Beautiful & Permanent Tooth Replacement
To help patients with missing teeth, Dr. Bhalla is ready to offer the most complete solution available today: dental implants. Unlike other tooth replacements, they actually restore the complete tooth above and below the gum line, delivering the most natural-looking, reliable, and long-lasting results possible. Dr. Bhalla is specially trained to provide all aspects of the implant procedure, so if you’re ready to finally say “goodbye!” to the gaps in your smile, she’ll be able to guide you through the entire journey. To learn more about this treatment and what it could do for you, contact us today.
Indications for Dental Implants
One of the biggest advantages of dental implants is that they can be used to replace any number of missing teeth:
Missing One Tooth
After a prosthetic root has been placed into the jawbone, Dr. Bhalla can attach an all-porcelain crown to it using a connector called an abutment. This crown will be color-matched to a person’s enamel so that it seamlessly blends into the smile. Once in place, a patient will be able to maintain the crown just like a regular tooth with consistent brushing and flossing. This is all it takes to help it look and feel great for decades to come.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Dental implants can also be used to support a bridge to replace multiple missing teeth in a row. Two dental implant crowns are positioned on either side of the missing ones, and these are attached to prosthetic teeth to close the gap. Compared to a traditional bridge, an implant bridge has a much more secure hold, looks more natural, and can be trusted to last longer as well. Plus, it doesn’t require healthy teeth to be shaved down to hold the supporting crowns as well, helping preserve more of a patient’s natural smile.
Missing All of Your Teeth
Implant-retained dentures are an excellent and cost-effective option for patients missing a large number of teeth. Rather than replacing each one with a single implant, a few strategically located implants can be used to support an entire denture. Because these dentures are anchored directly to the jawbone, they have a fit and stability a traditional prosthetic simply can’t match. They have also been shown to restore much more of a patient’s bite strength, enabling them to enjoy a much more varied and healthy diet.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
The first step on your journey to a new smile is a consultation with Dr. Bhalla, wherein she will determine whether implants are right for you. If they are, you’ll undergo a minimally invasive surgery so the implants can be placed within your jawbone. After the implants have bonded with your body, you’ll receive abutments and your final restorations. The entire process may take anywhere from several months to a year, but the reward of a strong and beautiful smile is well worth the wait!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Some of the most outstanding benefits of dental implants in Plano include:
- Bone preservation. After you lose a tooth, the bone that once supported it begins to deteriorate. Because implants act like tooth roots, they stimulate the jaw and help to keep it whole and strong.
- A high success rate. Dental implants are successful in over 95 percent of cases.
- Easy maintenance. Caring for dental implants is neither complex nor time-consuming. As long as you maintain excellent hygiene habits and visit your dentist in Plano TX for periodic checkups, it’s unlikely that you’ll encounter any problems with your new smile.
- Protection for remaining teeth. Dental implants help to prevent your remaining natural teeth from drifting out of place, thereby allowing you to maintain a comfortable and well-aligned bite.
- Remarkable aesthetics. Dr. Bhalla takes great care to design teeth that complement your natural smile. The materials used to create the prosthetic teeth (either acrylic or porcelain) even reflect light in a manner that is similar to real tooth enamel.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
The overall cost of an implant procedure can vary quite a bit from patient to patient depending on a number of individual factors, such as how many teeth a patient wants to be replaced, what type of restoration they’re interested in, and whether or not they have insurance coverage.
Despite all of this, implants are still the most cost-effective tooth replacement thanks to their longevity. Traditional bridges and dentures typically need to be completely redone every 7-10 years, while implants, on the other hand, can easily last for 30 or more. Over time, this results in a much lower cost for a patient.
Why Choose Independence Dental?
Most dentists have to refer patients to an outside specialist for part of the dental implant process, which can be inconvenient and even nerve-racking. At Independence Dental, however, Dr. Simran Bhalla is qualified to perform every phase of treatment, including the complex and delicate implant placement surgery. As a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI), she regularly dedicates time to keeping up with the latest advances in implant dentistry. Your smile is in truly expert hands at Independence Dental!
Dental Implant FAQ’s
At Independence Dental, we believe in the importance of making sure our patients are well-educated about the treatment we provide. If there’s something about the dental implant process that you’re unsure of or have concerns about, feel free to ask us at any time! For your convenience, here are the answers to some common questions we’ve received.
Can Anyone Get Dental Implants?
There are some prerequisites that a patient will have to meet before receiving dental implants. A healthy mouth is a must; gum disease will have to be treated beforehand. Also, if there’s already been too much bone loss, your jaw may need bone grafts before it can reliably support and integrate with an implant. Finally, any health issues that disrupt healing – such as smoking or diabetes – will need to be addressed.
During your consultation, Dr. Bhalla will thoroughly examine your oral health and determine whether implants can be placed; she’ll tell you about any necessary surgeries or preparations required.
Will Dental Implants Let Me Eat What I Want?
Because dental implants are integrated into the jaw, the chewing power they provide is much greater than that of traditional dentures and bridges; you’ll still be able to eat all the foods you love!
With that said, you will need to be careful with your implants when you first get them. Following the placement surgery, you’ll need to change your diet to only include soft foods that require less chewing, such as soup or scrambled eggs. This is only temporary, though; over time you can begin eating other, crunchier foods again. You should always be careful around particularly hard foods such as peppermints and ice, however, since they can still damage your implant (as well as your natural teeth).
What if My Implant Becomes Infected?
Peri-implantitis, an infection of the soft tissues in the implant area, is one of the leading causes of implant failure; if you notice any swelling or bleeding, contact us right away.
The best way to avoid implant failure is through excellent oral hygiene, so don’t forget to keep brushing and flossing twice a day. You’ll want to keep the surgical site clean, so it’d be a good idea to periodically rinse with salt water. Finally, if you smoke, you should stop after the surgery as it can disrupt the mouth’s ability to heal, making a successful integration less likely.
Does It Matter Who Does the Surgery?
While dental implants have a high success rate, there are some short-term factors that could easily lead to failure, such as an existing infection in the mouth; that’s why it’s best to find a dentist who’s knowledgeable in the procedure. Dr. Bhalla is an ICOI member with the training and knowledge to help you through every step of the dental implant process. She’ll recognize potential problems and plan your treatment accordingly.