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Dental Implants – Edmond, OK

It’s Not Too Late for Your Smile

While removable dentures and bridges may look like real teeth, the only difference between dental implants and actual teeth is that they aren’t made by nature. When it comes to their look, strength, and durability, however, they are indistinguishable from the real thing. They are largely considered the gold standard for tooth replacement, and whether you need to close a single gap or require a full denture, Dr. M. Kent Smith is ready to rebuild your smile for life using this state-of-the-art treatment. To learn more and get started, contact us today to discuss replacing missing teeth with dental implants in Edmond, OK.

Why Choose M. Kent Smith DDS for Dental Implants?

  • Dentist with Over 30 Years of Experience
  • We Take the Time to Listen to Our Patients
  • Able to Replace Any Number of Teeth

What is a Dental Implant?

X-ray of dental implant supported dental crown

Your teeth have two main parts—the crown, which you can see when you smile, and the root that supports it from beneath the gum line. Most tooth replacements only bring back the crown and simply sit on top of the gums, but implants restore the root as well. A small titanium post is placed into the jaw, where it bonds with the nearby bone, and this provides the foundation for a new crown, bridge, or denture.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

Model smile with dental implant supported fixed bridge

Considered the gold standard of tooth-replacement solutions, you can be sure to enjoy long-lasting and lifelike results with dental implants. Not only will your new teeth look and feel incredibly natural, but you’ll also be able to preserve a stronger and healthier jawbone for the long run. This team-based approach ensures that our patients receive the safest and most reliable care throughout the implant process, practically guaranteeing success for decades to come. Until then, here’s how dental implants work and what you can expect.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

a dentist explaining how dental implants work to a patient

Your first step is always the initial consultation, where our team will evaluate your oral health and determine if you’re eligible for dental implants. We’ll also walk you through the process as well as provide you with an estimate of the overall cost. If you aren’t currently a good candidate for the procedure, we’ll likely help perform preliminary treatments to get you prepared, such as gum disease therapy, bone grafting, and tooth extractions.

Dental Implant Surgery

an oral surgeon performing a dental implant placement procedure

After Dr. Smith has determined that you are eligible for dental implants, he will refer you to a local specialist, who will surgically place the titanium roots into your jawbone. The process typically involves numbing your mouth first to keep you pain-free throughout the process. You’ll also likely be sedated to provide comfort. Then, your surgeon will make a small incision in your gums to access the jawbone and place your implants accordingly. Afterward, they’ll suture your gums closed around them and place a protective cover to keep your posts safe while you recover.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

a dentist holding a model of a dental implant

Your mouth will be given three to six months to heal. During this time, your mouth will undergo a process called osseointegration, where the jawbone bonds with the dental implants. Once they’ve successfully integrated with your bone tissue, you’ll return to Dr. Smith so he can attach abutments to your metal posts—small connector pieces that will link your restoration(s) to your implants. You’ll then be sent home to heal for a couple of weeks.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

a patient smiling after receiving her new dental implants

While you recover from the previous appointment, we’ll personalize your new artificial teeth to match your specific smile. You’ll then return to our office to receive your dental crown, bridge, or denture. We’ll make any necessary adjustments to ensure your bite is correct and that you’re satisfied with the treatment. Then, you’ll be free to show off and enjoy your new pearly whites for years to come!

Benefits of Dental Implants

Questions about dental implants

What makes dental implants such an attractive tooth replacement option that more than 3 million Americans have already used them to rebuild their smiles? There are actually many possible ways to answer this question, as dental implants are associated with a number of important benefits. Below are some of the most notable advantages of replacing missing teeth with an appropriate number of expertly placed dental implant posts.

Day-to-Day Benefits

One of the first things you will want to know about dental implants is how they can improve your everyday life. Here are a few key examples:

  • You will be able to eat virtually any kind of food: People with dentures often have to avoid certain foods. With dental implants, you don’t have to worry about these kinds of restrictions; the implant posts will be capable of handling a wide variety of meals, so you can continue to eat the foods you love.
  • You will likely feel more confident about your smile: Since dental implants can mimic your natural tooth roots, they often feel quite natural. On top of that, the restorations they support can be custom-designed in order to look like a natural part of your mouth.
  • You will have an easier time practicing proper oral hygiene: Are you worried about having to learn an all-new oral hygiene routine? With dental implants, you will be able to brush and floss like you always have, which can simplify the process of maintaining a clean, healthy mouth.

