Find Your Healthiest and Most Confident Smile
Dental implants are the most cost-effective and beneficial option for restoring missing or damaged teeth. When teeth are missing, patients often suffer from various problems, including a decrease in both their chewing ability and their self-confidence. While other replacement options can help patients smile again, dental implants are the only choice that can do so while also maintaining their oral health and completely restoring their oral function.
We have plenty of information about dental implants, their benefits, and the treatment process in the procedure section of our website. However, we know that for our patients, one of the most important things about dental implants is how the new teeth will feel and affect their lives. The best way to learn these factors about dental implants is to watch the patient testimonials below. The patients below know firsthand what it's like to have dental implants placed and the effect they have, and they can help you understand why dental implants are the best choice for you.
We offer several dental implant procedures to restore your smile at Hill & Ioppolo Oral & Dental Implant Surgery of Lubbock. Dental implants are designed to be inserted into your jaw to replace a missing or damaged tooth. Patients lose teeth for a variety of reasons, but implants are a highly successful treatment that creates a sense of uniformity in basic daily activities, such as eating, drinking, smiling, and speaking. The ideal candidate to receive dental implants would be missing one or more teeth but still healthy enough to undergo a surgical procedure.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small posts that are inserted into the area of your gums where the tooth or multiple teeth have gone missing. The posts are surgically inserted into the empty tooth socket, which allows the implants to integrate with your jaw and the prosthetic teeth to be positioned securely. The integrated posts act as a support system to keep a patient’s custom-made teeth permanently intact and fully functional.
The three-part design of the implant consists of the titanium screw, the abutment, and the prosthetic tooth (crown). The titanium screw acts as the new tooth’s root and provides the necessary support for the abutment and crown. Once the surgery site has had time to heal, the abutment is attached to the screw, and the crown is connected to the abutment. Once the process is complete, your implant will look and feel like a natural tooth.
Benefits of Dental Implants in Lubbock, TX
Dental implants are an excellent long-term approach for replacing a missing tooth or multiple teeth.
Some of the benefits of implants include:
- Increased stability
- More natural-looking appearance
- Long-term solution
- Boosted self-confidence
- The strength to eat and/or drink what you want without discomfort
Types of Dental Implants
Dental implants are crafted to mimic the appearance and functionality of natural teeth. They include an implant post, which acts as a tooth root, and a dental crown, which forms the visible part of the replacement tooth. The implant post, constructed from biocompatible materials such as titanium, is surgically placed into the jawbone to ensure stability and support for the new tooth.
At Hill & Ioppolo Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Surgery of Lubbock in Lubbock, TX, we provide a range of dental implant solutions to restore your smile and oral health. Our skilled team, led by our oral surgeon, Dr. Ioppolo, can recommend the most suitable type of dental implant for your specific requirements.
- Single Implants: Single dental implants are used to replace one missing tooth. They include an implant post that is surgically placed into the jawbone, a connector known as an abutment, and a custom-made crown that matches the color and shape of your natural teeth. Single implants offer a strong and natural-looking replacement for a single missing tooth, restoring both functionality and aesthetics to your smile.
- Multiple Implants: Multiple dental implants are employed to replace several missing teeth. They are similar to single implants but can support dental bridges or partial dentures to replace multiple missing teeth. Multiple implants offer a stable and secure solution for those who have lost several teeth, enhancing chewing ability and preventing jawbone loss.
- Full-Arch Restoration: Full-arch restoration is used for patients who are missing all of their teeth in one or both jaws. By placing a few implants in strategic positions, these restorations offer a secure and stable alternative to traditional dentures and restore full functionality and aesthetics.
- Zygomatic Implants: For patients with severe jaw bone loss, zygomatic implants are used for patients who are not candidates for traditional dental implants. Rather than anchoring the implants to the jaw bone, zygomatic implants are surgically implanted into the cheekbone, allowing patients with bone loss to reap all the benefits of dental implants and regain function.
- Zirconia Implants: Instead of using traditional titanium implants, these biocompatible zirconia ceramic implants are surgically implanted into the jaw bone, offering a metal-free alternative. They can be used for a single implant or multiple.
Types of Anesthesia
Depending on your procedure, you will receive one of the following forms of anesthesia to ensure your comfort.
Permanent Denture Replacement With Dental Implants
Dentures are a quick, non-invasive way to replace missing teeth. Patients who wear dentures can enjoy a cosmetically restored smile, but dentures are limited in their functionality. You must replace dentures every few years and have them fitted by a professional to avoid oral sores.
Dental implants can support a fixed denture through full-arch restoration. This procedure will provide you with a strong and durable new smile that feels and functions just like natural, healthy teeth. The implant posts prevent bone loss which preserve your facial structure. If you wear dentures and are ready for a long-lasting, healthier alternative, contact us to learn about denture replacement in Lubbock, TX.
