Dental Implants – Boerne, TX

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Our team will first need to verify that you’re eligible for dental implant treatment. Fortunately, nearly any healthy adult who’s missing one or several teeth can be a good candidate for these titanium posts. That said, we’ll need to confirm that you don’t have any signs of oral health issues like dental decay, gingivitis, and insufficient jawbone density. If left untreated, these problems can cause your dental implants to fail later on. Our team will ensure to get you back on track with good oral health before moving on with your personalized treatment plan.

Dental Implant Surgery

Once you’ve undergone your initial consultation, we’ll schedule your surgery for another day. We also provide the entire dental implant procedure in-office, so you won’t have to worry about visiting an outside specialist or traveling between locations. To begin, your dentist will make a small incision in your gums for every dental implant that will be placed. This will allow them to reach the jawbone so that they can effectively insert the metal posts into their pre-planned locations. After this, your dentist will suture your gums and fit a protective cap over the implants before sending you on your way to recover.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

One of the things that make dental implants so successful is the osseointegration process. This is when your dental implants will begin to bond with your jawbone tissue, forming a stable, natural-feeling foundation for your restorations. Although each patient is different, this portion of the treatment usually takes anywhere between four and six months.

Once you’ve properly recovered, you’ll come back to our office so that we can attach your abutments. These are small connector pieces that will link your new teeth to your implants. Afterward, we’ll take impressions of these areas and start fabricating your custom-designed restorations as your gum tissue heals over the following few weeks.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

You will return to our office for the final stage of your dental implant treatment. This appointment will involve anchoring your new restoration (crown, bridge, partial, or full denture) onto your titanium posts. Our team will take the proper time to ensure your bite is comfortable and that you’re satisfied with your results. You can also feel free to ask any questions you might have and we’ll be happy to answer. Then, you’ll be able to fully enjoy your newly restored pearly whites!

Day-to-Day Benefits 

We use our teeth every day for eating, speaking, and smiling. Therefore, it only makes sense that you’d want a solution that’ll allow you to live your day-to-day life with ease. By getting dental implants in Boerne, you can look forward to the following advantages:

• Easier Maintenance: You don’t have to worry about purchasing special products or incorporating complex steps into your oral hygiene routine. Caring for implants is as easy as caring for natural teeth!
• Increased Confidence: Since dental implants stay firmly in place, you don’t have to worry about them slipping and sliding around your mouth. As a result, you can perform everyday tasks with complete confidence.
• Ability to Eat Most Foods: What’s unique about dental implants is that they replace the entire structure of missing teeth, from the roots up to the chewing surface. Because of their stability, they can withstand the chewing of virtually any food.

Health Benefits

In addition to improving your appearance, dental implants offer many incredible health advantages. Some of those include:

• Jawbone Preservation: Dental implants provide the jawbone with internal support, helping prevent the bone loss that’s incredibly common after tooth loss. It’ll also maintain the face’s overall shape for years to come.
• Protection for Natural Teeth: It’s common for teeth to shift after tooth loss. Luckily, implants can help keep every member of your smile exactly where it belongs.
• Better Overall Health: Studies have shown a correlation between tooth loss and an increased risk of multiple diseases. Because dental implants closely resemble natural teeth, it’s safe to assume they can help lower such risks.

Long-Term Benefits

Getting dental implants in Boerne will not only help in the short-term, but in the long term as well. Here’s what you can look forward to:

• High Success Rate: Dental implants have an impressive success rate of about 95 percent even 20 years after they’ve been placed.
• Youthful Appearance: Since dental implants stimulate the jawbone, they prevent the sunken, aged look that often comes with tooth loss. They’ll help you maintain a youthful appearance for years to come!
• Long-Lasting Results: You don’t have to worry about replacing your dental implants every few years. With proper care and maintenance, they can easily last a lifetime.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

During your initial consultation with Dr. Luttrell, it may be necessary for you to undergo preliminary treatments if you have signs of periodontal disease, a weakened jawbone, or require the removal of a particular tooth. Not all individuals require additional surgery; however, it is important to remember that we will only recommend these preliminary treatments if they are necessary to the success of your future dental implants.

But it’s not just the preliminary treatments that can add to the total cost of your treatment. The actual surgery incurs its own fee as well. Fortunately, you will not have to seek a referral to have your implants put into place. Everything is performed in-house by an implant dentist in Boerne. This not only makes the entire process more convenient, but it also minimizes having to pay additional costs to an outside specialist.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Another cost factor many patients do not consider is the materials and brand of implants. While more than 92% of dental implants are made of titanium, some dentists prefer alternative options (i.e., zirconia, ceramic). Because each dentist chooses which brands and manufacturers to work with, you can trust that our team will be completely honest and transparent about the quality of the implant you will receive.

Although you can choose to pursue cheaper options, remember that you ultimately get what you pay for, and cheaper isn’t necessarily always better when it comes to dental implants in Boerne.