Health Benefits

In addition to enhancing your day-to-day activities, dental implants can also go a long way toward promoting a healthier mouth:

  • They can prevent bone loss in your jaw: Missing teeth often lead to a loss of bone density in the jaw. Dental implants can directly address this problem by keeping the jaw stimulated, thus preventing bone loss. This can go a long way toward preventing facial collapse.
  • They can help you maintain a healthy bite: One of the side benefits of dental implants is that they completely fill in the gap where the missing tooth used to be. As a result, your remaining teeth won’t drift out of alignment, which means you won’t have to worry about undesirable changes to your bite.
  • They can help you maintain good nutrition: Since dental implants don’t come with any dietary restrictions, they won’t be an obstacle to a nutritious diet; you’ll be free to eat all kinds of foods to keep your body healthy.

Long-Term Benefits

It’s easy to see the benefits that dental implants have to offer in the short term, but what long-term advantages do they come with? Here are some particularly important examples:

  • They are very successful: Around 95% of dental implants remain successful even after being in the mouth for a decade. You can certainly count on your dental implants to continue serving you well as the years go by.
  • They have long lifespans: Dental implants can last for more than 30 years – or even the rest of your life – if you take good care of them. As such, you won’t need to worry about having them replaced too often.
  • They can be a smart financial investment: Since dental implants don’t need to be replaced as frequently as traditional bridges and dentures, they may end up saving you money in the long term.

Are Dental Implants Right for You?

Man considering dental implants

Dental implants can be used to help patients dealing with any degree of tooth loss. After giving you an exam to confirm that your gums and jawbone are healthy enough to support the new roots, Dr. Smith will go over your replacement options and help you select the one that is best for you.

Missing Single Tooth

Animated dental implant supported dental crown

A custom-made porcelain crown can be attached to an implant and placed between two remaining teeth without disturbing the nearby dental structure. Unlike a dental bridge, this approach doesn’t require healthy teeth to be reshaped to make room for the prosthetic, better preserving someone’s precious enamel.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Animated dental implant supported fixed bridge

We don’t need to use individual implants for each missing tooth. Rather, just one to two implants can be used to support a bridge or partial denture that brings back several teeth at once, whether they are right next to each other or placed throughout the arch. 

Missing All Teeth

Animated dental implant supported denture

Even patients with complete tooth loss can benefit from implant dentistry, as a full denture can be anchored to the jawbone using just four to six well-placed implants. This gives the new teeth much more stability compared to a regular denture, plus the prosthetic tends to be smaller, enabling a patient to speak more easily and better taste their food.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Two animated dental implant supported dental crowns

At this point, maybe you’re worried about the cost of dental implants. Restoration work won’t help, after all, if it exceeds your budget. In truth, though, dental implants’ price varies from patient to patient. You’ll need to see Dr. Smith in person for an exact estimate. Still, he and the rest of our team will strive to make your care affordable. We’ll thus walk you through implants’ financial details. To learn all about them, just keep reading or call us soon!

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Dentists performing a dental implant surgery

Based on the consult visit, you may require preliminary procedures before implant surgery. These things – bone grafting, gum disease therapy, tooth extraction, etc. – would add to your overall expense. They shouldn’t be skipped if needed, either; they’d be vital to your new smile’s success. However, dental insurance does partially cover many of these services.