Financial Considerations for Dental Implants
Dental implants offer patients a variety of benefits, and they can add significant value to a person’s life over time:
- Dental implants are the longest lasting of any tooth replacement option — with proper care, they have the potential to last a lifetime, unlike bridges, dentures, and other options that must be replaced after several years of wear.
- Dental implants also help prevent oral health problems, such as dental shifting and bone loss. Preserving your oral health can prevent the need for future treatments later on.
- Implants can drastically improve a person’s quality of life, which is valuable for your overall well-being.
Cost of Dental Implants in Lubbock, TX
At Hill & Ioppolo Oral & Dental Implant Surgery of Lubbock, we do our best to provide the highest quality dental implants at a reasonable cost. To learn more about dental implants at our practice, feel free to give our office a call. One of our staff members will be happy to assist you.
Hear From Dental Implant Patients
These patients can tell you about their firsthand experience undergoing dental implant treatment at our office.
Reviews From Our Dental Implant Patients
"It was hard for me to chew because I could only chew on one side. I first went to my dentist, and I have some teeth that are missing, and he recommended that I go see Dr. Ioppolo to get some implants. As soon as I walked in the front door, they were very welcoming to me, and then once I met Dr. Ioppolo, I just felt like I'd known him all my life. Dr. Ioppolo is a very personable person. He made me feel comfortable right from the start, shook my hand, introduced himself. The staff was wonderful. They let me know what was going to go on from start to end and very comforting and easy to understand. All the instructions were great. After the surgery, I feel better because my teeth fit together wonderfully. I would definitely recommend Dr. Ioppolo. He is a great, great oral surgeon."
"I came to Dr. Ioppolo because I needed dental implants. There were certain things that I could not eat before the implants because my teeth kind of wanted to slide around. The first time I met Dr. Ioppolo, I was very impressed and fell in love with him right away. I wanted to be his grandmother forever. Yet, it was a little nerve-racking, and one of the nurses sat there and patted my hands through the whole ordeal, and I think I was as comfortable as I could have been anywhere. The staff is wonderful; he doesn't hire anybody that's not wonderful. I highly recommend Dr. Ioppolo for your oral dental surgery or anything that you need. He's gentle, and he's efficient."
"I had an unfortunate few-year process of trying to get a bone graft and an implant in my rear molar, so I made a stop here, found these guys (was referred to them), and they did a great job of getting my dental treatment back on track. Dr. Ioppolo was super warm, super professional, very inviting, very informative about what was going to happen. I felt like he took the time to explain things. He answered all my questions. Everything went really well. It's the first time in four years that I've been able to chew naturally on the left rear molar. Everything has gone really well. They under-promise, over-deliver. I always feel better faster than I thought I would. I always heal faster than I thought. It always hurts less than they say it's going to hurt. It's wonderful."
"I had a wisdom teeth extraction, and Dr. Ioppolo was my doctor, and then we put in an implant. When I first met Dr. Ioppolo, he was very soothing. He was a great guy, first off. He explained front to back what was going to happen. I had a dead tooth, and we had to take X-rays, of course, and in taking the X-rays found out that my wisdom teeth were upside down. The procedure went real well. Taking my teeth out — of course, that's the first time I'd ever had oral surgery, and the implant I had put in feels just like a natural tooth. It's just like the one he took out. Dr. Ioppolo's the best. This whole staff here made me real at ease, real comfortable, too. Real good people."
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between a flipper tooth and a dental implant?
Compared to a dental implant, a flipper tooth is akin to a temporary, removable denture that is typically a placeholder before a permanent solution is placed. It lacks the stability and durability of dental implants. In contrast, dental implants are permanent tooth replacements that look and feel like natural teeth.
2. Can you get gum disease with dental implants?
Although dental implants can help restore dental health, they require normal maintenance to prevent the development of gum disease.
3. What should I not do after my dental implant surgery?
Following dental implant surgery, it is essential to follow any and all postoperative instructions. Avoid hot liquids and foods, limit physical activity, and don't rinse your mouth or disturb the surgical area. If you are prescribed pain medication, do not drive or operate heavy machinery.
4. How much do dental implants cost in Lubbock, TX?
At Hill & Ioppolo Oral & Dental Implant Surgery of Lubbock, we do our best to provide the highest quality dental implants at a reasonable cost. To learn more about dental implants at our practice, feel free to give our office a call. One of our staff members will be happy to assist you.
Outstanding Oral Surgery Services Driven By Faith and Expertise
At Hill & Ioppolo Oral & Dental Implant Surgery of Lubbock, we are dedicated to restoring optimal oral health through a variety of oral surgery procedures. Through our work, we serve our God-given purpose of serving our incredible community. When you walk into our practice, you are not just a patient—you’re a welcome member of our family who will leave here with a better and more beautiful smile. We look forward to welcoming you soon.