Author: sharon.boyd

dental implants if not missing all of your teeth

Can I Get Implants if I’m Not Missing All of My Teeth?

Posted on | by sharon.boyd

Can you—or should you—get dental implants if you’re not missing all of your teeth? What if you’re only missing some of your teeth and need a permanent way to fill in the gaps between the teeth you still have? 

Yes, full-arch implants such as All-on-4 and All-on-6 systems in DFW are extremely popular, but we’re here to tell you that you don’t have to replace all of your teeth if you don’t want to. You can safely choose to only replace missing teeth and leave your healthy ones intact.

Only Replace Missing Teeth

You typically have two choices if you only need to replace a few teeth:

Individual Dental Implant with a Crown—For a single missing tooth, an implant and crown is the perfect choice. You’re essentially getting an artificial tooth with a biocompatible root and everything!

Pair of Implants Supporting a Dental Bridge—When there are a few missing teeth in a row, we can place an implant on either side of the gap and anchor a multi-tooth bridge on top of them. Implant bridges typically fill in up to 3-4 teeth at a time. 

Should You “Just Pull Them All and Get Dentures”?!

Very rarely do we ever suggest pulling healthy teeth to install dental implants. The standard of care is to only replace the teeth that are missing and preserve the healthy ones you still have. One of the most common mistakes people make is having all of their teeth extracted to get a set of dentures. The thought is that it will be a final fix-all for all of their dental woes. What they find out, unfortunately, is that transitioning to a pair of large removable dentures isn’t as good as it sounds. Removable “plate” style dentures just don’t function or feel as comfortable as eating with natural teeth. This is why we recommend only pulling the teeth that are really damaged, as opposed to all of them. 

Performing therapeutic extractions on non-restorable teeth helps you maintain a proper balance of oral function and bone health. Once the problematic teeth are removed, we can place dental implants in those locations only. We don’t have to do anything to the healthy teeth you still have. In fact, when you smile, talk, or eat, you ideally won’t be able to tell any difference between your dental implants and the natural teeth you decided to keep. 

Deciding if You Need to Extract Additional Teeth

What are some of the reasons why people decide to have their teeth pulled? Usually, it boils down to frustration because of chronic dental problems, toothaches, or just plain embarrassment because of how their smile looks. The best dental implant dentist will help you decide tooth-by-tooth which teeth are ideal for preserving and which ones may be better to replace with implants. Otherwise, we’ll want to leave all of your healthy teeth and only replace the ones that are already missing. 

Preserving the Healthy Teeth You Still Have

As a general rule of thumb, the best implant dentists will want to help you preserve any healthy natural teeth you still have. Although implants are amazing, anatomical teeth are still always going to be best. The key lies in deciding if a tooth is healthy enough to risk preserving it, or whether a therapeutic dental extraction is the better alternative. 

The most important thing is determining if your tooth still has stable bone to support it. From there, is the tooth structurally sound? As in, are there any large cracks to where you need a crown? Is there enough enamel left to repair the tooth, or would it break down if you bite on it? If the nerve is involved, would a root canal prove beneficial? Each of these restorative options can help you retain a natural tooth for years, or decades even, when maintained properly. And in turn, you wouldn’t need to get dental implants to replace those teeth. 

Setting a Long-Term Goal for Missing Teeth

If some of your teeth are what we might call “at-risk”, you could consider having them removed and replaced with dental implants. But only if we think the long-term outlook doesn’t seem very good. Otherwise, the best solution would be to keep them and only get implants for the teeth that are already missing. Especially if you’re committed to great home care and regular dental checkups. 

Advantages of Dental Implants if You’re Not Missing All of Your Teeth

Unlike a lot of other conventional tooth replacements, dental implants are the only ones to not negatively impact your healthy adjacent teeth. Take partial dentures for example. A partial uses clasps to help hold it in place. These extensions act like small levers pushing against the teeth that help secure them. Over time, it can damage and weaken the adjacent teeth, putting you at a greater risk of additional tooth loss. 

Bridges are another perfect example. For a traditional bridge to be installed, dentists have to cut down the healthy enamel on the teeth that are going to support your restoration. Yes, you’re replacing the tooth between them, but you’re also compromising the integrity of the healthy teeth on either side. 

With dental implants, you don’t have to worry about any of these problems. The implants stand independently alongside your other teeth, strengthening the bone in that space and helping everything stay aligned. They’re considerably “healthier” for your mouth when you need to replace missing teeth. 

Working With an Experienced Dental Implant Team

ARCHPOINT approaches every patient’s missing teeth case uniquely. Your oral health, bone anatomy, and dental history are different than everyone else around you. It’s even different than what your parents or grandparents had to go through because chances are, you may have more dental resources than they did growing up.

When you visit ARCHPOINT for a no-obligation dental implant consultation, we’ll walk you through your options to discuss which smile treatments are best for your lifestyle. Including placing individual or pairs of implants if you’re not missing all of your teeth.

Do you have missing teeth? Contact our DFW implant specialists today to reserve a no-fuss appointment!

how much do dental implants cost

Can I Afford the Cost of Dental Implants?

Posted on | by sharon.boyd

If you have missing teeth, you’ve probably heard about what a great return on investment dental implants has to offer. But how much do implants cost in the Dallas and Fort Worth area, and can you afford them?

Cost of Implants vs. How Many You Need

Hands down, the biggest variable in dental implant costs in DFW or anywhere else, is the number of implants you need. You typically don’t need a 1-to-1 ratio of implants to missing teeth unless you’re only restoring individual teeth at certain parts of your mouth. What a lot of people don’t realize is that they don’t have to place an implant for every tooth that’s missing. When you’re restoring an entire arch of teeth, you usually only need 4 to 6 dental implants. 

Since implants are so strong, they’re able to work together to safely support the weight of multi-tooth prosthetics. This design helps keep total treatment costs down while also minimizing the surgical procedures required. Fewer implants don’t mean a weaker smile; implants are still stronger than natural teeth. If you think dental implants are out of your budget, remember that you may not need as many as you think that you do. Someone with all 32 of their teeth missing may only need 8-12 implants total.

Cost of Implants vs. The Type of Restoration You Choose

Dental implants are only half of the tooth replacement process. Since implants serve as the “roots” to your new teeth, you’ll need to select the best restoration to go on top of them. In other words, a prosthesis that you see when you’re smiling or talking. 