At the same time, implant surgery has its own cost. This price depends on which teeth are being replaced, the sedation or anesthesia needed, etc. Thankfully, though, our team places implants in-office;  you won’t have to worry about paying an outside specialist.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

A dentist explaining dental implant parts with a tooth model

Of course, the actual implants’ features also impact the final price. These typically include the following:

  • Implant Size or Material: As it happens, implants can be longer or shorter depending on placement. Some are also made from zirconia instead of titanium.
  • Implant Brand: Naturally, different manufacturers produce different kinds of implants. They thus tend to charge varying amounts for the prosthetics.
  • Number of Implants: Needless to say, one implant will cost less than an implant denture using four to six. Meanwhile, the latter appliance is more cost-effective than replacing each tooth separately.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

A piggy bank sitting on top of a jaw mockup

Perhaps you’re considering dentures or bridges instead of implants. These treatments, after all, have a lower upfront cost. The truth, though, is that implants would save you more money in the long term.

For starters, implants need fewer repairs and replacements over time. The average one lasts roughly 15-20 years, while well-maintained kinds have longer lifespans. Therefore, you won’t need to buy new ones every five to ten years as you would with dentures or dental bridges.

Even better, implants are easier on your mouth than the alternatives. They don’t wear down your teeth or irritate your gums. Similarly, they’re easier to clean than dentures or bridges. As such, they’ll prevent issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and jawbone loss.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

A woman looking at a dental insurance form on her phone

Generally, dental insurance doesn’t cover dental implants. Most policies consider these prosthetics elective and thus “medically unnecessary.” That said, exceptions do exist; your plan may well offer a degree of coverage. So, confirm your policy benefits before pursuing treatment. We’ll also help you do so if you’d like.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

A man using a credit card to pay for dental implants

Even without insurance, dental implants can be affordable. You just need to find the right dental practice with a convenient payment option. From there, managing the cost of care will be feasible.

Just look at Dr. Smith’s office, for instance. We have a Care 2 Share referral program, where referring a patient to us gives you a $100 credit toward any of our services. Using it saves you money on the final cost of implants.

Dental Implant FAQs

Questions about dental implants

Whether you're missing a single tooth, multiple teeth, or an entire arch, you won't have to settle for anything less than the best when choosing dental implants in Edmond. However, they are a big investment. Don't worry if you have some concerns. Dr. Smith will explain everything during your implant consultation. While you wait, here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions to ease any apprehensions.

Can I Take Dental Implants Out?

Dental implants are meant to provide a long-term solution for tooth loss. Implant posts are surgically placed into the jaw to mimic roots. Your bone fuses to the posts through osseointegration, allowing them to potentially remain in place forever. Therefore, you can't take dental implants out on your own, but some implant-supported dentures are removable for easy cleaning. Only a trained professional can take out dental implants, like in cases of failure.

Does It Hurt to Get Dental Implants?

You don't have to worry about a painful day in the dentist’s chair. Your implant dentist in Edmond will use a sedative or anesthetic to block pain, so you won't feel anything. However, after the effects of any medications dissipate, you can expect your mouth to be sore for a few days. You can manage discomfort with a prescribed or OTC pain reliever. A cold compress can numb the area and reduce swelling and bruising. It's best to follow Dr. Kent's aftercare instructions, like eating soft food and keeping your mouth clean, to promote a quick recovery.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Dental implants provide predictable results that can last for decades. The average lifespan of a dental implant is 30+ years, but many factors affect the life expectancy like the materials used. Low-quality materials may not last as long. Good oral hygiene habits will protect your investment. Besides brushing and flossing, visit your dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup. Eat a healthy diet and break any bad habits that can lead to failure, like smoking or chewing on your fingernails. If you grind or clench your teeth, wear a nightguard to avoid damaging your implants.

What Are the Signs of Dental Implant Failure?

The risk of dental implant failure is rare, less than 5%, but you should still monitor your smile for anything concerning. Quick treatment is essential for stopping implant failure. Contact our office right away if you have red, swollen, or bleeding gums. Pain near the implant is also a sign that you need to see your dentist.

What Should I Do If My Dental Implant Feels Loose?

After your jaw integrates with the post, your implant should never wiggle. If it feels loose, contact our office right away. It can indicate a serious infection, bone loss, or another issue that may ultimately lead to dental implant failure. However, it can also be as simple as a loose restoration. Don't take the risk. Schedule an appointment right away.