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Dental Implants – Las Cruces, NM

Revitalize Your Smile After Tooth Loss

Do your missing teeth make living your daily life increasingly frustrating and difficult? Do you avoid smiling in front of other, saying certain words, or eating certain foods? Do you wish you could just have your real teeth back? While that’s not possible, dental implants are able to look and feel exactly like the teeth you used to have. They make smiling, eating, and talking a breeze again! Dr. Natalie Ortiz and Dr. Ramon Ortiz work closely with the best dental implant specialists in the area to ensure you receive the top-notch tooth replacement care you deserve. If you’re ready to learn more about how dental implants in Las Cruces can revitalize your smile after tooth loss, contact Painted Skies Dental Center today!

Why Choose Painted Skies Dental Center for Dental Implants?

What Are Dental Implants?

model of an X-ray of a patient with dental implants in Las Cruces

A dental implant is a small, screw-shaped post that is made out of titanium or another biocompatible material. Dental implants differ from other types of tooth replacements because instead of being placed on top of the gums or existing teeth, implants are instead inserted into the jaw, where they merge with the surrounding bone and tissue. This unique process, called osseointegration, allows dental implants to act as new tooth roots for a custom crown, bridge, or denture. As a result, the strength and stability they offer is unparalleled in comparison to traditional methods. Not to mention, dental implants are capable of lasting for several decades as long as you take good care of them!

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

dentist showing a patient a model of a dental implant in the jaw

Although dental implant treatment takes longer than placing a dental bridge or denture, rest assured that implants are worth the wait! The details of every patient’s journey differ, but the four basic steps of the dental implant process are:

Benefits of Dental Implants

man and woman pointing to their smiles

Unlike other options for tooth replacement, dental implants bring back the entire tooth, including the root. As a result, they offer countless advantages when compared to regular dentures and bridges. In fact, there are plenty of benefits of dental implants that you may not have considered before. Here are a few of the reasons why dental implants are the best tooth replacement in both the short and long term!

Day-to-Day Benefits

man and woman sitting at a table with various foods

  • Smile confidently – The replacement teeth that we place on top of your implants are customized to mimic your original pearly whites. Coupled with the fact that your teeth won’t slip out of place, you can smile with confidence in all types of social situations.
  • Chew your favorite foods – With dentures, biting into crunchy or chewy foods like apples, nuts, bread, and steak, can feel next to impossible. On the other hand, dental implants recreate the entire structure of your teeth, so they’re capable of restoring almost all of the biting force you used to have.
  • Speak clearly – If you’ve previously worn dentures, then you know how hard it can be to say certain words, especially if your prosthetic doesn’t fit correctly. With dental implants, your speech will be crystal-clear since your teeth are firmly embedded in your jaw.

Health Benefits

woman in a white bathrobe brushing her teeth

  • Prevent further tooth loss – When the roots of the teeth are lost, the jawbone gradually deteriorates, which makes it less able to support your remaining teeth. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement that prevents this process by stimulating your jawbone in exactly the same way as your natural teeth.
  • Improve your oral health – Oral hygiene is incredibly simple with dental implants. For the most part, you can brush and floss them like real teeth. There’s no complicated cleaning routine like there is with dentures, so you have a lower risk of gum disease and other oral health problems.
  • Eat a nutritious diet – Denture wearers often have to forgo crunchy fruits, vegetables, and other foods that provide essential nutrients, causing their overall health to suffer. This isn’t an issue with dental implants; you can maintain a varied, balanced diet with ease.

Long-Term Benefits

man admiring his new teeth

  • Replace your teeth with a successful solution – In more than 95% of cases, dental implants are able to easily last for more than 10 years. As long as you take good care of them, they could even last for over 30 years!
  • Look young for decades to come – Jawbone loss doesn’t just harm your oral health; it may also cause your facial muscles to droop and wrinkle. If you want to maintain a youthful glow, dental implants are the only tooth loss treatment that can accomplish this.
  • Save money and time – You shouldn’t need to worry about adjusting or replacing your implants every few years like you would with dentures and bridges. That’s why, in the long run, you’ll actually end up saving a great deal of time and money when you choose dental implants!

Who Dental Implants Can Help

dentist showing a dental implant to a patient

Whether you’ve lost one tooth or an entire arch of teeth, there’s a dental implant solution that can meet your needs. By combining dental implants with dental restorations, you can regain your smile’s health, function, strength, and beauty.

Missing One Tooth

model of a single dental implant in the lower jaw

For a single missing tooth, we attach a dental crown to an individual implant, which will be surgically placed into your jawbone by a specialist. Once the jawbone has grown around it, you’ll return to our dental office so that we can attach the dental crown on top.

Missing Multiple Teeth

model of two dental implants supporting a dental bridge

When patients are missing two teeth in a row, we typically create two dental crowns fused together that are attached to a single dental implant. Those patients missing three to four consecutive teeth will likely need a fixed bridge which consists of three or four prosthetic teeth crafted as a single unit and supported on either end by a dental implant post.