Depending on how many teeth you’re replacing and what your budget is for dental implants, this cost is one of the main variables when tabulating your investment. Some types of implant prostheses are lower cost than others. Just keep in mind that the price of each restoration depends on things like the materials that are used, how many teeth are being restored, and whether it’s a fixed prosthesis or something like a removable same-day overdenture. 

Does Dental Insurance Cover Implants?

In most cases, yes, you can use your dental insurance coverage toward implant treatment. 10 or 20 years ago, that might not have been the case. The fact that insurance covers dental implants is a relatively new thing. And it’s mostly because implants have evolved so much, that they’re now regarded as the gold standard for tooth replacement. 

Even though dental insurance does cover implants, it probably won’t take care of the total costs involved. Just like other dental treatments—such as fillings or crowns—your insurance plan usually covers a set percentage of the procedure, such as 80% or 50%, minus any deductibles or co-pays that are required. And remember your annual allowable, which is the total amount your insurance will cover each year, regardless of what treatment is needed. 

Implant dentists will have treatment coordinators who work with you and the insurance company to tabulate the total investment required, minimizing any out-of-pocket expenses on your part. The good news is that anything not covered by insurance can usually be financed on a month-to-month basis if you prefer not to pay for it outright. That way you don’t have to wait to replace your missing teeth. 

The Best Return on Investment for Missing Teeth

There’s absolutely no argument that can be made against the return on investment of dental implants. To put it bluntly, dental implants simply offer more “bang for your buck” when it comes to replacing missing teeth. In other words, you’re investing in your smile’s long-term health and function. Financing a slightly more expensive dental treatment prevents you from having to incur additional costs in the future, essentially saving you money in the years to come. Besides implants, no other tooth replacement can do that. 

Are Dentures Cheaper Than Implants?

Yes, dentures are cheaper than dental implants. At least initially. Most acrylic dentures still need to be updated or replaced every several years as they wear out or the shape of your mouth changes. They’re not the “once and done” solution that a lot of people think they are. So even if you see an ad somewhere for affordable dentures, you’ll need to keep in mind that there will be incurred costs sprinkled throughout your future. Whereas dental implants could potentially save you money throughout the years to come. 

Other Cost Factors to Keep in Mind

Aside from the actual cost of dental implants, other fees may need to be worked into your treatment plan. These can impact the total out-of-pocket costs related to a smile makeover. For instance, if you need sinus lift surgery, bone grafts, or sedation, those factors will need to be considered. They don’t apply to everyone, but they’re common enough that you don’t want to assume it’s not a cost you’ll need to budget for. 

Price Quote for Cost of Dental Implants

The only way to know for sure how much dental implants cost is to speak to an implant dentist about your specific situation. Since there are so many variables involved—from the type of implant restoration you need to how many implants you’re getting—the price can fluctuate by hundreds to thousands of dollars. 

Implant specialists at ARCHPOINT know and understand that the price of implants is a major determining factor as to whether or not someone seeks out treatment. That’s why we always begin your consultation process with a complete exam and treatment plan workup first. We can discuss all of the variables at play and when appropriate, offer you more than one option to consider. 

Truth be told, even though dental implants typically cost more than bridges or dentures up front, they help save you money over the grand scheme of things. Implants tend to be a one-time investment that can last for life, rather than something you’re constantly updating every 5-10 years. 

Learn more about your unique needs and how they’ll affect your cost of dental implant treatment (in DFW). Request a consultation at ARCHPOINT today to get started. 

DFW mini dental implants

What are Mini Dental Implants?

Posted on | by sharon.boyd

If you’ve done any research into dental implant treatment in DFW, chances are you’ve run across ads for mini dental implants. What are mini implants? Why are they so cheap? And most importantly, what can you use them for?

Understanding the difference between mini and traditional implant designs can help you know whether these one-of-a-kind treatments are right for your situation. 

Description of Mini Dental Implants

Mini dental implants are any dental implant design that’s less than 3mm wide. That’s about the height of two pennies stacked on top of one another. It’s about half of the size or less of a full, traditional dental implant. 

Since mini dental implants are so small, it’s not possible to make them hollow at the top like a full dental implant design. Since it’s not hollow, dentists cannot screw an abutment into it. Abutments are the attachments that go on top of a regular implant, which support the crown or bridge on top of it. 

The solid design of a mini implant (without an abutment) means that once it’s installed, it will stick up out above the gumline so that something can attach to it. It’s one solid piece and no alternative abutment designs are used. 

Cost of Mini Dental Implants

The price of mini dental implants in Dallas and Fort Worth is significantly cheaper than full, traditional dental implants. So, if you see advertised implant treatments that seem extremely affordable or too good to be true, it’s probably because the dentist is using mini implants. 

Just remember that you get what you pay for. The low cost of mini implants (DFW) usually also means you’re going to need to pay to replace them with something else later on. It’s best to look at the investment as a temporary one, so consider your overall return on investment when comparing mini and traditional implant costs. 

Disadvantages of Mini Implants

The smaller design of mini dental implants makes them weaker and more prone to breakage than a full implant. Since mini dental implants are one solid design rather than hollow with an abutment, you’re more likely to see complications, such as the implant snapping at the gumline. Unfortunately, there’s no way to repair it; the entire mini implant would need to be replaced. Whereas with a traditional implant we would just unscrew the broken abutment and install a new one. With mini implants, you have to remove them and start all over. 

Additionally, you usually can’t install mini implants in the upper jaw. They need very dense bone to support them, and your lower jaw (mandible) is the densest. They typically aren’t used very often for upper tooth replacement. 

And finally, you tend to need more mini implants to support a full arch restoration than you would if you were using traditional implants. For example, you can support a complete overdenture with just two implants in your lower jaw. But if you’re using mini dental implants, you need at least four in your lower jaw and six in your upper. 

What Does the Research Say?

The information out there on mini dental implants is fairly confusing. Research tends to show that mini dental implants are about six times more likely to fail in the upper jaw than the lower jaw. And we really don’t know what the long-term survival rate is if there is one at all. One researcher who was a board-certified prosthodontist even shared that there isn’t any evidence whatsoever of long-term survival for mini implant designs. 

