Dental Implants – Oklahoma City, OK
Turn Back the Clock on Tooth Loss
For many patients here in the greater OKC community, the loss of one or more missing teeth is already a stark reality, whether it happens because of a shocking injury or long-term oral health concerns. At Joe Isaacson Dental, we’re not interested in passing judgment – we simply want to help you regain what’s been lost. That’s why Dr. Joe Isaacson offers dental implants, a truly revolutionary reconstructive service that’s seamlessly lifelike, highly functional, and built to last for decades. If you’re ready to turn back the clock on tooth loss, please don’t hesitate to contact us and schedule an initial consultation to learn more about dental implants in Oklahoma City.
Why Choose Joe Isaacson Dental for Dental Implants?
- Implants Placed & Restored in One Convenient Location
- State-of-the-Art Digital Technology for Precise Treatment Planning
- We Use Premier Ceramic Materials – No Metals!
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant recreates the entire tooth structure, including the root. The implant itself is a titanium post that is surgically placed into your jawbone to act as a new root for your lost tooth. A metal connector piece, called an abutment, is placed on top of the post to secure a custom-made restoration, which may be a crown, bridge, or denture.
Of all the tooth replacement options available today, dental implants are the closest thing to your natural teeth. As the only solution that replicates every part of the tooth rather than just sitting atop the gums, dental implants look, feel, and function much more like your original pearly whites than any alternatives. Because of their surgical placement in the jawbone, they can even last for a lifetime with the right aftercare. That’s why Dr. Isaacson often recommends dental implants for most suitable patients.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Thanks to their unique placement in the jawbone, dental implants succeed where traditional tooth replacement options like dentures and dental bridges fall short. Replacing the roots of missing teeth is what gives dental implants their unmatched functionality, aesthetics, comfort, and longevity. In fact, they have the potential to dramatically improve your quality of life, which is why they’re widely considered the gold standard for tooth replacement. We’ll be happy to go over all the ways dental implants can change your life personally during your consultation, but in the meantime, here are some of the most important benefits our patients love about dental implants.
Day-to-Day Benefits
- Eat your favorite foods: Dental implants can restore 70-80% or more of your natural biting force, allowing you to comfortably eat apples, steak, nuts, and anything else on your plate!
- Say goodbye to slipping dentures: Thanks to their unique placement in your jawbone, your dental implants will never feel loose or slip out of place at embarrassing times.
- Brush and floss like normal: Dental implants don’t just look like natural teeth — they can be cared for just as easily as well! Simply brush and floss like normal to keep your smile strong and sparkling.
- Smile confidently: Dental implants support 100% custom-made restorations that are crafted from beautiful dental porcelain to look just like natural teeth, so you can smile without worry!
Health Benefits
- Preserve your jawbone and remaining healthy teeth: Jawbone deterioration is a natural side-effect of tooth loss, which can eventually lead to even more tooth loss. Dental implants are the only way to keep your jaw strong after losing a tooth.
- Maintain your youthful appearance: Jawbone deterioration can also cause a shift in the facial bones, which can lead to a sunken, aged appearance. Preserving your jawbone with dental implants will help you keep looking your best!
- Keep your teeth and gums healthy: Dental bridges weaken healthy teeth and can cause sensitivity, and ill-fitting dentures can cause gum irritation and sores. Dental implants are self-supporting, making them the healthiest tooth replacement option for your mouth.
Long-Term Benefits
- Lasting, reliable results: Dental implants are designed to last 30 years or more. However, with the right care, most patients enjoy their newly rebuilt smiles for the rest of their lives.
- Save money in the long run: Dentures and dental bridges need to be replaced every 5-10 years, which is inconvenient and costly. Since your dental implants should never need to be replaced, they can easily save you thousands of dollars over the years!
- Minimize your risk of systemic health conditions: Dental implants promote great oral health, which in turn helps the rest of the body stay healthy. Studies report that a healthy smile can help lower your risk of serious health issues like heart disease, arthritis, memory loss, and more.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Whether you have lost a single tooth or an entire mouthful, dental implants may still be the right service for replenishing your one-of-a-kind smile. Dr. Isaacson is a dental implant dentist in Oklahoma City who offers several styles of restorations for different dental circumstances. No matter how many teeth are missing, adults living with tooth loss will most likely be eligible to receive dental implants because of their versatility. And even if Dr. Isaacson discovers a few issues during your consultation, there are preliminary treatments available to help ensure the success of your future smile. Read on to learn more about who is a good candidate for treatment, and if you have any questions, please contact our office.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Your meeting with Dr. Isaacson will include a full examination of your oral cavity and facial structure. Using advanced dental technology to look closer at your teeth, jawbone, nerves, and gums, he will determine your eligibility based on the following:
- The amount of jawbone you possess that is dense enough to support your dental implants in Oklahoma City and customized restoration. If there proves to be an inadequate amount, you may need bone grafting or be eligible to receive All-On-4.
