ALL-ON-4 PROCEDURE

The All On 4 implants or All On 6 procedure is now considered the optimal solution for those who have experienced losing their natural teeth in their upper or lower jaw. It is our goal to provide All On 4 dental implants in Houston with the lowest cost and better oral health in mind.

The benefits of All On 4 dental implant procedure include:

• Permanently secured teeth as nature intended
• Dental implants and replacement in one procedure
• Restoration of biting/chewing ability
• Your new smile will look natural and beautiful
• No covered upper palate (as with dentures)
• No messy dental adhesives
• The procedure is done under gentle anesthesia
• Minimal recovery time
• All the work is done in-office

All On 4 Dental Implants step by step procedures for missing teeth:

PHASE 1: Come in for a complimentary, stress-free, initial consultation to see if you are good candidate for our All On Four dental Implants. We will take the necessary X-Rays and 3D scans needed to evaluate bone density and other factors during this visit. At the end of your appointment, we will present you with a comprehensive treatment plan.

PHASE 2: Today is your big day! In a single procedure, under gentle IV Sedation, we will remove any remaining teeth, address gum disease, place 4-6 dental implants, and finally secure a beautiful set of new, temporary teeth to the implants. Prepare for an emotional moment when you see your new smile for the very first time. Note: patients are required to have someone drive them home.

PHASE 3: Your new smile is already rock solid and you’re enjoying biting, chewing, speaking, and laughing again with total confidence. At the same time, your bones and gum tissue are adjusting to the dental implants and your new teeth. Over several months we ask you to come in for a checkup to make sure everything is going well. Finally, we’ll take impressions and fabricate a final dental restoration that is much stronger than the temporary teeth you’ve been wearing. These custom-made teeth will look even better and are built to last a lifetime.

WHAT IS THE COST OF ALL-ON-4?

Many individual factors go into each patient’s treatment plan. Will your case require grafts or sinus lifts? Will you need just 4 dental implants or more? Will we need to extract teeth as part of the procedure? Which type of material will you select for your permanent teeth? All of these questions can be answered through a consultation with Dr. Pournik.

IMPLANT DENTURES

Modern technology continues to have a positive impact on the dental industry. Implant supported dentures are the latest solution. They are a type of overdenture which is attached to and supported by tiny titanium dental implants. These implanted posts are a small dental surgical component(s) that connect a dental prosthesis to the jawbone, thus literally becoming an artificial root. Implant supported dentures have become popular with patients who have either missing teeth or who have traditional dentures and are becoming annoyed and frustrated with the faults associated with them. These frequently include the shifting and moving of the dentures, the discomfort, or even having to modify their diet to avoid some foods they enjoy. There are some different and various final applications of implant supported dentures. These can include All-on-4, All-on-6, bridges, or even single implants. Which dental implant application will work for you depends upon your unique needs and the conditions related to your actual tooth loss.

DENTAL IMPLANTS

During the last 20 years, dental implants have become a desirable alternative to other methods of replacing missing teeth or multiple missing teeth. Excellent success rates and a range of available options give dentists a variety of new ways to treat and replace lost teeth. Our mission at Applewhite Dental Arts is to provide our clients with the best dental implants in Houston Texas. Booking an appointment at our Houston dental office would be the first step to correcting any teeth replacement needs and designing your smile to look like natural teeth. Replacing any missing teeth is a common procedure for us and we can work with your dental insurance or provide dental implant financing options to help get you the smile that you deserve.

Dr. Pournik a highly qualified dental implants dentist in Houston, who earned an honorable fellowship with the International Congress of Implantology by attending numerous surgical and didactic courses, can evaluate your case and tell you if you are a candidate for dental implants. Structurally, a dental implant serves as the tooth replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. It is machined from surgical-grade titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) to exacting specifications. A dentist places the implant into either the upper or lower jawbone. After a period of two to four months of healing, the implant integrates with the bone and becomes a secure anchor for a replacement tooth, a fixed bridge, a removable partial, or a complete denture. If you’re in need of affordable dental implants in Houston Texas or just a tooth replacement in Houston, we got you covered.

Most patients with adequate bone mass can have implants, although it varies among individuals. Typically an x-ray and CT-scan are performed to determine if you have enough bone to place the implant, as well as to verify the size and kind of implant that should be placed.