In most scenarios, mini dental implants are best used for temporary purposes, as opposed to long-term full mouth reconstruction. 

Uses for Mini Implants

Given the research, the ideal use for mini dental implants is temporary at best. Such as securing a removable overdenture. You can sometimes find dental experts who use mini implants to stabilize prosthetics while patients are waiting to get traditional implants in the future. 

Believe it or not, orthodontists frequently use mini dental implants alongside braces treatments. Particularly when they need an anchor to help reposition and align molars at the back of your mouth. The mini implant is installed, a bracket is attached, the adjacent tooth is moved, and then the implant is taken out. It offers just enough traction for temporary purposes to make it through the short-term orthodontic treatment. 

Mini vs. Traditional Dental Implants

Full-size dental implants are usually best for long-term purposes. They can also be placed in both the lower and upper jaw, respectively. They offer the best return on investment whether you’re replacing one tooth or all of them. 

On the other hand, mini dental implants offer a fast, temporary, cheap alternative to dental implants. But they’re usually only good for short-term purposes and in the lower jaw. Plus, there’s a higher risk they can break and need to be replaced. 

Both types of implants work for replacing missing teeth, but you have fewer options available with mini dental implant designs. Such as securing an overdenture but not replacing a top front tooth or molar. Whereas full-size implants can be used for single, multiple, or full-arch rejuvenation. 

Which One is Right For Me?

Working with a DFW dental implant specialist can help you understand which type of implant is best for your specific situation. If you’re looking for something that’s affordable and temporary, then yes, maybe mini implants are best. But if your goal is long-term smile restoration, a full traditional implant will be the best investment. Plus, you can usually finance your treatment into affordable monthly payments so that the process is still budget-friendly. 

As you’re researching your dental implant choices, just keep the big goal in mind. Are you looking for something temporary and cheaper that will need to eventually be replaced or something more long-term? 

Reserve a Consultation Today

Contact ARCHPOINT in Dallas or Fort Worth to reserve a one-on-one implant consultation with one of our leading DFW specialists. We’ll be happy to discuss your tooth replacement options with you!

what can I eat with dental implants

Dietary Considerations with Dental Implants

Posted on | by sharon.boyd

Are there certain foods to avoid if you have dental implants? Do you need to eat or chew a different way if you’re replacing all of your teeth? Are there dietary considerations you don’t know about? Believe it or not, your DFW dental implants are designed to make it feel like you have a natural smile all over again. Still, there are some things you’ll need to know about eating and applying pressure, particularly when it comes to different types of implant restorations. 

Can I Eat Hard, Chewy, or Crunchy Food with Implants?

With the right dental implants, you can eat any food you want. Including gum, taffy, nuts, steak, carrots…you get the point. Modern dental implants are physically stronger than your natural teeth. Once they’re completely integrated, they can withstand practically any amount of biting pressure that comes with normal eating. 

Now, that doesn’t mean you can use your dental implants as tools to open packages, bite your nails, or tear packaging tape. Treat them exactly the same way you would your natural teeth. Any atypical end-to-end biting or excessive force could cause unwanted strain to your smile. All that being said, there really aren’t any foods that are off limits. 

However, removable appliances like implant-supported dentures can lift out of place if you’re eating something sticky 

Dietary Considerations: Eating with All-on-4 vs. Overdentures

Depending on the type of dental implants you have, your dietary considerations can vary significantly. 

All-on-4 implants provide the most natural, comfortable option at mealtime. They essentially work the same way as natural teeth, so everything from chewing to swallowing is simple. 

That isn’t necessarily the case for overdentures. Overdentures—also called “implant stabilized” or “implant supported” dentures—are a clip-on prosthesis that snaps to dental implants underneath. Like a traditional denture, it features a plate that rests across the roof of your mouth. But it doesn’t have as strong or firm of biting pressure as an All-on-4 treatment does. These dentures are more stable than a traditional version, but for the most part, you will still want to take smaller bites and stick to slightly softer textures of food. 

Overdentures have a wide variety of uses. If you’re planning to get dental implants in DFW, you want to be sure of which type of restoration that you’re getting. Some treatments involve a temporary or long-term overdenture, depending on which dentist you’re seeing. 

Do I Need to Clean My Implants After Eating? 

As long as you’re brushing and water flossing each day, you don’t necessarily need to clean your mouth every time you eat. That can be pretty hard to do if you’re out running errands or spending time in the office. 

While it’s never a bad idea to brush if you have time, there are some simple things you can do to keep your dental implants and mouth fresh after eating. First, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water at your meal and throughout the day. Water naturally flushes away bacteria and leftover food particles. Second, try to make a point to rinse your mouth out well with water after you eat. Just step away for a few minutes, find the restroom, and thoroughly rinse your mouth out at the sink. The vigorous swishing will help get between your implants and gums.

All of that being said, if you can’t clean your mouth except for twice a day, that’s completely fine. Your implants are made to stand up to what the day has to throw at them. As long as you’re brushing and flossing them before you go to bed, then again in the morning, you’re doing exactly as you need to. 

If you’re wearing a removable overdenture, consider taking it out and rinsing it after every meal. 

How to Remove Food Stuck Around Dental Implants

Just like natural teeth, there will probably be some times where food gets stuck around your dental implants. Keeping your implants clean each day will help to reduce any spaces developing that could harbor food. That being said, certain parts of your mouth—and certain types of food—tend to need more attention than others. 

If you’re out and about, consider keeping some toothpicks or floss picks in your car. You won’t be using the flosser end, but the pointed tip can still come in handy. Carefully use one of these hygiene aids to grab or pull away any stringy meats or vegetables that might be caught along your implants and gum tissues. 

Once you get home, make sure you clean that space well with a water flosser. As a general rule of thumb, there’s usually more buildup in our mouths than what we can actually see or feel. Your water flosser will help flush away any residue that you can’t reach with a toothpick between meals. 

Dietary Considerations: Eating Immediately After Implant Surgery

When you get dental implants—even if it’s a “teeth in a day” solution—the first several days after your implant installation will require a bit of extra care. We recommend sticking to a softer diet at first, while your mouth is healing. Your interim dental appliance (what you wear while your mouth heals and implants integrate) won’t be made to hold up to as much biting pressure as your permanent implant restoration. So, for those first few months, you’ll gradually progress to firmer foods but still probably want to take smaller bites. 

