Dental Implants – Oklahoma City, OK

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

First things first, you’ll need to request an appointment with Dr. Hermen. At this visit, he’ll use highly advanced technology to capture images and impressions of your mouth, jaw, and other facial structures. This not only helps him determine whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants in Oklahoma City, but it also gives him an idea of where and how the posts will be placed.

It’s common for patients to not initially qualify for dental implants, but that can often be changed with one or more preliminary procedures. For example, if your jawbone has deteriorated after tooth loss to the point where it cannot support implants, you may have to undergo a bone graft to strengthen the area. Once these treatments are squared away, we can schedule your dental implant surgery.

Dental Implant Surgery

For the surgical portion of your treatment, you’ll be referred to a local oral surgeon who Dr. Hermen trusts. That way, you can be sure you’re receiving the high-quality care you deserve!

Dental implant surgery is a rather straightforward procedure. After numbing your mouth and jaw with local anesthesia, the oral surgeon creates incisions in your gums. From there, the implant posts can be inserted at pre-determined angles and locations in your jawbone. Then, your gums are closed so that you can begin healing.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Because dental implants are made from biocompatible materials, they naturally begin fusing with your jawbone soon after they’re placed. This process, called osseointegration, takes three to six months on average, but it’s worth the wait to ensure your replacement teeth have a sturdy, reliable foundation.

After osseointegration is complete, you’ll return to your implant dentist in Oklahoma City to undergo another minor surgical procedure. They’ll place metal fixtures called abutments on top of your implants, which allow us to anchor your restorations into place.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

You should be fully healed from your abutment procedure after a few weeks. At that point, you’ll return to our office, where Dr. Hermen will install your dental crown, bridge, or denture to your abutments. These restorations have been customized based on impressions that we’ve taken of your smile, ensuring results that look as natural as they feel!

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Improved oral health – Because your dental implants look and act just like regular teeth, you will be able to brush and floss with ease, making your chances of developing gum disease, tooth decay, or other harmful dental problems much less.
• Natural-looking smile – Dental implants in Oklahoma City are designed to look and feel natural. This will make it almost impossible for anyone to notice a difference between your real and artificial teeth. And because they are surgically placed beneath the gums, its root-to-crown structure will blend in seamlessly.
• Eat your favorite foods – There’s no need to worry about dental implants slipping or falling out. Unlike dentures that only sit on top of the gums and rely on your natural suction and denture adhesive to stay in place, you will be free to eat your favorite foods while wearing dental implants. Their permanence in your mouth offers greater stability, making it easier to eat, speak, and smile.

Health Benefits

• No shifting teeth – By having dental implants replace your missing teeth, you will not have to worry about your remaining healthy teeth shifting out of place. Also known as dental drift, this can pose a potential problem for the alignment of your smile if you avoid treatment for too long.
• Continuous jawbone stimulation – Unlike dentures and dental bridges that do not offer stimulation to your jawbone, dental implants do! Their titanium root acts as a stimulant, strengthening the bone each time you bite down or chew. This will help you maintain a more youthful appearance because you won’t need to worry about facial collapse.
• Natural teeth remain unaltered – With dental bridges, it is necessary for your dentist to file down healthy teeth that serve as anchors for your prosthetic. However, with dental implants, there is no need to touch your regular teeth since they are used only in the sockets of the missing teeth.
• Longer lifespan – Tooth loss and lifespan are closely connected. Because many of the systemic issues that can develop as a result of missing teeth often lead to a shorter lifespan (i.e., diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis), you can substantially lower your risk by choosing to replace them with dental implants.

Long-Term Benefits

• High success rate – It is believed that dental implants have a success rate of 95% when placed by an implant dentist in Oklahoma City. That number only slightly lowers to 90-95% after 10 years as long as you continue to take proper care of your smile.
• Long-lasting prosthetic – By maintaining your dental implants, you can enjoy your new smile for 30 years or even a lifetime!
• You save money in the long run – Yes, dental implants are expensive upfront; however, when you begin to calculate the expenses for dentures and dental bridges, you will find that you’ll actually save money by choosing permanent prosthetics. How? By not needing to buy denture adhesive or special cleaning solutions. You also will not need regular adjustments or replacements every few years.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

At your appointment, Dr. Hermen will look for three important factors:

• Decent general health (well enough to undergo minor surgery)
• Good oral health (no signs of cavities or gum disease)
• Enough healthy jawbone mass to support dental implants

If you don’t meet all of these qualifications, there’s no need to worry. You may simply need to undergo one or more preparatory treatments (gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, bone grafting, etc.) to ensure your mouth is ready for dental implants.

Once you’re ready to start treatment, we can plan out which restoration you’ll need based on the extent of your tooth loss:

Missing One Tooth

A dental implant root can be placed between two healthy teeth without disturbing them at all, and then it will be topped with a custom-made crown. Unlike a bridge, this new tooth won’t “lean” on the surrounding teeth for support, leading to a more comfortable fit.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Partial dentures and bridges have been used to replace multiple teeth using a single prosthetic for generations, and now, they can be secured to the jawbone with dental implants, giving them a strength that better resembles natural teeth.

Missing All of Your Teeth

A full denture can be anchored to the jawbone using just four to six strategically placed implants. Compared to removable dentures, implant dentures are smaller, last longer, and bring back much more of a patient’s bite strength, allowing them to chew a wider variety of foods and enjoy a healthier diet.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

As mentioned earlier, a huge factor that affects dental implant cost is the number of preliminary procedures that you require beforehand. While tooth extractions, bone grafting, and gum disease therapy increase your total treatment costs, they ensure your new smile stands the test of time.