DENTAL IMPLANT PROCEDURES FOR MISSING TEETH

When compared to fixed bridges and removable dentures supported by other teeth or gum tissue, implants offer numerous advantages:

1. Better esthetics:

Since low cost dental implants in Houston are placed in the gum similar to the way a natural tooth is supported, they offer a more realistic and natural look compared to other alternatives.

2. Reduction of bone resorption:

When a tooth is lost, the supporting bone structure gradually recedes. Placing an implant in that empty space significantly reduces the speed of bone resorption and provides stability for this valuable tissue.

3. Retention:

Patients who have experienced removable full mouth dental implants in Houston or partial dentures know that keeping their dentures in place is always a challenge. Dental implants offer a great improvement to denture retention for all patients. In some cases the denture can be secured to a group of implants with special screws that stabilize the denture completely.

4. Preserving natural tooth structure:

Often the preferred method or the dental implant process of replacing a single missing tooth is a bridge. Bridges require extra preparation for the surrounding teeth to ultimately connect 3 or more teeth. This negatively impacts your health by making the task of retaining your teeth more difficult and by often requiring the destruction of existing tooth structure to create room for the new bridge. An implant is mostly an independent unit and does not negatively affect the adjacent teeth.

DENTAL CROWNS

A crown (cap) is a restoration that is placed on teeth that have lost a lot of their structure. There are various types of crowns, ranging from full porcelain to full metal. Dr. Pournik will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each kind for you. Crowns may also be used to securely attach a bridge if the surrounding teeth by themselves are inadequate to do so. A bridge is a dental appliance that is used to replace one or more missing teeth. They are designed to be cosmetically appealing and also to restore proper occlusion. Like crowns, bridges are fully customizable and made of various materials, including porcelain and metals. Although not as permanent as a cap, bridges are bonded to surrounding teeth and only removable by your dentist.

Both crowns and bridges are created to match the color, height, texture and overall appearance of your teeth. Most crowns and bridges will last for life, eliminating the need to replace them unless they fall out or become loose. You may prolong the durability of your crowns and bridges by practicing good oral hygiene and visiting Dr. Pournik for regular check-ups and cleanings.

FIXED BRIDGES

A bridge is a custom-made replacement tooth or teeth that fill the space where one or more teeth are missing. The bridge permanently restores your bite and helps keep the natural shape of your face.

WHY YOU NEED A BRIDGE

A missing tooth is a serious matter. Teeth are made to work together to help you chew, speak and smile. When you lose a tooth, the nearby teeth may shift and become crooked. This may make it harder to speak or chew. A missing tooth in the lower jaw may cause a tooth in your upper jaw to shift down into that space, meaning your teeth will no longer be even or in a straight line. This can affect your bite and place more stress on your teeth and jaw joints, possibly causing pain and damage. Teeth that have tipped or drifted are also harder to clean. This can increase the risk for tooth decay and gum disease. Missing teeth can lead to bone loss, which can cause neighboring teeth to become loose and can lead to facial collapse. If that happens, it may change the way the jawbone supports the lips and cheeks. Over time, this can make your face look older.

FIXED BRIDGE

To place a fixed bridge, your dentist uses an existing natural tooth or teeth to help hold your bridge in place. Fixed bridges are cemented in place and only a dentist can remove them. This makes them feel stable and very similar to your natural teeth. An artificial tooth, called a pontic, takes the place of the missing tooth. The pontic is secured by one or more crowns, which are bonded to the teeth on either side of the missing tooth. Placing a bridge takes several dental visits. Depending on your needs, one or more teeth may be prepared to hold the bridge.

COMPOSITE FILLINGS

When considering tooth fillings, one of the options available are composite fillings which are made from durable plastics that are similar in color to natural teeth. Because the composite fillings are tooth-colored, they look more natural and are less noticeable compared to other types of fillings.

Another benefit of tooth-colored fillings is that they are compatible with sealants allowing Dr. Pournik to perform both procedures in a single sitting preventing further decay. There are other advantages to composite, tooth-colored fillings, most importantly the capability of bonding to tooth structure. Also in many cases they can be repaired by addition of more composite material.

Speak with Dr. Pournik to find out which kind of filling is best for you.