Eating softer foods will reduce the irritation to your gums and implant sites as they heal. The good news is that this stage of implant treatment is short-lived. Once everything is fully integrated, you’ll be able to eat whatever you like. 

Enjoy the Foods You Love

DFW dental implants give you your life back. From eating the foods you want to, to enjoying social gatherings around the table, you’ll gain the confidence you deserve to smile and share meals with other people. 

Find out if dental implants are right for you. Reserve a consultation at ARCHPOINT Implant Dentistry to speak with one of our skilled implant specialists.

health benefits of dental implants

Medical Advantages of Dental Implants

Posted on | by sharon.boyd

Aside from the cosmetic advantages of replacing a missing tooth, are there actual health benefits and medical advantages of getting dental implants? Absolutely. And while most of the health benefits of implants do impact your smile, not all of them are tooth related. 

Improved Nutritional Intake

The first step of a healthy digestive system is having a functional set of teeth to chew and break down your food. As we get older, a lot of us experience deficiencies in vitamins and minerals because of the foods we are or aren’t eating. With missing teeth or dentures, it’s not always possible to break down nutritional foods for us to absorb in our intestinal tract. This scenario can raise our chances of illness, disease, malabsorption, and weight loss.  Each situation can significantly reduce our quality of life and life expectancy. 

Since implants are stronger than natural teeth, they’re capable of breaking down any food you could possibly want to eat, providing significant medical advantages. From fresh fruits and vegetables to meats and everything in-between, you won’t have to worry about selectively choosing your bites of food for a healthy nutrient intake. 

Physical Medical Advantages: Stronger Bone

The materials that dental implants are made out of trigger a natural response called “osseointegration.” Osseointegration is what happens when your bone is stimulated to form a new layer of bone, fusing to whatever is next to it. 

Why is this significant? Because of the bone resorption (shrinkage) that typically happens any time you lose a tooth. Typically, with tooth loss, we’ll see the jaw in that area begin to shorten and thin out. This change can lead to a shrinking or shortening in your facial profile, a weaker jaw, and loss of support for any adjacent tooth roots. 

Since implants promote bone integration, they practically stop the natural bone loss that happens after a tooth goes missing. This step reinforces the strength of your jaws, improves overall bone density, and helps with anti-aging benefits to boot!

Hypoallergenic, Biocompatible Materials 

All of the materials that are used to make dental implants are biocompatible. Meaning your body easily accepts them and won’t reject them when they’re installed, offering huge medical advantages. Each one is crafted from a hypoallergenic material that is also used in common medical procedures, such as joint replacement. 

Since these materials are biocompatible, you don’t have to worry about failure or rejection, even if you typically have a sensitivity to certain metals. That being said, we do ask that you let us know of any known allergies that you have, just to be sure. 

When we install a biocompatible device like a medical implant, the goal is to have it stay there for the rest of your life. That’s why titanium materials are frequently used by other medical specialists, such as surgeons. 

Each of these medical-grade devices can last for years without worrying about potential infection or failure, presuming they’re looked after properly. With a high 98% success rate, it’s likely that dental implants will actually outlast all your healthy teeth. 

Reinforces Any Existing, Natural Teeth

Installing dental implants next to anatomical teeth is a great way to preserve your natural biting patterns. By nature, teeth tend to start shifting or leaning out of place once their neighbor goes missing. Over time, a chain reaction takes place across your entire mouth. Each of the teeth can become displaced, including the ones on the opposing arch (because of how they bite—or don’t bite—against a certain area.) 

As teeth start to tilt, they’re exposed to atypical pressure points that can cause irregular enamel wear. Common side effects will also include broken or chipped teeth and dental work. Everyday motions like chewing have to change so that you can grind down your food effectively. And as a result, the shifting bite relationship will also impact the motion of your TMJ (jaw joint.) If you’ve never had TMJ issues in the past, missing teeth could change that. TMJ pain, migraines, headaches, and musculoskeletal pain in your neck, shoulders, and back are all trickle-down side effects. 

Crooked teeth are also at a higher risk of cavities and gum disease. 

Since implants are permanently set into place in the bone, they add extra reinforcement to your smile. Like bookends, they prevent what’s between them from tilting, drifting, or shifting out of place. So even if it’s “just one tooth that’s missing,” getting a dental implant is a smart investment in your entire smile. 

Are Dental Implants Safe?

It is extremely safe to place dental implants. Similarly, their success rate is extremely high, making them more predictable than nearly any other type of dental restoration. When you care for them properly, you can usually expect your DFW dental implants to last the rest of your life. 

As with any dental treatment, you’ll still need to complete a thorough screening and exam before deciding to get implants. If you’re taking certain types of medications, have a bleeding disorder, or the lining of your nasal sinuses has dropped, steps need to be taken before it’s safe to install dental implants. 

Working with a highly experienced implant specialist will ensure the best possible outcome for your smile. The more training and experience your provider has, the safer you’ll be able to feel. 

Extend the Life and Function of Other Teeth

When you get dental implants, your dentist doesn’t have to alter the physical structure of your adjacent teeth. There is no cutting or drilling into their enamel to make room for the implant structure. Instead, it sits directly next to them. 

Unfortunately, that’s not the case for other popular tooth replacements. Dental bridges, for example. Bridges require cutting into the enamel on both neighboring teeth to create a space for the bridge to bond to. This invasive process can be beneficial if those teeth already need to be reinforced with a dental crown. But if they’re healthy, virgin teeth, reducing their enamel compromises the long-term health of the tooth as a whole. 

Even conventional options like dentures or partial dentures will impact other teeth. Dentures can’t be worn unless all teeth are extracted or missing. And partials can still rub, push into, or require reshaping adjacent teeth. 

Implants are the only holistic tooth replacement option that helps you preserve the other teeth in your smile at the same time. 

Are You a Candidate for Implants? 

ARCHPOINT Implant Dentistry in Dallas and Fort Worth offers complete implant therapy for single and multiple missing teeth. If you’re looking for the safest, most holistic way to restore your smile, dental implants are the best option. Contact ARCHPOINT today to reserve a consultation. 

difference between dental implants and teeth

Can You Tell the Difference Between Dental Implants and Real Teeth?