Missing All Teeth

model of four dental implants supporting a full denture

Full dentures traditionally are held in place through suction between the denture and the gums, but implant-supported dentures offer superior support and stability by anchoring the denture to an average of four to eight dental implant posts.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

model of a dental implant in the middle of several real teeth

Although dental implants typically have a higher upfront cost compared to bridges or dentures alone, implants are typically considered the wisest financial decision for tooth replacement because they last much longer and offer a higher quality of life. The cost for your dental implants will depend on how many you need, the type and location of your implants, and the restoration that will be attached to them. At your consultation, our team can help you determine an accurate price for your specific treatment to get your smile back up to par.

Types of Dental Implants

three dental implant posts with abutments and crowns lying on a flat surface

There are a variety of dental implants, the most popular being titanium ones. Depending on what materials are being used to replace your missing teeth, the cost will be different. In addition to this factor, the number of implants you need to have placed can also drastically impact the price. For example, replacing a single tooth will require the placement of one post, while replacing two or more requires multiple in order to support the restoration.

If you’re looking to have an entire arch of missing teeth replaced, an implant denture can require the placement of anywhere from four to eight posts. This will affect the surgery time, amount of anesthesia required, and several other factors that affect the price.

What are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?

single dental implant being placed in the lower jaw

The dental implant process can be broken down into a few separate stages. The good news is that you don’t have to pay for everything upfront. Rather, you’ll pay for each individual procedure as you need it over the course of several months. Here are the separate visits that you can expect to pay for:

  • The Consultation: This initial visit will ensure that dental implants are the right choice for you. Besides the dental office fee, you’ll need images captured of your mouth including digital X-rays.
  • Preparatory Procedures: Sometimes, patients need additional treatments before their implant surgery can be scheduled. Some of these include tooth extractions, bone or soft tissue grafting, or a sinus lift.
  • Abutment and Restoration Placement: Once your gums have healed and your implants have naturally fused with your jaw, your abutments can be connected during a second minor surgery. These will secure your restorations. Depending on whether you need a bridge, denture, or crown will also impact the cost.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

close-up of a woman with a dental implant smiling

Patients and professionals will agree that dental implants are well worth the investment. Over the long run, these are more cost-effective than having to replace multiple traditional restorations. Plus, they can last over three decades when they’re properly cared for. They also reduce your risk of experiencing costly oral health problems like bone decay, additional tooth loss, and gum disease.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

person filling out dental insurance information on a laptop

Most dental insurance policies do not cover implants because they’re considered a cosmetic procedure. However, this is slowly beginning to change, so it’s worth it to contact your insurance provider to double-check. We’ll be more than happy to help maximize your coverage and explore additional financing options with you as well. Plus, at Painted Skies Dental Center, we accept most major providers and will help develop a payment plan that fits your unique needs.

Dental Implant FAQs

dentist putting his hand on a patient’s shoulder

Even with all of the above information within your reach, you likely still have questions about this revolutionary solution for tooth loss. At Painted Skies Dental Center, we want you to feel confident about your treatment decisions and have all your needs met. Click below to view some of the most common questions we’ve been asked about dental implants and our helpful responses. We hope these will help you prepare for your consultation with us and help you determine whether dental implants are the right choice for you and your smile!

What materials are dental implants made from?

Dental implants are available in a variety of metals, ceramics, and polymers. We will most often recommend high quality, time-tested titanium implant posts. However, for those patients who have metal allergies or sensitivities, a zirconia implant may be a better option.

What is the dental implant placement procedure like?

Your implant placement surgery is actually minimally invasive and completed quickly and comfortably. We numb the area around the empty socket. Then, a small incision is made into the soft tissue. Your implant post is placed. A protective cap is attached to the implant post. Then, you’ll wait for three to six months in order to allow the implantation site to fully heal and the implant post to fuse with the gums before returning to our dental office to receive your final replacement tooth or teeth.

How many dental implants do I need?

The number of implant posts you need depends on how many teeth are missing and where they’re located in your smile. We will usually recommend the following:

  • One implant post will support a dental crown, replacing a single missing tooth.
  • Two implant posts can be used to support a fixed bridge, replacing two or more consecutive missing teeth.
  • Three to six implants will be strategically positioned to support a partial or full denture.

Are dental implants expensive?

The cost of dental implants varies based on a number of factors, including the material, manufacturer, and size of the post. In most cases, a single implant post will cost between $500 and $3,000. Our team can help you to plan for the out-of-pocket costs of implant-supported tooth replacement.

Will my dental implants last forever?

Implant-supported replacement teeth have a high success rate after two decades, and many patients are able to maintain their flawlessly repaired smile for the rest of their lives.

Can dental implants fail?

Many patients hear horror stories about dental implant failure. While this is a possibility, it’s extremely rare. With detailed planning prior to placement and appropriate oral health care after implantation, a dental implant supported replacement tooth or teeth has a 90 to 95% success rate after 20 years. This is compared to traditional tooth replacement options that need to be replaced every five to ten years.

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