- If you show any signs of severe tooth decay or gum disease, as it will be necessary to undergo periodontal therapy or tooth extraction before receiving dental implants.
- If you are healthy enough to undergo minor oral surgery and do not have a condition that weakens your immune system and can cause potential implant failure.
- If you are committed to maintaining optimal oral health once your dental implants are surgically put into place.
It’s normal to think you may not qualify; however, the best course of action you can take is to schedule an appointment with Dr. Isaacson. After reviewing your smile, he can determine if you need preliminary care or if you’re ready to take the next step and undergo dental implant surgery.
Because dental implants make it easy to restore smiles, you can feel confident that no matter the type of tooth loss, you’ll enjoy a prosthetic that can last 30 years or more!
Missing 1 Tooth
When our team is focused on filling a single gap, an all-ceramic crown can be paired with an individual implant post. This approach will preserve the health of nearby natural teeth, and the new, aesthetic addition will blend right in with the rest of your smile without issue. As a result, you will no longer face difficulties trying to eat, speak, or smile because your dental implant will replicate the natural tooth structure from the root to the crown.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Implant crowns can also be used to restore several teeth throughout the mouth. However, a more cost-effective option may be an implant bridge if the missing dental structure appeared consecutively in the mouth. This style of prosthetic relies on the support of two placed dental implants – one on either side of the gap we will replenish. If your missing teeth are not immediately next to each other, you can still receive dental implants but instead of a bridge, you will have a partial denture that attaches to your titanium posts, not metal clips.
Missing All Teeth
Implant dentures can be securely anchored in place over a small number of strategically angled implants, which makes this style of restoration more cost-effective while still providing a great degree of reliability and aesthetic value. Depending on the patient’s preferences, their new prosthetic can be permanently fixed in place or kept removable in nature if they’re already used to the convenient style of traditional dentures. No matter which style is used, improved functionality will follow when performing daily tasks such as eating and speaking.
Learn More About Implant Dentures
We also offer All-on-4 implants for added convenience. If bone grafting is something you would rather avoid and Dr. Isaacson believes there is just enough jawbone to adequately support 4 dental implants, All-On-4 can give you the same great results without the added preliminary treatment.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
There are several components to dental implant treatment, and no two patients have the exact same needs and circumstances. That’s why determining cost can be tricky before our team has performed an in-depth consultation. Once we better understand your current level of oral health, how many teeth need to be replaced, and what style of restoration is the ideal fit, our team members will be able to provide confident price estimates.
Dental implants may seem like a significant financial investment at first, but we assure you that the ends will more than justify the means. While more traditional services often require costly repairs and replacement over time, dental implants are designed to be successful for several decades, which means they truly pay for themselves.
Factors That Affect Dental Implant Cost
The following factors must be considered when determining the price of your dental implants:
Your Oral Health & the Strength of Your Jawbone
Tooth loss results in a lack of nutrients flowing to the jaw, causing it to gradually lose its strength and stability over time. Patients who have been missing teeth for a while may lack the sturdy foundation dental implants require for proper anchoring – but the odds of dental implant success can often be increased with a bone graft procedure. Having this preliminary surgery will increase the cost of your dental implants.
Location of the Missing Teeth
Because the front teeth require special tactics to preserve aesthetics, they can be more expensive to replace than a molar or premolar. However, a sinus lift is a special type of procedure that is often recommended before placing a dental implant in the upper molars. This will add to the cost of dental implants as well.
What the Dental Implants Are Made Of
The vast majority of dental implants are made from titanium, a biocompatible and affordable material that promotes the growth of bone tissue. Patients with metal sensitivities or allergies may require a ceramic or zirconia implant post, and these special materials tend to cost more.
How Many Dental Implants You Need
Because dental implants are individually priced, the number of teeth you are missing will play perhaps the most significant role in how much your implant procedure costs. But that does not always mean implants are always more expensive than a non-implant option. A single implant and a fixed bridge may cost about the same, for example.