Posted on | by sharon.boyd

One of the biggest concerns that people have about dental implants is worrying whether or not other people will be able to tell their smile isn’t natural. When you’re going to invest in something as dramatic as an entirely new smile, you want it to look and feel great. Can you tell the difference between dental implants and real teeth? Especially if it’s full arch dental implants?

Compared to a lot of other tooth replacement options on the market, dental implants offer the best return on investment. Not only are they extremely predictable and durable, but they’re the only solution that’s modeled after natural tooth anatomy. All that being said, can you tell the difference between a full arch implant system and your natural teeth? 

The Shape of a Hybrid “All-on-4” Implant System

Hybrid full arch implants are different than a conventional denture, which covers the entire roof of your mouth. Systems like All-on-4 implants use a more streamlined shape that only covers the arch of your jaw, rather than the full palate. 

This uniquely slim design makes your implant teeth feel and function more comfortable than conventional dentures. That being said, they’re slightly wider than something like a traditional dental bridge, which only replaces the “tooth” portion of your smile. An All-on-4 system will include all of the teeth as well as the immediate gum area next to them. By designing them this way, we can ensure a consistent appearance from one side to the other, without your teeth looking “fake.”  They’ll smoothly blend from tooth to gum tissue for a more natural look. 

Talking with Implants vs. Natural Teeth

One of the biggest differences between a tooth replacement treatment and your natural teeth is the sound of your speech. Everything from the way you articulate certain sounds to slurring can be noticeable. After all, our teeth are just as important as our lips and tongue when we’re speaking. 

If you’re someone who wears dentures, you know all too well how much they can change the way you talk. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be the case with dental implants. Since implants are slimmer than dentures and take up less room in your mouth, they’re easier to move your tongue around whenever you’re speaking. That means fewer changes to your typical speech patterns, and in turn, more natural-sounding voice articulation. 

Even though there could be a slight adjustment to talking with implants, it’s extremely minor. Practicing at home or in front of a mirror for a few days should really be all you need for people to not notice a difference. 

Is it Different Eating with Dental Implants and Real Teeth?

Aside from having something permanently fixed in place, the biggest perk of having dental implants is that you can basically eat whatever you want. You won’t have the same dietary restrictions that you do with a denture or partial. 

Each of our DFW full arch implants is made from an extremely durable material called zirconia. Zirconia can essentially hold up to anything that natural teeth would, plus some. So, biting and chewing things like a steak, apple, or even a piece of beef jerky really shouldn’t be an issue. 

Since you can eat whatever you want with implants, you don’t have to worry about mealtime with family and friends. Nothing really changes and you don’t have to stick to any special diets. Order whatever you like! Not only is your diet more diverse, but you won’t have to worry about dentures slipping in front of other people. 

How Your Dental Implants and Real Teeth Look When You Smile

Zirconia dental implants are the most realistic-looking type of tooth replacement that you can find. It’s highly aesthetic, giving a natural sheen whenever you’re smiling or talking to other people. We can even specify the exact size, contour, and hue of each tooth on your All-on-4 appliance. 

With a lot of other tooth replacements, people can tell your “teeth” are fake. All-on-4 is crafted extremely carefully so that it’s the most lifelike restoration that we can provide. 

Replacement teeth should not look identical from one person to the next. If your teeth look perfectly colored and shaped from one side to the other, it can give the illusion that something isn’t quite right. But adjusting your All-on-4 to fit your facial characteristics and mouth shape will ensure they look more natural.

Your Implant Dentist and Material Choices Matter

One of the most important factors for natural-looking implants is selecting a highly experienced implant dentist and lab. Some providers use cheaper materials like acrylic, which typically aren’t as attractive or lifelike. The acrylic is also less durable than zirconia, which can impact their future appearance. 

If you see a deal that seems too good to be true, there is probably a difference in the materials or lab your dentist is using. Ask to view different types of All-on-4 materials side by side, so that you can compare them to one another. With zirconia implants, you’re getting the most lifelike and durable solution for your long-term investment. 

The Major Difference: Your Home Care Routine

Perhaps the biggest difference between natural teeth and All-on-4 implants is your home care routine. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of taking anything in and out every day. You can also brush your teeth like normal, just make sure you’re spending a little time along the edges of your prosthesis. 

However, you do need to adapt the way you clean under your All-on-4 and around each supporting implant. This will be the main “giveaway” if you’re worried about someone being able to tell you don’t have natural teeth. Since you need to clean between your prosthesis and gums, extra aids such as a water flosser, tufted floss, or a proxy brush will be required. But if you’re discreet about how you use your water flosser, other people may never be able to tell the difference!

Dental Implants in Fort Worth, Dallas

ARCHPOINT Implant Dentistry is the premier implant provider in DFW. If you’re ready to enjoy a permanent smile that looks and feels like natural teeth, reserve your consultation today.  

are zirconia implants strongest

Strength of Zirconia Dental Implants (Can You Drop Them Off a Building?)

Posted on | by sharon.boyd

With so many various dental materials out there on the market, it can be overwhelming to try to decide which one to pick for your smile. It probably seems like every implant dentist is offering different designs. Or they might use labs that promote one material over another. How can you know whether any of the newer dental implant materials are really that much stronger or durable than older, proven ones like zirconia? 

Dropping Dental Implants: Do They Break?

If you search the internet long enough, you’ll see videos on people dropping implant teeth on concrete, running over them with cars, or even tossing them from the top of multi-story buildings. 

The reason why some of these implant providers are dropping them on purpose is to tout that other materials might be stronger or more durable. Such as nanoceramics, which are generally lighter than zirconia materials. They claim that the nanoceramics are less likely to break when dropped from a building, making them stronger than zirconia.

But does any of that matter? How does dropping implant teeth off of a building compare to the biting pressure and forces applied when you’re chewing with dental implants? 

Comparing Weight of Dental Implants Materials

Newer implant materials are generally lighter than zirconia. But we’re talking about a difference of only a few ounces. Many of these new nanoceramics actually weigh less than your natural teeth. If you were to take all 28 of your teeth (assuming your wisdom teeth were removed) and say they each had a crown or filling, they would weigh about as much as a zirconia arch. In other words, the zirconia isn’t heavy at all. 

