Dental Implants – Houston, TX

Regain a Smile That Looks & Feels Natural

Whether you’re missing one, several, or an entire row of teeth, dental implants in Houston, TX are the most modern, comprehensive solutions we offer to replace missing teeth. Dr. Roman’s advanced training and years of experience allow him to complete this entire process under one roof, so you can stick with the same, trusted team of professionals that you started with throughout your treatment. To learn whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Roman today.

What are Dental Implants

Dental implants themselves are small, titanium posts that are surgically placed below the gumline and into the jawbone to restore the root structure of missing teeth, unlike any other traditional restorative treatment. Due to their biocompatible nature, they’re able to chemically fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, creating a strong and stable foundation for your restorations to be secured to.

The 4 Step Dental Implant Process

• Initial Consultation. During your initial consultation, Dr. Roman will look at your X-rays and conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and gums. He’ll then discuss your goals and any questions you have before drawing up a treatment plan for you.
• Dental Implant Surgery. Roman is able to place dental implants in-office himself, so you won’t need to worry about travelling to different dental offices throughout the process.
• Osseointegration & Abutment Placement. Your dental implants will naturally fuse with your jawbone over the next three to six months through a process called osseointegration. Once that’s complete, abutments will be attached to the top of your implants.
• Attachment of Final Restoration. As soon as we receive your permanent restoration from our dental laboratory, we’ll call you back in to secure it to your abutments.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer a wide array of benefits, including the following:

• Lifespan of 35+ years with the proper maintenance
• Easy to care for
• Preservation of jawbone
• Maintain your facial structure and avoid hollow-looking features
• Enhance your eating and speaking abilities
• Natural looking and feeling replacement teeth
• Can replace one, several, or all teeth, depending on your needs

Who Can Dental Implants Help?

Dental implants are a great tooth-loss solution for countless patients, although, some people may require preparatory procedures to help get their oral health back on-track before being able to undergo surgery. Once you have healthy gums and no lingering oral health issues that need to be treated, we can restore your smile using any of the three plans below.

Missing Single Tooth

For a single missing tooth, we can place one dental implant below the gumline. Once it has fused with the bone and the abutment has been attached to it, we’ll secure a custom-crafted crown to the implant to fill the gap in your arch.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Instead of needing to alter the structure of your natural, healthy teeth, we can secure a dental crown to two dental implants placed on either side of the gap in your smile. This will hold a dental bridge securely in place.

Missing All Teeth

If you’re missing all of your teeth, we can surgically place anywhere from four to eight dental implants strategically along your arch. These will secure a denture within your mouth, eliminating any possibility of slipping or shifting.

The Importance of Bone & Bone Grafting

For a patient to be a good candidate for dental implants, they must have sufficient jawbone density. If they don’t, it could prevent the implants from successfully fusing with the bone structure, causing the restoration to shift in the mouth. If you’ve been missing teeth for quite some time, you may require a bone graft to help strengthen your bone and support your dental implants. This will increase your chances of successfully undergoing the treatment.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

The cost of your dental implant treatment will depend on a variety of factors that we will discuss with you during your initial consultation, after we’ve had a chance to examine your mouth. Some of these cost-determining details include how many dental implants you’ll need to have placed, what restoration you need to restore your smile, and whether you require any preparatory procedure. At your consultation, we’ll provide you with an estimated cost and walk you through all of your payment options.

Dental Implant Frequently Asked Questions

It’s fairly common to have several unanswered questions when you’re considering getting dental implants in Houston. After all, the treatment is a lengthy commitment, so you should be as well-informed as possible before beginning the process. To help you feel confident in your decision to replace your missing teeth with the next best thing to your natural ones, our team has answered some of the questions we get asked the most often about dental implants. Feel free to contact us if you still have any questions!

Am I Too Old to Get Dental Implants?

There is no upper age limit for getting dental implants; you’re never too old to enjoy a complete smile! Once your jawbone has finished growing, your age shouldn’t directly affect your candidacy for dental implants. That said, seniors may have underlying medical conditions or take certain medications that could make dental implant surgery or the recovery process risky.

Your implant dentist in Houston will conduct a detailed exam of your mouth and jaw during your initial consultation to determine whether dental implants are right for you. He’ll create a customized treatment to ensure that the process of replacing your teeth goes without a hitch.

Do Dental Implants Make You Look Younger?

Believe it or not, yes! Whenever you bite or chew food, that force travels through the roots of your teeth to stimulate your jawbone, keeping it strong. After a tooth is lost, that section of the jawbone starts to deteriorate because the stimulation is no longer there. The jawbone becomes unable to adequately support the facial structures, resulting in a wrinkled, sunken-in face that makes you look much older than you really are.

By fulfilling the function of real teeth and stimulating the jawbone, dental implants are the only type of tooth replacement that prevents this premature aging. They keep your jaw strong and your face looking fuller and brighter for many years to come!

Will People Be Able to Tell That I Have Dental Implants?

After your dental implants have been restored, they should look and feel precisely like the pearly whites you once had. Because they’re firmly embedded in your jaw, you’ll never have to worry about your new teeth shifting around like you would with a conventional denture. Additionally, Dr. Kotlarek partners with only the best ceramists, so you can rest assured that the dental crowns, bridges, or dentures that go atop your implants will flawlessly mimic your original teeth.

Are Dental Implants Safe?

Yes! For the majority of patients who are in good health, dental implant surgery is quite safe and successful when performed by a qualified professional like Dr. Kotlarek. As a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, he has undergone extensive advanced training in dental implant placement, so you can be sure he takes every precaution necessary to ensure your safety. This includes performing a preliminary examination of your mouth and jaw to identify gum disease or other concerns that could jeopardize your treatment. He’ll also discuss how certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, could complicate the process, and how you can reduce any risks.

Maintaining Dental Implants

To make sure the gum tissue surrounding your dental implants stays healthy, you’ll need to brush twice a day for two minutes, floss daily, and continue visiting our office bi-annually for checkups and cleanings. We utilize advanced Airflow therapy to thoroughly clear away all plaque and tartar from your new implants and posts, reducing your risk of developing an infection. We also utilize glycine acids to help reduce any inflammation that may occur around your implant posts.