It’s worth noting that dental implant surgery incurs its own separate bill from the oral surgeon to whom we refer you. This price is usually influenced by the location of the surgical site within the mouth and the level of sedation needed.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Dental implant posts, as well as abutments, can actually be made from a variety of materials and brands. Your implant dentist in Oklahoma City will be transparent as to which type they select for you, as each one comes with its own benefits. The crowns, bridges, and dentures that go on top of the implants all have different costs; larger restorations naturally cost more than smaller ones.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

While dental implants may seem to cost a lot more compared to regular bridges and dentures, they actually help patients save money in the long run because they can last for multiple decades, meaning patients don’t have to periodically redo their treatment. They also don’t require special cleaning solutions or adhesives like dentures do; just a regular toothbrush and toothpaste are all you need. Lastly, they improve your oral health, decreasing your risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and other problems that could necessitate expensive treatments.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

In most cases, dental insurance does NOT cover dental implants, but there may be exceptions. For example, other parts of your treatment, like preliminary treatments or your restoration, might qualify for partial coverage. Our practice is in-network with Delta Dental, HealthChoice, BlueCross BlueShield, and many more insurance plans. Feel free to ask a member of our team to help you make the most of your benefits!

Making Dental Implants Affordable

At Jeffrey F. Hermen, DDS, we aim to provide affordable dental implants in Oklahoma City even to patients without insurance. That’s why we welcome payment plans through CareCredit, a third-party financing company that has helped countless Americans make their medical and dental care more budget-friendly. Qualified patients can split up their treatment costs into low- or low-interest payment plans. Thanks to CareCredit, rebuilding your smile doesn’t have to break the bank!  

Are Dental Implants Safe?

When placed by a qualified implant dentist in Oklahoma City, this treatment should be perfectly safe. That said, patients should have generally good oral and overall health before undergoing the procedure. Certain oral health issues, such as gum disease or low jawbone density, could increase the risk of implant failure. That’s why a consultation is necessary before beginning treatment. Dr. Hermen will evaluate your oral structures and determine which, if any, preliminary procedures are required or recommended before getting dental implants.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

More than 95% of dental implant patients are still enjoying their new teeth after a decade. In fact, with the right care, dental implants can easily last for 30 years or even for the rest of your life! This makes dental implants a more cost-effective treatment in the long term than dentures or dental bridges.

It’s worth mentioning, though, that dental implants can only last this long if you take good care of them. In most cases, it’s as simple as practicing good oral hygiene, protecting your teeth from damage, and visiting our office regularly for checkups and cleanings.

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

Your implant restorations will be crafted by a team of professional ceramists using impressions that Dr. Hermen takes of your mouth. They will be made to mimic the exact color, shape, and size of your natural teeth. Once they have been placed, other people shouldn’t be able to tell your real teeth from your artificial ones!

Additionally, implants take the place of tooth roots, so they can be trusted to remain stable. You won’t have to hold your jaw in a strange or unnatural manner to keep your teeth in place like you might with an ill-fitting denture.

Am I Too Old to Get Dental Implants?

Once your jawbone has finished developing in young adulthood, your age shouldn’t directly affect your eligibility for dental implants in Oklahoma City. That said, seniors might be more likely of having certain health conditions or taking medications that could complicate dental implant surgery or the osseointegration process. At your consultation, Dr. Hermen will discuss your medical history, current medications, and any other health information that could impact your treatment. In many cases, he can provide you with guidance for reducing the risk of dental implant failure despite these conditions.

Making Oral Hygiene a Priority

It is impossible for dental implants in Oklahoma City to decay, but if you have existing natural teeth, they can be and are susceptible to tooth decay and cavities. Gum disease is also a potential problem that can develop if you’re not practicing good oral hygiene at home. This is why it is crucial to develop a routine every morning and every night to safeguard your smile by brushing, flossing, and rinsing. These simple steps will help keep your natural teeth healthy, your gums strong and free of disease, and your dental implants firmly in place.

Eating a Healthy Diet

It is tempting to eat unhealthy foods like potato chips, cookies, and candy; however, if you begin to incorporate these foods into your daily diet, you will run the risk of developing serious oral health problems that put your implants at risk. Trading these foods for healthier alternatives will not only strengthen any existing enamel (i.e., calcium-rich foods) but will also improve gum health. Leafy greens, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and Vitamin C foods will allow you to enjoy a stronger, healthier smile year-round.

Breaking Bad Habits

We understand it is hard to break certain bad habits, but if you want your dental implants to be free of any possible chance of failure, it’s best to give these up once and for all:

• Smoking
• Eating ice
• Chewing on inanimate objects (i.e., pens, pencils)
• Biting your fingernails
• Using your teeth as tools to open packages and containers

Protecting Your Dental Implants

You’ve probably heard how effective customized mouthguards can be, especially for athletes. No matter if you’re on the field and suffer a fall or lying in bed at night grinding your teeth, these uniquely made oral devices can be made according to your smile and are comfortable to wear. Not only will they absorb much of the force should you face a hard-hitting tackle or fall on the field, but they’ll take the pressure of your tooth enamel and jaw joints while you sleep.

Scheduling Regular Dental Checkups

Another effective way to maintain your dental implants is to continue seeing your implant dentist in Oklahoma City for regular dental checkups and cleanings. It is these visits that allow our team to check for any signs of potential decay or gum disease and work to eliminate it early on. Should chips or other forms of damage be present, we can build out a treatment plan that addresses these problems and restores your healthy, beautiful smile.