Final Dental Implant Restoration

Now that you know the surgery, preliminary treatments, and type of implant are all considered when creating your cost estimate, there is one additional aspect that must be included. Depending on the number of teeth that are missing, your restoration will be incorporated into the total cost. Naturally, a single tooth dental crown will be much cheaper than a full implant denture; however, don’t forget that these prosthetics are still much less expensive in the long run since you won’t need to replace them every few years.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

At Boerne Dental, we know how frustrating it can be when dental insurance won’t cover the cost of your oral surgery. Unfortunately, most insurers still do not offer available coverage for dental implants. Not currently viewed as a “medical necessity,” there is still a way to find out if your insurance company will pay a portion of the total cost. Whether it is the consultation, restoration, or preliminary treatments, you may find some financial relief through your insurer.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

If you need help to pay for your dental implant placement, not to worry! We are pleased to offer reliable solutions for those who are uninsured as well as those who need help to pay out-of-pocket expenses. Not only can you enroll in our in-house savings plan, which provides access to preventive care and discounts on other services for one annual fee, but you can also opt to apply for flexible financing through CareCredit.

At Boerne Dental, we’re here to serve you. Not only will we provide top-notch dentistry that lends beautiful results, but our team will be happy to help you navigate the cost of your implants and pay for treatment with much ease.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Just like with your natural teeth, dental hygiene is a top priority for dental implant care in Boerne. It’s crucial to brush twice a day and floss daily, making sure that plaque and tartar don’t have an opportunity to build-up and lead to gum disease or other common oral health issues that can compromise your replacement teeth.

Maintain a Balanced Diet

If you love to snack on foods that are processed and high in carbohydrates and sugars, it may be best to make some substitutions with your new dental implants. These foods can fuel harmful oral bacteria, increasing your chances of developing gum infections, chronic bad breath, and other symptoms.

Break Bad Habits

Do you smoke or chew tobacco, like to crunch on ice in your drinks, or use your mouth to open packages and other items? It’s best to be mindful of all the bad oral habits you do that could compromise the success of your rehabilitated smile and find ways to break them.

Protect Your Dental Implants

While participating in any sport that could cause damage to your mouth, it’s important to wear a mouthguard that’s custom-fitted to provide you with maximized protection. Similarly, if you grind and clench your teeth at night, invest in a customized nightguard to keep the constant pressure and force from causing one of your dental implants to become loose or even fall out.

Schedule Routine Checkups & Cleanings

Along the same lines as maintaining good oral hygiene at home, it’s still important to visit your implant dentist in Boerne every six months for routine checkups and cleanings. During these appointments, our team will have a chance to make sure that all of your replacement teeth are secure and healthy. If we do find any issues developing, these regular appointments allow us to treat them in their early stages, before they’ve had a chance to compromise your replacement teeth.

Why Do I Need a Bone Graft?

When you’ve undergone tooth loss, especially for a prolonged period of time, your jawbone gradually begins to deteriorate in that area. This is because it’s no longer being stimulated by the root of your lost tooth through biting and chewing. As a result, your jawbone is no longer strong enough to support a dental implant. For this reason, we can graft artificial bone material onto your jawbone. After waiting a few months for your bone to become stronger, it should be fortified enough to provide support for as many dental implants as you need to rebuild your smile.

Does It Hurt to Get Dental Implants?

Believe it or not, the majority of our patients report very little discomfort during the implant placement process. This is because before we place the implants, we use plenty of local anesthetic to ensure you don’t feel a thing. Because it is a kind of oral surgery, you can expect to deal with some minor soreness and swelling for a few days following your procedure. Fortunately, this can be easily managed by taking your prescribed pain medication and applying a cold compress to your face for 10 minutes at a time.

Will I Have to See an Outside Specialist to Get My Implants?

Not at all! Dr. Luttrell, your trusted dentist in Boerne, is more than qualified to both place and restore dental implants, since he completed a General Practice Residency and Fellowship in Oral Surgery. He has more than 25 years of experience in oral surgery, which includes placing implants. You can rest easy knowing that your new smile is in his capable hands!

How Long Will It Take for My Dental Implants to Heal?

The answer to this question varies from person to person. It depends on whether you’ll need any preliminary procedures, like a bone graft or gum disease treatment. Those treatments might add a few months to your total healing time before you can receive your new teeth.

In general, it takes an average of three to six months for your implants to fully integrate with your jawbone and essentially become a part of your own anatomy. While your soft tissue may heal after just a couple of weeks, it takes longer for the bone to heal.

I Smoke – Can I Still Get Dental Implants?

Yes, but there are some risks involved. Tobacco use severely slows down the oral healing process that are crucial to the implant integration process. Because of this, you are more likely to experience implant failure. If you currently smoke or chew tobacco and are considering dental implants, we strongly advise that you quit beforehand.