One implant and one crown fill the gap without touching the healthy teeth on either side, which a traditional bridge can't claim. It looks and works like the tooth that was there.
Dental implants are small, biocompatible titanium posts surgically placed in the jawbone to replace the roots of missing teeth. Once healed, they provide a strong, stable foundation for a custom crown, bridge, or denture that looks and functions like your natural teeth.
The Dental Implant Process at LeBlanc Dentistry
Implants take time, and that’s on purpose. The bone has to fuse to the post before it can carry a tooth. Here’s how the timeline usually runs.
Consultation and planning
We examine your mouth, take 3D images of the jaw, and map out where each implant goes. This is also where we check whether the bone can support an implant as it is, or needs a little groundwork first.
Bone grafting
When a tooth has been gone a while, the bone underneath tends to shrink. A graft rebuilds it so there’s something solid to anchor to. When you do, it adds a few months of healing before the implant goes in.
Placing the implant
An oral surgeon places the titanium post into the jaw. It’s a smaller procedure than most people expect, done under local anesthetic or sedation, and most patients are back to normal the next day.
Healing and the final tooth
Dr. Kulic fits the crown, bridge, or denture, colour-matched to your other teeth, and you’re finished. A straightforward case runs three to six months start to finish. Grafting makes it longer.
Are You a Candidate for Implants?
Most healthy adults missing a tooth are candidates. The two things that matter most are enough jawbone to hold the implant and healthy gums around it. Neither is a dealbreaker on its own. Bone can be rebuilt with a graft, and gum disease can be treated before we start.
A few things make us look closer: heavy smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, or a habit of grinding at night. None of these rules you out automatically, but each one changes the plan. The only way to know for sure is an exam, which is what the consultation is for.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
- Look, feel, and function like natural teeth
- Prevent bone loss and preserve facial structure
- No slipping or clicking like traditional dentures
- Long-lasting with proper care
- No need to alter healthy adjacent teeth
- You can eat anything you like without worrying about your teeth
Why Choose LeBlanc General Dentistry and Aesthetics?
- All-In-One Convenience: Everything happens at one location—your dental home in Houston- from surgery to final restoration, ensuring your comfort and convenience.
- A Handpicked Team: Our implant specialists are carefully vetted and work closely with Dr. Kulic to ensure optimal results.
- Aesthetic and Functional Excellence: Dr. Kulic brings a unique blend of artistic vision and clinical precision to every case, creating smiles as beautiful as they are strong.
How Long Implants Last, and Looking After Them
With good care, implants last a long time. Twenty years or more is common, and plenty last for life. The post itself is titanium and can’t decay. The crown or denture on top can wear over the years and may eventually need replacing, but the implant underneath stays put.
Caring for one is refreshingly ordinary. Brush and floss it like a natural tooth. Keep up your regular cleanings, since the gum and bone around the implant still need to stay healthy. Skip chewing ice or using your teeth as tools. That’s really the whole list.
What Do Dental Implants Cost in Houston?
Implant pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all, so a real number comes after we’ve seen your mouth. What moves it: how many teeth you’re replacing, whether you need a graft or an extraction first, and the type of restoration on top. A single implant sits at one end; a full arch is a bigger investment.
Here’s the straight version. We won’t quote you a figure over the phone that changes once you’re in the chair. You get an exact plan and price at your consultation. To keep it manageable, we offer third-party financing through CareCredit, Alphaeon, and Cherry. And if you’re uninsured, our Smile Membership covers care here at a flat yearly rate, without the deductibles, caps, and waiting periods insurance usually brings.