Advanced Dental Implant Procedures
Just because you’re not initially a good candidate for dental implants doesn’t mean that you can never get them. Certain advanced procedures may be necessary beforehand to prepare your mouth. While these treatments will lengthen your dental implant timeline, they’re worth it because they’ll ensure that your new smile has the strong foundation it needs to last a lifetime. Here are some of the most common advanced dental implant procedures that our patients need:
Bone Grafting
When the jawbone deteriorates or has lost significant density, it will be necessary for you to have a bone graft prior to receiving dental implants. One of the leading causes of tooth and bone loss is periodontal disease (gum disease). When bacteria builds and plaque begins to form underneath the gum line, you will begin to suffer from periodontitis, which can cause bleeding gums and eventually tooth and bone loss. Once your tooth falls out and you need a replacement, your bone may not be strong enough to support a dental implant. In order to make dental implants a possibility, a bone graft might be necessary.
During the procedure, your dentist in Oklahoma City will incorporate grafting material (bone minerals) into the area needing additional support. These minerals encourage your body to deposit new bone cells and rebuild your jawbone so it can provide the necessary support for dental implants.
Once your procedure is completed, you can expect the healing process to take three to six months. This will depend on how much bone needs to be replaced. At that time, Dr. Isaacson will evaluate your mouth and determine if it’s appropriate to begin dental implant placement.
Sinus Lifts
Maybe it’s not bone loss that’s keeping you from being able to have dental implants. It can be that your sinuses are the problem. If the sinus cavity is too close to your jaw, this can impede your dental implant placement. In situations like this, Dr. Isaacson will suggest a sinus lift.
If it is discovered that you need additional bone, Dr. Isaacson will add grafting material as well as lift your sinus up and out of the way. This will generally require four to nine months of healing, but once he feels confident that you are fully healed from your procedure, you’ll be preparing for successful dental implant placement in no time.
Dental Implant Technology
Dr. Isaacson and his team are committed to providing the highest quality care for our patients, and one of the ways we do that is by using cutting-edge dental technology. When placing dental implants, precision is essential for dependable results that can last a lifetime. That’s why we use state-of-the-art equipment like the 3D cone beam CT scanner, guided dental implant surgery, and antibacterial coating for our dental implants. Each of these help ensure that your dental implant placement goes smoothly, pleasantly, and predictably.
3D Cone Beam Imaging/ 3D CT Scanning
Our 3D cone beam CT scanner is an advanced type of X-ray. It will quickly revolve around your head to take a 360-degree scan, capturing hundreds of photos in the process. These images are then processed with a special computer software to create a detailed 3D model of your mouth. Not only does a 3D cone beam CT scanner show your facial bones, jawbone, and teeth, but it also shows nerve pathways, blood vessels, jawbone density, and more. With these details, we can carefully plan out your dental implant placement to avoid any potential surprises or complications.
Guided Dental Implant Surgery
Before your dental implant placement surgery, we can use the images from the 3D CT scanner to create a surgical guide. Our team will use the 3D model of your mouth to virtually place your dental implant and find precisely the right location for it. Then, we’ll create a computer-generated guide that will ensure that your dental implant is placed where it will get the maximum amount of support and offer the highest rates of success.
On the day of your surgery, this surgical guide will be placed inside your mouth to show us exactly where your dental implant needs to be placed for the best results. Not only does guided dental implant surgery offer far greater accuracy, precision, and success, but it will minimize post-operative symptoms like swelling, bleeding, and bruising.
Antibacterial Coating
Once your dental implant has been placed, it’s essential to keep your mouth clean and healthy as it heals. Preventing infections in your mouth is always important, but it is especially crucial during the months that your dental implant is integrating with your jawbone. Should bacteria make its way into the area, osseointegration could be hindered to the point of dental implant failure. Fortunately, practicing regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash is typically enough to help your recovery process go smoothly. However, to make sure your chances of a potential infection are minimized as much as possible, we use antibacterial coating on our dental implants. This coating will deter bacteria for a time, helping to keep your smile healthy and infection-free as you heal after dental implant surgery.
Dental Implant Salvage
Dental implants are extremely unlikely to fail, but occasionally, the posts might fail to join with the jawbone, or the area around them might become infected. In this case, we may need to remove the implant in order to treat the underlying issue; this often means encouraging the growth of new bone and removing plaque or tartar that could be causing problems. Once the area is healthy again, we may be able to try and place a new dental implant.