For example, a set of zirconia teeth weighs about 2.4 ounces. That’s about the same amount as a nearly empty water bottle with only a tiny sip or two left in the bottom. But nanoceramic teeth only weigh about 0.8 ounces. Technically, the zirconia is 3x heavier than the nanoceramic. But surprise, the zirconia prosthesis is actually smaller!

Ultimately the difference of a few ounces doesn’t matter when we’re talking about biting forces from your jaw muscles. Biting pressure doesn’t affect the weight of something the same way dropping it off of a building might. 

Flexural Strength of Dental Implants

Whenever we’re talking about how strong implant teeth are, the type of strength we’re concerned with is “flexural strength.” Flexural strength is the amount of stress a material can take on when it’s flexing from applied pressure before it breaks. We measure it in megapascals. 

The strength of our zirconia implant teeth is somewhere around 1200 megapascals. Even if you tried to break them with your hands, it would be extremely difficult. 

But what about these newer materials on the market? Like the ones that are extremely light nanoceramic and acrylic? These materials only have a range of about 200-400 megapascals. They’re lighter, yes. But their flexural strength isn’t anywhere close to zirconia implants. 

Flexural strength matters most when we’re talking about biting and chewing pressure. Those forces are going to be different than dropping or throwing something off of a building and it hitting concrete. 

Dropping Dental Implants: Which Ones Break?

The online videos for acrylic and nanoceramic implants try to prove that they’re stronger than implants. The reason it’s a little confusing is that most of those appliances hold up better when you drop them off of buildings. 

We tried an experiment too. We took zirconia implants and dropped them repeatedly onto the concrete from varying distances. Then we went to the top of a multi-story parking garage and dropped them on the sidewalk. At that point, they finally broke. Keep in mind that they were dropped several times beforehand and that we also purposely ran over them with a car. 

Does that mean zirconia implants aren’t as good as new nanoceramics? Not exactly…

It’s “All About That Force”

Even if you didn’t take physics or aren’t an engineer, it’s possible to understand how dropping something off of a building may affect some things differently than others. In this case, zirconia vs. nanoceramic dental implants. 

Remember how we discussed that zirconia weighs more than nanoceramic? The weight—or its mass and density—change the force that’s applied to the prosthesis once it hits the ground. Even if the distance and acceleration of the two implants are the same as they’re dropped, the heavier one will have a harder impact because it weighs more. We could get into the mathematical equations if you really wanted to, but it boils down to heavier items having a heavier impact, even if the difference is only a few ounces. 

Is it really a big deal that these activities might or might not break zirconia implants? After all, any of these activities would also break your natural teeth. Especially jumping off a building. 

Teeth are for Flexing, Not Impact

When we bite and chew our food, our teeth need to be able to have some flex to them. They’re responsive to the pressure that’s applied. But those heavy forces don’t cause severe impact like hitting or dropping does. Biting pressures are completely different than forces of gravity. So, when it comes to replacing missing teeth, we need your dental implants to withstand flexing, as opposed to gravitational forces. 

Yes, there are lots of new and exciting materials in the dental industry. But none of them—as of yet—are as strong and durable as zirconia. 

So, why are people using non-zirconia materials for implants? For one, zirconia is one of the hardest materials to work on (that’s what makes it so strong.) You have to be extremely precise from day one because it’s not possible to make a lot of adjustments to them. Whereas cheaper materials like acrylic or ceramic are easier to work with. It’s exciting to see where the possibilities of these materials might go, but for future purposes, the longevity of zirconia implants is the best option out there. 

Don’t Let the Videos Fool You

Experiments like dropping implants off of buildings seem convincing, but they don’t replicate the everyday equivalent of biting and chewing forces. Dropping anything off of a 40-story building is a great way to break it (including natural teeth or dentures.) The closest thing we can get to showing flexural strength is probably driving over dental implants with a car. So, for now, stick with zirconia! Contact us today to learn more.

how much are full mouth implants

How Much Do Full Mouth Implants Cost?

Posted on | by sharon.boyd

One of the biggest concerns of any dental implant patient is not just how great their new smile is going to look or how long the process takes, but how much the treatment actually costs. The cost of dental implants—especially full mouth rejuvenation—is really hard to give a specific price quote, and for a very good reason. There are just so many variables that impact the price of full mouth dental implants. And really, without considering all of them, we can’t even “guesstimate” how much a person’s treatment will be. 

Here are just some of the examples of factors that can impact dental implant costs:

How Healthy Your Bone and Gum Tissues Are

First of all, your mouth needs to have a healthy foundation to support any dental implants that you need. Your gums need to be free of any periodontal infections and the bone below that ought to be dense enough that it can completely surround an implant. 

For people who don’t have healthy gum or bone levels, augmentation or grafting may be necessary. That’s where we graft new tissue into specific spaces, to recreate the shape of your gums or bone so that it can fully anchor an implant at that location. Grafting adds a bit of time to your overall smile reconstruction case, as well as the total out-of-pocket price. 

The Number of Dental Implants You Need for Full Mouth Treatment

With full mouth reconstruction, we can typically use a few as four dental implants total (per arch.) That’s why you hear phrases like “All-on-4 implants” used; the four implants anchor the full-arch restoration. You’re essentially replacing 14 teeth in a row with only four implants to support them. 

Depending on the anatomy and stability of your bone, you might need more than four implants. Sometimes “All-on-6” is better than “All-on-4”. If you need 5-6 implants to support your full mouth implants, the cost of treatment is adjusted to accommodate for the extra dental implants being used. 

There are even instances where some people use as few as two dental implants to stabilize a removable overdenture. While removable appliances aren’t necessarily the same as full mouth dental implants, it might be what some individuals are looking for. 

While it’s fair to say that four implants are the most common, it’s not all that uncommon for additional costs to be incurred because of more implants being required. Much of it simply depends on your unique oral anatomy. 

The Type of Full Mouth Implant Restoration You’ve Chosen

There are multiple different types of dental implant restorations and materials used to make them. While you can definitely find cheap full mouth implants or affordable “teeth in a day” options, those inexpensive prosthetics tend to be used for temporary purposes only. You still have to update them with something more permanent after your mouth heals. 

Our practice utilizes high-quality zirconia dental implants instead of acrylic. Since zirconia is more aesthetic and durable, it best resembles natural teeth. It’s also better for chewing and eating with. 

