing you to preserve more of your natural smile.

Missing Multiple Teeth

It’s generally best to use as few dental implant posts as possible to help you reclaim a complete smile. Thus, if you have lost multiple teeth in a row, you don’t have to worry about getting a separate post for each tooth. Instead, we can fill in the gap with a personalized dental bridge supported by a pair of dental implants. On top of that, we can replace missing teeth that were in different parts of the arch with a partial denture anchored to a strategic number of implant posts.

Missing All Teeth

Even if you have lost all of the teeth in your upper or lower jaw, we can replace them all at once with an implant denture. This form of tooth replacement usually requires around 4 to 6 implant posts, although the exact number depends on the needs of the patient.

Implant dentures offer better chewing power and stability than traditional dentures, allowing you to enjoy a wider range of foods. Additionally, while some implant dentures are removable, others are fixed in place, allowing you to brush them as if they were a natural part of your mouth.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

One of the most important things you can do following dental implant surgery is to protect the blood clot that forms over the implant site. To prevent disturbing the clot, be sure to avoid:

• Spitting (instead, use tissues to catch excess saliva, or just swallow it)
• Using straws (especially over the next 48 hours when the implant site is most sensitive)
• Smoking or using tobacco (which can negatively impact healing)
• Touching the surgical site (either with your fingers or your tongue)

Common Side Effects

Mild side effects are very normal following dental implant surgery. The most common ones to look out for include:

• Intermittent bleeding – This can be managed with light pressure using a gauze pad. Light bleeding is normal over the next few days.
• Swelling – You can manage facial swelling over the next 72 hours using a cold compress.
• General discomfort – You’ll be asked to take prescribed painkillers as needed to manage any pain (which should be mild at worse).

Don’t worry; these symptoms should go away gradually over the next few days. If they do not get better, please call us immediately.

Your Diet After Surgery

It helps to have food at home already following your oral surgery, so you don’t need to go to the store when you leave our practice. Good foods to have on hand include the following:

• Mashed potatoes
• Oatmeal (cold)
• Applesauce
• Yogurt
• Ice cream
• Pudding
• Soup (cold soups only)
• Scrambled eggs
• Pasta

The most important thing you can do is avoid hard, tough, or crunchy foods. Avoid chewing directly on the implant site as well whenever possible.

Post-Op Health and Oral Hygiene

You’ll be able to brush your teeth the day after your surgery. However, you should use caution around the surgical site. Rinse your mouth out at least two to three times a day either with salt water or an oral rinse recommended by our office. Do not use mouthwashes that contain alcohol as these can cause dry mouth and negatively impact healing.

What to Do After Receiving Your Dental Implant Restoration

Congratulations! Once you’re able to receive your permanent restoration, you’ve already completed all the most difficult steps of your tooth replacement process. Once your crown, bridge, or denture is attached, you may notice some minor, temporary sensitivity around the gum tissue. Thankfully, you can manage these symptoms easily with painkillers. There should not be any swelling or bleeding present, or extensive recovery needed.