Dental Implants – Norman, OK

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

First, Dr. Carmen will need to meet with you and perform a thorough examination of your mouth. He may also capture detailed images of your jaw using our advanced 3D cone beam/CT scanner. With this information, he can get a clear picture of whether you’re a good dental implant candidate, and if so, whether you’ll need preliminary work beforehand, such as bone grafting or gum disease treatment. He can also outline what the rest of your treatment will look like. If you have any questions about how dental implants work in Norman, your consultation would be the time to ask!

Dental Implant Surgery

As far as oral surgeries go, dental implant placement is relatively straightforward. Before starting, Dr. Carmen will make sure your mouth and jaw are fully numbed so that you don’t feel any discomfort. Then, he’ll create small incisions in your gum tissue, through which he can position the implant posts into your jawbone in precise, pre-planned ways. He’ll place protective caps over the implants and then close your gums so that you can begin healing.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Osseointegration is a natural process wherein the bone surrounding the implant grows attached to it. While this can take up to six months, it forms the foundation for your new teeth. In fact, osseointegration is the reason why dental implants are so reliable, lifelike, and able to stand the test of time.

After the posts have sufficiently integrated with your jawbone, your implant dentist in Norman will likely need to perform a second surgical procedure. This one is simpler than the one required to place your implants, and it involves securing abutments to the tops of the posts. Abutments are little metal attachments that connect your prosthetic teeth to the implants. To place them, Dr. Carmen opens your gums and attaches the abutments on top of them.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

Recovering from your abutment placement should only take a couple of weeks. Once you’re finished, we can begin designing your replacement pearly whites. After taking impressions of your mouth, your dental crown, bridge, or denture is designed and affixed to the abutment, recreating your flawless smile.

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Eat what you want – Regular dentures only bring back about 25% of the biting and chewing forces you used to have. Conversely, dental implants replenish 70% or more, making it much easier to dig into practically anything on your plate.
• Enjoy easy oral hygiene – With dental implants, you shouldn’t have to learn a brand-new, complex, and time-consuming cleaning routine. Keeping your implants in great condition is as simple as regular brushing, flossing, and checkups with your implant dentist in Norman.
• Avoid messy adhesives – Your new teeth are secured onto posts that have fused with your jawbone. As a result, they’ll stay in place without the need for uncomfortable adhesives.

Health Benefits

• Preserve your remaining teeth – To hold a dental bridge in place, we’d need to file down two of your remaining teeth, which can lead to sensitivity in those teeth over time. In contrast, dental implants in Norman are fully self-supporting, so none of your healthy tooth structure has to be sacrificed.
• Stimulate your jawbone – After a natural tooth is lost, the section of the jawbone where it once was begins to lose density. Eventually, the bone loss can cause your remaining teeth to lose support, increasing the risk that they’ll go missing as well. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement that prevent and even reverse this process by stimulating the jawbone whenever you bite and chew, just like real tooth roots.
• Stabilize your surrounding teeth – Teeth naturally press against the teeth on either side, so when one is missing, the neighboring teeth drift in an attempt to fill the gap. Over time, this may result in crooked teeth, chronic discomfort, difficulty chewing, and even TMJ disorder. Dental implants prevent this issue by perfectly filling in the empty space.

Long-Term Benefits

• Younger appearance – Bone loss in the jaw can also make your facial tissues droop, wrinkle, and age you prematurely. By keeping the jawbone strong, dental implants also help you preserve your youthful glow for many years to come.
• Potential to last a lifetime – After your implants have integrated with your jaw, they can easily stay in place for several decades or even for the rest of your life! In fact, the average lifespan of a dental implant is 30 years.
• Cost-effective tooth replacement – While bridges and dentures cost less at first than implants, they actually cost more in the long run since you’d have to pay to replace your prosthetic every five to ten years. Dental implants’ potential for longevity makes them a smarter investment overall.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Fortunately, most adults qualify for dental implants. Before moving forward with the process, a thorough examination is necessary to assess your oral and overall health. During your initial consultation, we'll consider the following factors:

• Oral Health – If you have cavities or gum disease, we'll need to address these issues first to ensure your smile is healthy enough for implants.
• Overall Health – Since receiving dental implants involves minor oral surgery, you'll need to be healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.
• Jawbone Density – Dental implants require a strong foundation, so having sufficient jawbone is crucial for supporting your implants and custom restorations.