However, some people want a prosthesis that’s more like traditional acrylic dentures. Acrylic is obviously more affordable than zirconia is, but it also wears out more quickly, scratches, and can develop more stain accumulation over time. That’s why we only use those materials for temporary healing restorations. 

Additional Steps (Extractions, etc.) 

Sometimes there are other factors not associated with dental implants that add to your full-mouth reconstruction costs. 

For instance, maybe you have several teeth that still need to be removed before dental implants can be placed. Depending on the type of extraction required, the fee can vary from a simple to a complex procedure. Simple extractions tend to be the most affordable, while surgical extractions are those that involve impacted or embedded teeth. 

If you’re having teeth extracted, there’s also a good chance that you may need to have bone grafting placed into those areas, to make sure your jaws are stable enough to support a dental implant. 

Maybe you’re not replacing all of the teeth in your mouth and you’re only restoring one arch (like all of your upper teeth at one time.) If there is any type of disease—be it periodontitis or tooth decay—on the opposing arch of teeth, those infections need to be addressed before we can start the implant installation process because your mouth needs to be completely healthy. 

The Type of Sedation You Choose

There are a few different levels of sedation/anesthesia that we use in dentistry. You’re probably already aware of local anesthesia, which is the numbing medication that we use to deaden a specific point in your mouth for working on one or two teeth. If you’re only having a couple of dental implants placed, local anesthetic and a mild to moderate sedative is perfectly fine. 

On the other hand, if you’re getting full mouth dental implants, we highly recommend deep sedation during your procedure. While we still use local anesthetic at the areas where the implants are being installed, deep sedation ensures optimal relaxation and an enhanced recovery once your treatment is complete. Since we bring in an anesthetist to administer and monitor the sedation medications throughout the duration of the appointment, there are specific fees attached to those types of visits. 

A No-Fuss Full Mouth Implant Consultation

Fortunately, you can find out how much dental implants will cost in your unique situation by planning an exam with one of our implant specialists. During your consultation, we’ll evaluate all of the above-mentioned factors, discuss what your individual goals are, and tabulate the coverage when it comes to your unique insurance plan benefits. From there, you’ll receive a black-and-white printout of your proposed treatment plan, with all of the pricing included. Yep. Right there on the paper. So, if you’re ready to get started immediately or you just want to sleep on it, you’ll have the information you need to take the first steps toward a new smile. 

Reserve an Appointment Today

Get your individual dental implant price quote with our DFW specialists today. Contact us now for your no-fuss implant assessment.

cosmetic dentist and dental implants

Cosmetic Implant Dentist in DFW

Posted on | by sharon.boyd

Any time you want to make something over, you have to be sure it’s done correctly. Maybe you’re remodeling your kitchen, having landscaping put in, or getting work done on your car. You put all of your trust into the person you choose to do the job. You want it done properly, fairly, and most of all, you want the results to look the way you thought they would. 

It’s no different when it comes to your smile. Selecting a dental implant provider—especially in a place as large as DFW—can seem daunting. If you’re in the early stages of selecting an implant dentist, here are some things you’ll want to keep in mind. 

Ask Your Friends

If you’re comfortable sharing that you plan to get dental implants, feel free to ask other people who they’ve used. Personal recommendations are worth their weight in gold. Especially when it comes to something as life-changing as your smile. You probably already ask for personal input for other types of big investments (like selecting a realtor or automotive specialist) so why should it be any different with your dental provider? 

Ask Your Dentist for a Referral

Are you currently seeing a general dentist for routine checkups? Even if they place individual dental implants in their office, they may still prefer to refer you to a specialist for full mouth implant therapy. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask your family dentist if they recommend any specific implant specialists in your area. Add the name(s) to the list you’ve already started from previous recommendations. 

Do Your Research

Now that you have a shortlist of implant dentist’s names, you can start looking them up online. Check to see what credentials they hold and the type of training they’ve received. Are they a specialist such as a prosthodontist, oral surgeon, periodontist, or another implant expert? Do they belong to any specific associations related to full mouth dental implant therapy? Make a note of which practices have the most highly-trained specialists on staff.

Read Dentist Online Reviews

Every online review—whether it’s a restaurant or something else—always has to be taken with a grain of salt. The key is to look for trends in reviews. Such as consistent, highly-rated recommendations or the same compliments being paid over and over again. There will always be someone with a bone to pick, but if you’re seeing amazing 5-star reviews on a day-in, day-out basis, you know you can shorten your list of implant dentists to the best two or three. 

Check Out the Sedation and Financing Options

Two of the biggest concerns of any full mouth implant patient are comfort and affordability. Perhaps you have insurance, or maybe you don’t. Do you want to finance your smile transformation so that you can make affordable monthly payments? Ask the office which types of payment plans they happen to offer. 

Similarly, your comfort during a full mouth implant treatment is extremely important. But the type of sedation that implant dentists offer can vary from one practice to the next. If you want moderate to deep sedation, check to make sure it’s offered by that specific provider. 

Start with a One-on-One Consultation

One of the best ways to find a great implant dentist is to meet with your top picks in person. When you’re there for a consultation you’ll get a general feel for their practice, methodologies, and if they’re a good fit for your needs. More often than not, you can tell from a personal visit with an implant dentist if they’re the right provider for your situation. 

Consultations don’t need to be complex. Maybe it’s just a 15-minute visit to get a feel for the practice or to see what they offer. But if you’re a bit more committed to moving forward, you can go ahead and reserve a comprehensive exam and implant treatment planning session.

View Before-and-After Photographs

Make sure you ask to see some of the implant dentist’s completed cases. Perhaps they have an online portfolio or photo gallery, where you can see similar full mouth makeovers. 

Since cosmetic implant treatment is truly a work of art, you need to know what the results consistently look like. Many of the variations of materials, techniques, and even the lab that is used can greatly impact the final results of a smile makeover. Feel free to share your likes or dislikes, so that the dentist can recommend specific modifications that fit your preferences. No two smiles will ever look the same!

Consider Getting Second Opinions

Didn’t get the warm fuzzies with the last dentist you visited? You’re not the first one to feel that way. In fact, a lot of dental insurances even offer to cover the cost of a second opinion, because they know patients will typically opt for the more conservative one. 

