Dental Implants in Spicewood, TX

Dental implants solve missing teeth and can provide many health care benefits, including improved oral health, speech, comfort, and aesthetics. Furthermore, they allow you to eat the foods you love with better chewing force, helping preserve the integrity of your jawbone. At Bee Creek Dental, we are dedicated to providing the care you need to reap the maximum benefits of dental implants.

In general, most people will need two or three dentist visits when getting dental implants. The first visit will be for an initial consultation and oral evaluation. The second visit will be for the implant surgery itself. And the third visit will be for a follow-up appointment to ensure that the implant is healing properly.

So, if you are considering dental implants, expect to have at least two or three visits to the dentist. However, in some cases, more visits may be necessary. Your dentist can tell you how many visits you will need based on your case.

It is a common misconception that dental implants are only used to replace missing teeth. On the contrary, dental implants can also prevent bone loss. When a tooth is lost, the bone that supports it begins to deteriorate. This can cause a change in the shape of your face and make it difficult to chew or speak properly. The dental implant will be placed in your jawbone and act as artificial roots. This helps to preserve the jawbone and prevent further bone loss.

Dental implants are created to provide a sturdy, long-lasting foundation for your new teeth. Despite the durability of dental implants, it is still possible for them to become infected. Infected dental implants often cause pain, inflammation, and redness in the gums around the implant site. If you have an infection, it is essential to consult Dr. Richard immediately so he can determine the best course of treatment.

The recovery process after dental implant surgery is different for everyone. Some people may feel better in a few days, while others may take a few weeks to recover fully. In most cases, the implant site will be healed and ready for the permanent tooth in about four to six months.

You may have some swelling and bruising around the implant site during the first few days after surgery. You may also feel some pain and discomfort. These symptoms are normal and should gradually improve over time. Your dentist will give you specific instructions on how to care for your mouth during recovery.

Once the site has healed, you need to return to the dentist to have the permanent tooth (or teeth) placed. This process usually takes one or two visits and does not require any additional surgery. After the permanent tooth is in place, you can expect to enjoy all the benefits of having a full, healthy smile!

Yes, you can get your dental implants on the same day if you opt for a special type of dental implant known as an immediate load or same-day implant. However, not all patients are suitable for same-day implants. Only patients with good oral health, sufficient jaw bone, and non-smokers make suitable candidates for these prosthetics. Patients must also have good general health and a proper bite with no malocclusions.

That said, it takes two dental sessions to place traditional implants. The first session involves examining and taking impressions of your teeth. The second session is typically two weeks from the first after the dentist receives your implants and prosthetics from the lab. Same-day implants, on the other hand, only require a single sitting, and patients can get their new implants. 

However, it’s worth noting that same-day implants don’t mean you can use your implants immediately. Same-day implants take as long as regular implants to heal and osseointegrate. This means that patients must wait six to seven months for the implants to completely fuse with the jaw bone before they can resume their normal diets.

Although they involve a considerable deal of incisions and drilling into the jawbone, dental implants aren’t painful. That’s because dentists use a local anesthetic to numb the affected area before the procedure begins. Dentists ensure that the area is completely numb before proceeding with the treatment. However, patients will still feel the dental tools moving and the dentist applying pressure on the mouth, but no pain.

Additionally, patients will likely experience soreness and sensitivity in the affected areas after the treatment. The onset of this mild pain begins after the anesthetic wears off. This pain and sensitivity slowly taper off in the next few weeks until it completely disappears. 

Meanwhile, patients should stick to a diet of soft foods and liquids and avoid chewing with the affected side. The dentist will also prescribe over-the-counter pain medication to help with the pain during recovery.

Proper post-treatment care is imperative to your dental implants' rapid healing and success. This involves practicing good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth gently around the affected area twice daily. You should also floss in between teeth and avoid abrasive toothpaste.

Patients should also schedule regular visits to their dentist, especially if the pain worsens. You should also stick to a soft food and liquids diet while avoiding hard and crunchy foods. Also, limit alcohol consumption and stave off smoking until your recover completely.