Even if you think you might not be a candidate, our team can evaluate your mouth and facial structures to give you a definitive answer. If you have insufficient jawbone density, gum disease, or another serious concern, we can provide preliminary treatments to create a healthier environment for your implants later on.

Missing 1 Tooth

When a single tooth is lost, an implant will be surgically placed into your jawbone to replace the root. After several weeks, your jawbone will be healed, allowing an abutment to be placed on the implant. This acts as a connector to allow a custom-made dental crown to be attached. It will be made to match the size, shape, and color of your remaining teeth to blend in when you smile.

Missing Multiple Teeth

If you are missing several teeth in a row, each one will not be replaced individually. Instead, a dental bridge made of prosthetic teeth is created to fill the empty space. Dental crowns are not placed on the adjacent teeth to hold it in place. As an alternative, an average of one or two implants are used to anchor it to your jawbone.

Missing All Teeth

With dental implants, you can say goodbye to the disadvantages of traditional dentures. An average of four to eight dental implants will connect your denture to your jaw. With an implant denture, you will not have to worry about any slipping or irritation while also enjoying an increased biting force of over 70%.

Learn More About Implant Dentures

What Influences the Cost of Dental Implants?

One dental implant without the cost of placement or the restoration (replacement tooth) can cost anywhere between $500 and $2000. This price is based largely on the material used to craft the implant post and the size of the implant. In addition to the cost of the implant itself, you also need to consider the price of surgical implant placement, attaching the connective abutment posts, designing and creating a tooth replacement, and the connection of the replacement tooth or teeth to implant posts.

A single dental implant supported crown can cost $2000 to $5000 or more in rare cases, and advanced tooth replacement options only go up from there. However, it’s important to remember you’re paying for a semi-permanent solution. You won’t need to replace dental implant restorations every few years. Most patients keep their implant supported restoration for two or more decades.

Dental Insurance Coverage for Dental Implants

In most cases, dental insurance still doesn’t cover implants. However, some benefit plans have started to include these restorations, and we hope more will follow suit. We can typically use your dental insurance to cover part of the cost of your replacement tooth or teeth. We’ll work with your insurance provider to maximize this coverage.

Flexible Spending Accounts for Dental Implants

If you have a flexible spending account as part of your medical or dental insurance coverage, these funds can typically be put toward the cost of dental implants. If you plan to use your FSA funds, make sure you mention this, so we can receive preauthorization. We don’t want you to have any unexpected costs.

CareCredit & Payment Plans

CareCredit is a third-party financier that works exclusively with medical and dental providers to give patients low and no interest payment plans for health care. CareCredit and other similar financial programs offer better rates than traditional creditors, and this is a great solution for patients who want to make the investment in a lifetime of healthy smiles, starting today with dental implant supported tooth replacement.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Your dental implants may not be able to develop cavities, but the teeth around them still can. Oral health issues, including gum disease, can cause your implants to fail. Remember to brush twice and floss daily. You should also rinse with mouthwash on a daily basis for additional freshness.

Eat a Healthy Diet

When you have dental implants, you can enjoy a full, nutritious diet. This is something you should be taking advantage of. However, it is still a good idea to avoid indulging in hard, sticky, or sugary goods. Remember to enjoy plenty of foods that contain calcium and vitamin C. These nutrients help to keep your jawbone strong and your gums healthy.

Break Bad Habits

Bad habits can cause problems for your dental implants. You should avoid smoking and chewing tobacco products, as they can slow healing and encourage infection. You should also refrain from using your teeth as tools. Instead, get some scissors, a bottle opener, pliers, or another tool that can help you complete your task safely.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Your dental implants are strong, but they aren’t completely indestructible. You should always wear a mouthguard to protect your dental implants during sports. If you clench or grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist about getting a nightguard so you can protect your implants from wear and tear.

Schedule Routine Dental Checkups

Continue to see us for regular cleanings and checkups every six months. This way, we can monitor your dental implants, natural teeth, and gum tissue. By spotting issues early on, we can address them quickly and may be able to prevent serious complications from occurring later on.