Dental implants in Irving, TX

What a dental implant is, and why people choose one

A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth. A small titanium post is placed in the jawbone, the bone bonds to it over a few months, and then a custom crown, bridge or denture attaches on top. For patients getting dental implants in Irving, the result is a tooth that doesn’t slip, doesn’t lean on the teeth next to it, and is cleaned much like a natural one.

For most people the deciding factor is everyday life: biting into an apple again, smiling in photos without thinking about a gap, or finally retiring a denture that moves when they talk. Implants also help preserve the jawbone where a tooth is missing, which bridges and dentures can’t do.

Our dentists are general dentists, and implants are a big part of what we do. Dr. Anh Nguyen has a special interest in dental implants, and Dr. Chloe Kim focuses much of her work on extractions and implants, so the same team can take you from a failing tooth to a finished smile.

Signs you might need dental implants

• You’re missing one or more teeth
• A tooth is cracked, failing or slated for extraction
• Your denture slips when you eat or talk
• You avoid certain foods because chewing is uncomfortable
• An old bridge has failed or the teeth under it are decaying
• You hide a gap when you smile

Are you a candidate for dental implants?

Most adults who are missing teeth can get implants. What matters most is your overall health, the health of your gums, and whether there’s enough bone to hold the post. Age alone is rarely the issue, though teens usually need to wait until the jaw has finished growing.

• Healthy gums, or gum disease that’s treated first with gum disease treatment
• Enough jawbone, or a plan to rebuild it with a bone graft
• Health conditions such as diabetes under reasonable control
• Willingness to keep up with daily cleaning and regular checkups

Some factors call for extra planning rather than a flat no. Smoking slows healing and raises the risk of implant problems. Certain osteoporosis and cancer medications, and past radiation to the head or neck, need a careful review. Because our medical providers work in the same building, we can coordinate with them or your own physician when your health history is complicated, with your permission.

One tooth, several teeth or a full arch

Implants aren’t one product. They’re a foundation, and what goes on top depends on how many teeth you’re replacing.

A single implant leaves the teeth on either side untouched, unlike a traditional dental bridge, which requires shaping those teeth for crowns. For a full arch, even two implants make a lower denture dramatically more stable than one held by suction and adhesive.

Planning with a 3D CBCT scan

Before we recommend an implant, we take a 3D CBCT (cone beam) scan right here in the office. A regular x-ray is flat. A CBCT shows the height, width and density of your bone, plus the exact location of nerves and the sinuses, so we can choose the right implant size and angle and spot the need for a bone graft before surgery day, not during it.

We pair the scan with digital impressions, so there are no trays of goopy material. You’ll see your own images on screen while we explain the plan, and you can take your time deciding.

When you need a bone graft first

After a tooth is lost, the bone that held it starts to shrink, and much of that change happens in the first few months. Long-standing gaps, old infections and advanced gum disease can leave too little bone for an implant. In those cases, a bone graft rebuilds the area.

If we’re removing a tooth that will later be replaced with an implant, we often place a graft in the socket the same day to preserve the bone. Occasionally the implant can go in at the same visit as the extraction; more often the site heals for a few months first. Your scan, not a sales script, decides which route makes sense.

Caring for your implant

Implants can’t get cavities, but the gums and bone around them can become inflamed if plaque builds up. This is called peri-implantitis, and it’s the main reason implants run into trouble years later.

• Brush twice a day, and clean around the implant daily with floss, a water flosser or small interdental brushes
• Keep regular cleanings and exams so we can check the gums and take x-rays when needed
• Wear a night guard if you grind or clench
• Don’t smoke; it’s linked to bone loss around implants

With good care, most implants last for decades. The crown on top takes the daily wear and may need replacing after many years, which is a much smaller job than replacing the implant.

What to expect, step by step

1. Consult and 3D scan

   We examine your mouth, review your health history and take a 3D CBCT scan. You leave with your options and a written estimate.

2. Prepare the site

   If needed, we remove a failing tooth, treat gum disease or place a bone graft, then give the area time to heal.

3. Place the implant

   With the area thoroughly numbed, the post is placed in the bone. Most patients feel pressure, not pain, and are back to normal routines within a day or two.

4. Let the bone bond

   Over roughly three to six months, the bone fuses to the implant. In many cases you can wear a temporary tooth in the meantime.

5. Attach your new tooth

   We take digital impressions and attach a custom abutment and crown, bridge or denture, shaded to blend with your smile.

Cost, insurance & financing

Every implant plan is different, so we don’t quote a price until we’ve seen your scan. As a general guide, a single implant with its abutment and crown commonly runs about $3,500–$6,000 in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Implant-supported dentures range more widely, from several thousand dollars per arch for a snap-in denture on two implants to well over $20,000 per arch for a fixed full-arch bridge.

What changes the price: whether you need an extraction or bone graft, how many implants are involved, the type of crown or denture, and where in the mouth the work is done. You get a written estimate before treatment starts. Many PPO plans help with part of the cost, and financing through Cherry, Affirm or CareCredit (subject to credit approval) can spread payments out. See insurance and financing, or read our guide to dental implant costs in Irving.