Dental Implants in Sugar Land, TX

Dental implants are one of the best options to replace a tooth that needs to be removed or is missing. They are a permanent replacement option for any number of missing teeth and allow your dentist to provide you with new teeth that look and feel great.

Dental implants consist of three separate parts:
The Implant: a small titanium post that is surgically placed into the jawbone in place of a missing tooth.
The Abutment: the connecting piece that fits securely on top of the implant.
The Restoration: the tooth-like piece that sits above the gum line: typically a dental crown, bridge, or denture. This tooth is made to match your natural teeth, providing a naturally feeling and aesthetically pleasing replacement.

If we determine that dental implants are right for you, we’ll work closely with you and your general dentist to design the look of your implant restoration and make sure the fit is just right. We generally recommend a dental crown for a  single-tooth implant, a bridge will replace a few teeth in a row, and a denture will replace most or all teeth in an arch with missing teeth.

• Replace one or many missing teeth
• Feel and function like natural teeth, so you can eat all your favorite foods
• Look natural and blend in seamlessly with surrounding teeth
• Maintain facial shape
• Prevent bone loss associated with tooth loss
• Can be cared for like natural teeth – brush and floss like normal
• Provide a permanent replacement for missing teeth when properly cared for

Before beginning your dental implant journey, we will bring you in for a consultation. During this appointment, our team will take X-rays of your teeth and jaw, looking particularly at the condition of your jawbone to ensure that it’s strong enough to support an implant. If it isn’t, we can perform a bone graft. We’ll also go over your needs and dental health. We’ll make a restoration recommendation and create a personalized treatment plan.

When it’s time to begin your treatment, we’ll start by placing the implant or implants into your jawbone surgically. Once placed, the titanium post will begin to fuse with your jawbone. The process takes a few months, and we can check it using X-rays. Once the implant has fused with the bone, it will serve as a secure and strong replacement tooth root. Then we’ll work with your general dentist to complete the restorative phase. And at your final appointment, we’ll check your implant inclusion.

Implant Supported Dentures

If you are missing several teeth together, or currently wear ill-fitting or uncomfortable dentures, you may benefit from implant-supported dentures. With this procedure, we strategically place four to six dental implants in the jawbone for your dentures to connect to. We will either create a new denture that has holes corresponding to the placement of the implants, or we can drill holes in your existing denture.

If you are tired of using messy adhesives to keep an existing denture in place, upgrading to  dental implants will let you simply click the denture on top of the implants. You’ll find that your implant supported denture stays more firmly in place, making it more comfortable than before.

Mini Dental Implants

Mini dental implants are a different solution for those who may not be a candidate for traditional dental implants. They are smaller and sometimes better suited to fit into narrower openings or for patients with small jaws. Mini dental implants are less than 3mm in diameter and made of a single screw, where traditional implants range between 3.25 and 5mm in diameter and are composed of 2 pieces (not including the crown). The placement and recovery of mini dental implants are very similar to traditional implants, but they require different criteria to be eligible. If you believe mini dental implants may be right for you, we will discuss all your options during your consultation with Dr. Dyer or Dr. Nguyen.

You can expect your dental implant procedure to be painless because your mouth will be completely numb from local anesthesia. After the surgery and the anesthesia has worn off, it’s common to feel soreness or some discomfort in the gums, teeth, and jaw around the area. Most patients can minimize this pain with over the counter pain medication.

While everyone is different, we typically expect the tenderness to peak 24-72 hours post surgery and for the pain to completely subside after 10 days, although it is not uncommon for the pain to resolve sooner.

There are many considerations taken into account to determine the life of a dental implant, such as the state of one’s jaw and gum health, but an implant is intended to be permanent! Through a process called osseointegration, the implant will bond with the bone in your jaw and will remain for as long as your jawbone is healthy.

While the implant is designed to last a lifetime, the crown may need replacement after many years of normal wear and tear. 50-80% of crowns will last 15-20 years.

After each stage of your dental implant procedure, we will provide you with detailed post-op instructions, but if you ever have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us. Over-the-counter pain medications can help alleviate any post-op pain, and intermittent icing can reduce any swelling. Once your restoration is in place, you can think of your implant as just another tooth. It needs the same amount of care, so be sure you have a good dental hygiene routine in place and make regular appointments for dental check-ups. Just like your natural teeth, your dental implants will last longer when you take good care of them.

Each patient’s treatment plan is unique, making the cost of dental implants different for everyone. During your first visit with us, we’ll go over your treatment and provide you with a precise cost breakdown. When it comes to paying for treatment, we do everything we can to make dental implants affordable. Our office is insurance friendly and we offer a variety of payment plans through CareCredit^® and LendingClub^®. Please speak with a member of our team to explore your financial options.