Your Plano, TX Implant Dentist Can Restore Your Smile with Permanent Dental Implants
When you lose a tooth, you lose more than just a tooth. Your bone and gums begin to weaken and deteriorate, and eventually your face loses its structure and starts to sag (have you ever seen pictures of the way a toothless man or woman’s mouth draws up?). Your health may begin to decline also because missing teeth put you at greater risk for infection.
Just as important, losing your teeth means losing your self-confidence. Significant studies have shown that people with missing teeth seem less friendly, because they avoid talking to others so they don’t have to show their teeth.
Dr. Barfield on Dental Implants
Read Transcript There are various types of dental implants. We can place a single unit implant to replace one missing tooth. The implant is placed in the bone and we place a crown on top of it and these single tooth dental implants work real well and they are cosmetically pleasing. If someone is missing multiple teeth we can place multiple implants in someone’s mouth. So we can do anything from a single tooth implant to multiple teeth implants. We can also do denture supported implants. We can place several implants in the mandible or maxilla and attach a fixed denture which is a whole lot more comfortable than a removable denture. So there are various types of implants available today.
Implants Can Improve Your Health and the Quality of Your Life
Your 1st In Smiles cosmetic dentist wants to improve your oral health, your overall health, and the quality of your life with dental implants in Plano, TX. A dental implant is a permanent foundation for your tooth that replaces your tooth root and supports artificial teeth (restoration) on top. It is the most secure replacement option for missing teeth because it actually prevents bone loss, reduces your risk for disease, and restores your chewing, eating, and talking functions to a level comparable with that of your natural teeth.
Implants are more stable and lifelike than bridges, and they eliminate the mess and instability of dentures. They also preserve your healthy tooth structure – there’s no need for us to file down healthy teeth to place your implants, and you won’t have to worry about tooth decay affecting the success of your implants.
Our highly qualified dental team uses the latest dental technology, including our intraoral cameras and digital X-rays, to diagnose, plan, and place your implants, all within a comfortable and relaxing environment.
1st In Smiles understands that every patient’s goals and needs are different. That’s why we are proud to offer several types of dental implants depending on your unique situation, including traditional implants, All on 4 implants, All on 6 implants, mini implants, and implant-supported dentures. The process for each type of placement is similar.
Traditional Implants
Before you receive implants, we will make sure you’re a good candidate for implants. At your initial consultation, we will gather all the information we need, such as 3D images of your mouth, to help decide which implant type is right for you. We’ll also consider the number of teeth you’re missing, the shape of your gums, the density of your jawbone, and your overall health to ensure a smooth healing process. From there, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan that will help ensure your implants are a success.
Are Implants Right for Me?
If you’re missing one tooth or many teeth and are a healthy individual with good bone structure in your mouth, traditional full-size implants may best solve the problem of your missing teeth. Even if your bone isn’t as strong or dense as it needs to be, we may still be able to place your implants by first performing bone and gum grafting or sinus lifts, processes that allow us to create strong artificial bone structure to support your implants.
How Do Implants Work?
When you come in at our Plano, TX office for your implant placement appointment, we’ll make sure you feel relaxed before we get started. You may want to listen to music or watch your favorite TV show. If you’re nervous about the procedure, we have different types of sedation available for you.
Implant surgery at 1st In Smiles is pain-free and relatively short if your bone is healthy. We’ll gently place a screw-like titanium “root” into your jaw to replace your missing tooth’s root. If you have more than one missing tooth, we will determine beforehand how many implants are needed to support your implant restoration.
After we anchor the implant into your bone, your bone will fuse to the implant within just a few months. Once the bone has completed this process of “osseointegration,” we’ll secure your replacement crown or bridge on top. You will walk away from your appointment with nothing to hold back your beautiful new smile!
How Do I Take Care of Them?
Taking care of your implants is easy. Simply brush twice a day and floss once like you would with your natural teeth, and come into our Plano, TX office for regular checkups to make sure your gums are healthy. You’ll also be free to eat whatever you want without any pain or discomfort!
Dr. Barfield works closely with an experienced periodontist to place your implants and restorations. Together, we can help ensure you’ll have an extremely high success rate with your implants.
All on 4 and All on 6 Dental Implants
All on 4 and All on 6 implants are revolutionary ways to place only 4 or 6 implants to support a full mouth restoration. This is an excellent type of dental implant for someone who is missing or about to lose all of their teeth. Because we use only 4 or 6 implants, the cost is less expensive and treatment and healing time is quicker.
Mini Implants
Mini implants are a popular implant method that uses smaller implants to support restorations. The procedure is less invasive than full-size implant surgery, which makes it a good option for someone lacking the bone density needed for traditional implants or whose health isn’t up to par.
Implant-Supported Dentures
If you have dentures and are tired of them moving around when you talk or eat, using messy adhesives, and missing out on the foods you love, then implant-supported dentures may be right for you.
Dr. Rick Barfield is a native of Richardson, Texas. He received his DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree from the Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry and has been providing trusted dental care in the Plano, TX area for more than 30 years.
If you think implant dentistry may be perfect solution for your missing teeth, we would love to help you explore the many different types of implants we provide. Call 1st in Smiles at our Plano, TX office for a consultation today at 972-905-9266 or fill out our online form.
