Optima Dental Surgery Center

Dr. Kris W. Owens, DDS, MS, earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Missouri in 1996 and a Master of Science in Periodontics from Louisiana State University in 1999. He is board certified in both periodontology and dental implant surgery. Before opening his Austin-area practice in 2001, he served on faculty at Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, where he contributed to peer-reviewed research published in the Journal of Periodontology. He has lectured internationally on implant techniques and continues to stay current with the latest clinical advances.

Optima partners with multiple financing providers to make dental implants affordable. Options include Proceed Finance (loan amounts up to $50,000 with approval in minutes), LendingClub (flexible payment plans with competitive rates), Cherry (low minimum monthly payments with no credit score impact), and CareCredit (promotional no-interest periods of 6, 12, 18, or 24 months). Patients can also use HSA and FSA accounts with pre-tax dollars, reducing out-of-pocket costs by their tax bracket percentage.

Many patients told elsewhere they lack sufficient bone are actually strong candidates with the right approach. Optima evaluates bone height, width, and density using 3D imaging during the free consultation. If grafting is needed, options include bone grafting (three to six months healing before implant placement), sinus lifts (for upper jaw cases), ridge augmentation, or All-on-4 and All-on-6 techniques that use strategically angled implants to maximize existing bone, often eliminating grafting altogether. The longer implants are delayed, the more bone can be lost, so Optima encourages early evaluation.

Diet progresses in stages. Days 1 to 2 involve liquids and soft foods only (broths, yogurt, applesauce, mashed items). Days 3 to 7 expand to scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soft pasta, and cooked vegetables. Weeks 2 to 4 allow gradually firmer foods such as soft meats and tender bread. Most patients resume their full diet, including crunchy and hard foods, within four to six weeks. Once the final restoration is placed and healed, implants withstand the same biting forces as natural teeth and can handle steaks, apples, and corn on the cob.

Dental implants have demonstrated success rates of 93 percent or higher over ten years when properly placed and maintained. Implants are engineered to withstand the same biting forces as natural teeth, and when properly integrated with bone, they can last decades. Optima uses premium implant systems manufactured in the United States and backed by a 12-year limited warranty, reflecting the practice's confidence in implant durability and long-term outcomes.