A second opinion for something as life-changing as dental implants is like test driving a car. Sometimes you know it’s “the one” right off the bat, but other times you need to get behind the wheel of another make or model just to be sure that you’re making the best choice. Some of us need that, others don’t. The ultimate goal is for you to just feel confident and comfortable about the person or team who is going to be transforming your smile. 

It’s Time to Visit an ARCHPOINT Dentist

At ARCHPOINT, we treat every single patient as if they were one of our closest family members. Whether you need to replace a couple of missing teeth or you’re exploring full mouth dental implant therapy, we’re here to provide some of the best implant treatments in the Dallas and Fort Worth metroplex. When you reserve an appointment at ARCHPOINT, you can rest assured that you’ll be receiving the highest quality of implant care in the industry. 

We invite you to contact us today to reserve a zero-pressure visit with one of our DFW implant specialists. Experience the ARCHPOINT difference for yourself!

dental sedation during implant treatment

Anesthesia for Implants: What to Expect from Sedation

Posted on | by sharon.boyd

Most of us have something that we’re afraid of, or at least makes us a little bit anxious. Maybe it’s jumping off a diving board headfirst, public speaking, or maybe it’s snakes. Dental treatment ranks pretty high up there too. And even if you’re not “afraid” of your dentist, per se, as many as 1-in-3 people suffer from some type of dental anxiety or complete dental phobia. So, when it comes time to have their teeth worked on, one of the best ways to enjoy your trip to the dentist is to sleep through the appointment with the help of anesthesia or “deep sedation.”

But what if being asleep makes you nervous too? Fortunately, understanding how dental anesthesia and sedation works will help you feel more relaxed about your upcoming dental implant procedure. We’ve found that one of the best ways to get implants is to sleep through the appointment, and there are a variety of different types of dental sedation to make that possible. 

Different Types of Sedation/Anesthesia in Dentistry

For most of us, we’ve been to our general dentist’s office where they had to numb our mouth for a basic filling. This type of medication is called local anesthesia, and it only numbs or deadens a specific part of our body, where those nerve endings are. 

You’ve probably never been to a dentist and had them completely sedate you with general anesthesia for your entire mouth. But that’s what our DFW implant dentists do when you’re undergoing full mouth reconstruction. If you’ve never been fully “put under” for something like wisdom tooth extraction, you’ve probably encountered general anesthesia when it comes time for your over-age-45 colonoscopy. The sedation process for a routine colonoscopy is almost identical to what you’d experience here in a dental implant practice. So, if you haven’t already had a colonoscopy yet, once you do, you’ll be familiar with the sedation process enough that you can put your mind at ease. 

In dentistry, we use various levels of anesthesia, ranging from mild to moderate to deep. We help you select the most appropriate level depending on the procedure that you need. For instance, if you’re only getting one or two implants, you probably only need moderate sedation. But if you’re getting full mouth dental implants, deep sedation is preferred. 

What’s in Deep Sedation (IV Anesthesia)? 

Deep dental sedation is delivered through an IV line. With IVs, we can tailor specific medications to the unique situation and patient. Each one that goes into it is carefully selected for improved patient comfort, safety, and recovery. 

One of the first medications included in deep sedation is Versed. Versed helps you feel relaxed before the procedure starts. We help get you settled and you’ll generally feel at ease throughout your entire body. Since IV medications are delivered straight into your bloodstream, they’re fast-acting and extremely effective. 

Next is the Propofol. Propofol is what actually causes you to feel like you’re falling asleep. Our anesthetist administers a specific dose based on your body size, weight, and any other medical factors. We always carefully screen each of our clients and review their medical history to ensure we’re only using safe medications for their sleep dentistry experience. The Propofol is essential because it helps you stay asleep throughout the entire procedure until we’re ready for you to wake up. 

Once you’re asleep, we still use local anesthetic to numb the part of your mouth that we’re working on. Yes, you’re “out of it”, but we don’t want you to feel any level of discomfort. This step is not to be skipped! 

We also use a slight cocktail of Fentanyl for generalized pain relief, and an antibiotic to help prevent any type of post-operative infection. And since some people are known to experience nausea after a sedation procedure, we’ll also use Zofran (an anti-nausea drug) to help you feel more comfortable as you’re waking up.

Last but not least, we might also use a steroid in your IV line. Steroids provide some anti-nausea relief, but they’re important because they also help to reduce the risk of swelling after your procedure. Swelling is one of the most common sources of discomfort, so the steroid jump-starts a gentler recovery. It’s important to note that you still need to use your ice packs as directed since the steroid will wear off by the end of the day. Keeping an ice pack against your mouth is the most effective way of reducing inflammation. 

Why Choose Deep IV Sedation for Implant Treatment

With IV anesthesia you get all of the best benefits of dental sedation during lengthy treatment procedures. In turn, you’ll feel a lot more comfortable the next day than had you undergone your treatment without IV sedation. Since deep sedation makes you relaxed, you’ll be able to rest your teeth on the bite guard we’re using, instead of instinctively clenching or biting down on it (like you would if you weren’t sedated.) In turn, your jaw joints aren’t sore from being overworked. Your entire body and mouth are relaxed throughout the duration of your appointment. 

How is Dental Anesthesia Different than Hospital Sedation? 

Finally, one of the last questions we hear is, “How is deep sedation for dental treatment different than the sedation used in hospitals?” For instance, if you’re having heart surgery or brain surgery. 

Sedation in a hospital setting usually involves being intubated with a tube down your throat to help you breathe. But in dentistry, we keep your airway open so that you can breathe naturally. Hospital sedation typically pumps a special gas through the intubation tube to keep you asleep. We don’t have to use that for dental implants. 

The biggest difference between hospital and dental sedation is that hospital anesthesia usually has some type of a “paralyzing” drug in the IV, which prevents you from moving during your appointment (you obviously don’t want to move during heart or brain surgery!) But if you’re just getting a routine colonoscopy, the type of sedation they’re using will probably be almost identical to what we use during dental implant surgery. You don’t have to be completely immobilized, so the paralyzing agents aren’t used. 

Feel Great About Your Experience

Now that you understand what’s involved with anesthesia for dental implants (and colonoscopies!) you can feel more confident about accessing the care you need. For a dental implant consultation, call ARCHPOINT today.