Dental Implants in Houston's River Oaks
At River Oaks Dentistry, we are leaders in implantology, using precision guided digital technology we can give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of.
Why should I choose dental implants?
Dental implants aren't just about filling a gap in your smile—they're about reclaiming your confidence and oral health for a lifetime. Unlike temporary options, implants become a permanent part of your mouth by anchoring directly to your jawbone, allowing you to eat, speak, and laugh without worry while preventing bone loss and maintaining your facial structure. Though they may seem like a bigger investment upfront, their unmatched durability and long-term benefits make dental implants the smart choice for patients tired of missing teeth or uncomfortable dentures. They're truly a life-changing solution that looks, feels, and functions just like natural teeth.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Natural Feel and Function
Dental implants closely mimic your natural teeth, allowing you to brush, floss, and eat just like you always have.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Each implant is custom-designed to match your existing teeth in shape, size, and color. This personalized approach ensures your new tooth blends seamlessly with your smile.
Preserves Oral Health
Made from biocompatible titanium, implants actually integrate with your jawbone, stimulating it just like natural tooth roots. This helps prevent bone loss and maintains your facial structure for years to come.
Our difference
Bone Grafting
When it comes to ensuring the longevity and functionality of your dental implants, proper preparation is key. Our doctors bring extensive expertise in bone grafting, a vital procedure for enhancing bone density and supporting implant stability.
Guided Surgery with 3D Printing
Elevate your dental implant experience with our advanced 3D-printed surgical guides. These crafted guides ensure unparalleled precision, streamlining your procedure for enhanced comfort and optimal results.
No Guess-Work, More Comfort
With cone-beam computed tomography, or CBCT technology, we give our patients peace of mind. This reliable technology ensures precise placement for increased patient comfort and better overall outcomes.
Digital Scanner
We use advanced digital scanning technology to create precise 3D models of your mouth without uncomfortable putty impressions.
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Sedation Options
We offer various sedation choices to keep you comfortable during your implant procedure.
The Implant Treatment Process
Placement
Once we've confirmed your treatment plan, we'll schedule your procedure and walk you through exactly what to expect. During the surgery, we make a precise incision in your gum and carefully place the dental implant into your jawbone. We then clean the area and apply sutures to promote healing. This sets the foundation for your new tooth.
Healing & Osseointegration
Healing begins right after implant placement. The incision typically heals within 1-2 weeks, but full integration of the implant with your jawbone (called osseointegration) takes about 3-6 months. We'll schedule check-ups during this time to ensure everything is healing properly.
Applying the Restoration
The final step is adding your custom crown. We create a dental crown designed to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth, which is then securely attached to an abutment on your implant. With this complete, your smile is fully restored!
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out these frequently asked questions, or call us to speak with our team.
A dental implant is a small component that is positioned in the jaw to replace the root of a missing tooth. A crown can be attached and held in place by a single dental implant or a bridge may be attached to multiple dental implants. Your dental implant integrates into your jawbone to provide permanent support for crowns and bridges. Dental implants are the standard of care for tooth replacement.
Every individual is different and we want to offer the personalized attention your smile deserves. We offer a consultation first to discuss options for missing or broken teeth. We can advise you about whether you are a candidate for single or multiple dental implants or a full arch/mouth replacement.
The time it takes to replace a missing tooth with dental implants can vary depending on the individual patient's unique needs and the complexity of their case. In general, the single implant placement procedure can take as little as four minutes, with no recovery time needed. After all that is complete, we will place a crown on top of the implant and you'll have a new, beautiful smile. The total time is varies from patient to patient, but you can typically expect the entire process to take from 5 to 8 months.
Dental implants are incredibly aesthetic, whether you get one or multiple. Post-procedure, no one will be able to notice a difference between your implant and your natural teeth. After a while, you might forget too!
No, you are never too old for a dental implant! Dental implants can be successfully placed in adult patients of any age, as long as there is sufficient bone density to support the implant. Bone density decreases with age, so it is important to have your jawbone evaluated prior to placement of the implant. If your jawbone is not dense enough, a bone graft may be necessary to build up the area for successful implant placement. We will be able to evaluate your bone density and discuss the best treatment plan for you.
Dental implants are just as strong as natural enamel. Plus, because they aren’t susceptible to decay, you won’t ever have to worry about cavities on your implant.
Once a dental implant fuses with the bone, it’s stability and longevity is unmatched by any other dental procedure. The crowns on dental implants can become worn, but the implant itself rarely (if ever) needs replacing. It’s important to remember that a factor in the longevity of implants is care. If taken care of, they can last a life-time.
Caring for your dental implant is easy. We provide convenient post-op instructions and can answer any questions you have over the phone or in person. After your implant site has healed, we will provide continued care for you to be able to keep it healthy. Using technology specifically designed to maintain the integrity and health of implants, your dental hygiene team will care for you in the office and educate you on optimal oral hygiene for your new smile.
Dental implant procedures sound invasive and painful but most patients report feeling minimal pain post-op. During the procedure, we offer all forms of sedation to make sure the patient is comfortable and relaxed.
