Dental Implants
Man-made roots that support a crown, bridge, or denture — the closest replacement to a natural tooth, placed and restored in one practice.
Dental implants are man-made roots on which we place crowns, bridges, or dentures to replace one or more missing teeth. Implants can greatly improve quality of life for people who have struggled with missing teeth. They allow real flexibility and stability, giving patients full function and comfort — and the confidence of knowing their smile is both strong and beautiful.
Placed and restored under one roof
Implant treatment has two halves: the surgical placement of the implant, and the crown or bridge that goes on top of it. At Alamo Heights Dental both happen in the same practice.
Dr. Curtis D. Schmidt places the implants. He is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon who retired as Chairman of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Brooke Army Medical Center, with specialized training in reconstruction and implant placement. Drs. Dirk, John, and Susie DeKoch restore them.
That matters more than it sounds. The surgeon placing the implant knows exactly what the restoring dentist needs, because they plan the case together, in the same building, looking at the same scan.
What implants can replace
- A single tooth — an implant and a crown, without touching the teeth on either side
- Several teeth — implants supporting a fixed bridge
- A full arch — implants that anchor a denture. If supported by implants, dentures are far more comfortable and stable, and can greatly improve quality of life
The process, and the timeline
After an examination and a 3D scan, the implant is placed into the jawbone. It is then left to integrate — the bone grows onto the implant surface and locks it in place. That healing period is typically a few months and cannot be rushed; it is what gives an implant its strength.
Once integration is confirmed, we take impressions and fit the crown, bridge, or denture attachment. Some patients need a bone graft or a sinus lift first, if there is not enough bone volume to hold an implant. We will know that from the scan before we start.
Are you a candidate?
Most healthy adults are. The factors that matter are bone volume, gum health, control of any systemic conditions such as diabetes, and smoking, which meaningfully raises the risk of implant failure. Untreated gum disease is treated first — implants sit in the same tissue that periodontal disease damages.
Caring for implants
An implant cannot decay, but the gum and bone around it can become inflamed and be lost, the same way they are around a natural tooth. Brushing, flossing or using an interdental brush around the implant, and regular professional cleanings are what make an implant last decades rather than years.
Related treatments
Dental Bridges
A fixed replacement for a missing tooth, anchored to crowns on the teeth either side of the gap.
Dentures & Partials
Full and partial dentures that replace missing teeth — and, when supported by implants, become dramatically more comfortable and stable.
Wisdom Teeth Removal
Third molar removal by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, with sedation available, in the practice you already know.
Have a question about treatment?
Call the office and ask. We would rather answer it now than have you guess.