Learn More About Dental Implant Salvage
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implant
Thanks to their unique integration with your jawbone, dental implants can easily last for decades to come. In fact, most patients can expect to enjoy their dental implants for a lifetime without issue! That is however, as long as they’re cared for properly. Thankfully, that’s a very easy task! Caring and maintaining for dental implants is very similar to that of natural teeth. Here are some of the most important healthy habits and simple precautions to keep your smile looking and feeling its best!
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Dental implants can’t get cavities like natural teeth can, but you still need to brush and floss regularly. If you don’t practice great oral hygiene, plaque and bacteria can infect the gums around your dental implant. This could lead to serious oral health issues like gum disease or even cause your dental implant to fail! Keep your smile strong and healthy by:
- Brushing for two minutes twice a day
- Flossing daily
- Rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash regularly
Eat a Healthy Diet
Since dental implants can help you regain 75% or more of your natural biting force, they can easily withstand eating all your favorite foods, such as steak, apples, and nuts. Even so, you should avoid overindulging in sugary treats and very hard foods. Instead, eat plenty of meals with calcium, vitamin C, and fiber to keep your jawbone strong and encourage better oral health.
Break Bad Habits
Dental implants are incredibly strong, but they’re not indestructible. A few simple but destructive bad habits could ultimately break or loosen them. Once you’ve rebuilt your smile, it’s time to break bad habits like:
- Smoking: Success rates for dental implants in smokers are much lower than those of non-smokers. Now is the perfect time to quit!
- Chewing on hard objects: Chewing on items like pen caps, ice, or your fingernails could potentially crack or chip your new restoration. Try chewing sugarless gum instead!
- Using your teeth as tools: Using your teeth to hold bags or open packages can leave you with a broken or loose dental implant in a flash. Keep the right tools handy to prevent putting your smile at risk.
Protect Your Dental Implants
Do you play sports? If you take a blow to the face, maybe from a ball or teammate, your dental implant could be knocked loose. For the sake of your new and remaining teeth, it’s essential that you wear a custom-made mouthguard when being active.
Similarly, if you grind your teeth in your sleep, it’s time to talk to us about getting a nightguard. This condition is called bruxism, and the extra pressure it places in the mouth can crack your dental implant and cause other serious oral health issues. We can make you a custom-made nightguard that will protect your smile while you sleep and help prevent teeth grinding.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
No matter how many teeth you’ve had replaced with dental implants, you need to come see us for your regular checkups twice a year. In addition to cleaning your beautiful pearly whites, we’ll be able to monitor the health of your dental implant and ensure it’s staying firmly in place. If any potential issues are spotted, we can treat them right away to make sure your new smile lasts for many years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it painful to receive dental implants?
Your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to make the dental implant procedure as painless as possible. While you may experience mild discomfort when the numbness subsides, any soreness should fade within a week. Your dentist will make sure that you’re comfortable during your treatment and that your smile gets the care it needs.
How long does the dental implant process take?
The dental implant process takes about one to two hours, but the healing after the initial appointment can take between three to six months. As these fixtures naturally integrate with your jawbone through a process known as osseointegration, your crown will become stable and stay permanently secured to your smile.
Are dental implants better than normal dentures?
Patients missing one or two teeth benefit from single dental implants. However, patients missing a full arch may be better off with implant-retained dentures. These restorations are considered a more convenient option for patients missing a majority of their teeth or even an entire arch of their smile. Your treatment options will vary depending on your unique case.
Will insurance help cover my dental implants?
Most insurance companies will cover a portion of the cost of dental implants if they’re deemed medically necessary. It includes replacing missing teeth, restoring your jaw, and removing any source of decay. Your dentist may also recommend that you contact your provider to better understand your coverage as well as provide any financing options.
Achieve Your Smile’s Potential With Dental Implants
You deserve a comfortable, natural-looking smile instead of having to deal with missing teeth. When you’re ready to receive a permanent solution that can improve the look of your smile, our implant dentist, Dr. Joe Isaacson, can boost your oral health with implants. Call our Oklahoma City, OK office at (405) 943-8575 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your visit. We also welcome patients in Lakehurst, Mayview, Highland Hills, Glenbrook, and North Coronado Heights, OK.