Dental Implants in Houston TX

Dental implants are changing the way that people live and look. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth. The implant mimics the shape of the actual roots of your natural teeth. A person that has lost teeth then regains the ability to eat just about anything, knowing that their new teeth appear natural and that their facial contours are preserved. They can smile with confidence!

Houston dental implant patient

To plan your case properly, Houston Dental Implant Center will perform a complete review of your medical history, your medications, any allergies and perform a complete physical examination of your dental condition. Radiographs may be taken if the ones previously supplied by your dentist are inadequate for a accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. In some cases, Houston Dental Implant Center may recommend conebeam radiography (a very limited CAT scan of the jaws) which reveals in detail the three dimensional presentation of your jaw architecture. The pre-operative work up usually includes getting impressions of your teeth to create models to help plan your surgery. Houston Dental Implant Center will explain the implant work-up to you at your consulation appointment. The work-up portion of your treatment plan is an essential step to ensure a good outcome.

What are Dental Implants?

The implants themselves are tiny medical grade titanium posts, which are placed into the jawbone where the tooth or teeth are missing. They are surgically placed into the jawbone using a variety of different methods. The bone bonds (called osseointegration) with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Small posts are then attached to the implant called abutments, which protrude through the gums. When all of this is successful, your implant will a solid foundation to anchor your final restoration and restore both your smile as well as your function. san mateo dental implants small implant picture As a bonus, dental implants help to preserve the facial contours as they help prevent the normal loss of jaw bone over time that happens when a tooth or teeth are lost. Implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.

Featured Implant Provider

Dental Implants range from $1,000 to $3,000. Abutment and Crown: $500 to $3,000. Total Cost: $4,000 per implant, on average. The All-on-4 Teeth-in-a-Day Dental Implants technique from our Houston dentist can replace missing teeth.

Reviews of Dental Implants in Houston Area

The Implant Surgical Procedure

For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves three procedures. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time. At the same time, your dentist is forming new replacement teeth.

After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Dr. Husain will uncover the implants and attach healing collar(s). These healing collars will create a natural appearing contour of the gum tissue that helps with hygiene and esthetics. This process takes about 3-6 weeks of healing. In some patients, this process is performed at the time of implant placement. Houston Dental Implant Center will discuss that option with you.

Next either Houston Dental Implant Center or your restorative dentist will begin the process of placing a standard abutment (a device that attaches to the implant that mimics a tooth that has been prepared for a crown), or an impression for a custom made abutment. This abutment which will act as anchors for the artificial teeth. These posts protrude through the gums. When the artificial teeth are placed these posts will not be seen. The entire procedure implant placement, healing collar placement, abutment placement or creation and the placement of the final restoration usually takes five to eight months. Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily life.

x-rays and Houston dental implants after photo

In patients who need extractions and/or bone grafts to prepare the bony foundation for future implants, will have to expect a longer treatment plan. Removal of a tooth and placement of an immediate implant is possible is some cases. Houston Dental Implant Center will discuss that option with you if you are a candidate for an immediate implant. For most people, an extraction will be necessary prior to placing an implant. Normally, a tooth or teeth are extracted and a bone graft is placed into the socket site to preserve the socket’s bone width and height. If a graft is not done, it is likely the site after an extraction will resorb and possibly cause a defect in the bone that could require more surgery to repair. Contour loss the bone following extractions without grafts, can lead to less than esthetic appearing results, difficult hygiene, compromised implant support, and can lead to premature loss of the implant. As such, to ensure the best foundation for the implants, small socket grafts are preformed and the procedure is called “alveolar ridge preservation.” This typically has to heal about 4 months prior to placing an implant. The you begin the normal implant placement procedure.

In patients who need more advanced bone grafting techniques like sinus lifts, ridge augmentation, distraction osteogenesis, and other procedures, this can add 5-12 months to your treatment plan prior to placing implants. Houston Dental Implant Center can discuss your specific needs at your consulation appointment.

Cost of Dental Implants

There are four general areas of care associated with dental implants.

Diagnostic Phase Cost

The diagnostic phase is the first and most important phase of treatment. Implants that are placed without regard for the final restoration often require substantially more to restore. Sometimes, improper planning can result in an implant being useless. This phase requires a review of the patient’s medical and dental history. Evaluation of the musculature of the neck and face as well as the bony support is required. Full mouth x-rays including a panoramic view of the jaw are essential. A C.T. scan may be required to determine the location of vital nerves or to evaluate the quantity and quality of the available bone. Surgical templates may also be used, especially if the teeth are to be made by someone other than the implant surgeon. An examination and x-rays will cost about $150. A C.T. scan will cost $300. A surgical template may cost between $100-200.

Surgical Phase Costs

The surgical phase may require initial bone grafts if there is insufficient bone. In the past, many patients simply were unable to have implants placed because of insufficient bone. Now with advanced techniques implants are again a viable option. If grafts are required an additional period of four to twelve months may be required before placement of the implants. Once the implants are surgically placed in the bone, they must remain undisturbed for four to twelve months. The length of time depends upon the quality of bone available. The average patient usually takes Extra Strength Tylenol or Advil for the postoperative discomfort. With proper management the discomfort is usually minimal. Bone grafts may cost between $500-3,000. We also have the ability to separate your platelets, after a simple blood draw, and mix these growth hormone laden platelets with the bone graft materials to substantially improve healing and even eliminate scar formation. We can also draw stem cells from your hip using a gentle technique with minimal complications. This can substantially accelerate the healing process, especially if bone grafting is necessary. There is an additional fee of $800 for this process. The placement of the implants may range from $800-2000 per implant. The lowest cost implants are the new Mini-implants. Standard root form implants are $2000 each.

Repleacement Teeth or Dentures Prices

After the implants have been placed the person’s dentures can be modified so that they can continue to be worn. If just some of the teeth are missing a temporary plastic partial may be worn. This solves the short term appearance problems that may exist. Once the implants have bonded to the bone the process of preparing the implants for use begins. Often an existing denture can be modified to fit over balls that are attached to the implants. These provide great stability and comfort for very little money. Crowns or bridges may be attached to the implants. The complexity of this part of the procedure magnifies with the number of implants. This may require more specialized treatment and higher costs. Temporary dentures or partials may cost between $750-2750. Modifying a denture to fit after surgery or over implants may range from $85-1000. Crowns on implants may range between $1200-2000 per tooth. Snaps usually cost about $1000 each.

Maintenance Stage Cost

The final phase is the maintenance stage of the process. Dental implants can last more than thirty years if properly maintained. This requires good cleaning skills to be learned by the patient. Maintenance visits are usually scheduled every three months. Once the patient has demonstrated a good track record the interval may be lengthened. If a denture is being supported by implants, the jaw bone may continue to dissolve in the areas away from the implants. This is a natural process and sometimes requires the dentures to be relined or remade. Maintenance visits usually cost $35. Cleanings range between $80-250 depending on the difficulty of the process. Replacement screws or attachments may range from $25-1000.

As with any type of service the fees may vary depending upon the complexity of the treatment or the skill level of the dentist. To improve communications, always discuss the total cost involved with treatment. Make sure that you know approximately what the costs will be. There are things that can make the treatment more expensive and may be beyond the control of the treating doctor.