Learning More About Dental Implants at Bense & Lopatofsky Dental
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are artificial fixtures or roots inserted into a patient's jaw to stabilize an artificial tooth placed on top of it. Recommending dental implants is based on several conditions.
Generally, a patient loses a tooth for some reason and requires extraction. A patient could also have experienced trauma that results in tooth loss. Regardless of how a patient loses a tooth, an implant is a way to replace that missing tooth.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
The advantages of a dental implant include not having a removable tooth. Patients generally want to avoid clasps and wires around a tooth. They want to feel as comfortable as they do with their other teeth.
Dental implants provide the natural feeling of a natural tooth. The process begins with an X-ray to evaluate the patient's bone support, which ensures proper placement for the surgeon placing the implant. Impressions are also taken to locate the implant in a three-dimensional view, along with the X-ray. These criteria help determine the exact position where the implants will be placed.
How can my health affect if I am a good candidate for dental implants?
Yes, your health and medical history are important. Some autoimmune diseases prevent a patient from being a candidate for dental implant placement.
What are the process of getting a dental implant?
The steps involved in placing a dental implant include:
- First, is the extraction of the poor tooth.
- Once the tooth has been removed, a bone graft is placed to expedite healing.
- Bone grafting is required following a tooth extraction. It heals quicker, and the bone integrity is better compared to letting nature take its course, which would take considerably longer. By placing a bone graft, the healing process is much shorter.
- After the bone heals, the implant may be placed.
- Once the implant is placed, there is still a healing period before the abutment can be inserted into the implant. The abutment is the fixture that extends above the gum line on which the crown will be placed.
- If a patient receives support for a denture, once the implants have integrated or healed properly, the abutments are put in, and the dentures can be fabricated.
What are the options to replace teeth?
There are two options to replace teeth: removable or permanent (fixed).
Removable options can be taken in and out of the mouth and require maintenance. The patient needs to remove the denture or partial and clean the housings inside the denture or partial. They also need to clean the implant heads. This maintenance guarantees longer success for the implants that support the removable denture or partial. They are very strong, and patients experience high comfort levels. They can bite into apples and other hard foods that traditional dentures or partials may prohibit.
The other option is fixed, meaning it does not come out of the patient's mouth. Maintenance is less intensive, as you clean it with additional means like a water flosser, water picks, or floss agents. These stay in the patient's mouth, providing great comfort and a natural look and feel. Generally, for a single implant placement, patients are comfortable within a day or two. For multiple implant placements or full arch implant placements, it may take longer, but this largely depends on the patient's tolerance.
How long do implants last?
Implants should last for years and years. Maintenance includes brushing and flossing or, for removable options, cleaning the implant head and housings. You should also visit your dentist every six months. If these needs are met, along with patient maintenance and regular six-month cleaning appointments, implants should last for many years. There is no biological material that can get cavities.
How much do dental implants cost?
The cost of dental implants is generally around $4,000 to $5,000 per implant. However, this cost is broken up into phases of treatment. The first phase is establishing whether you're a candidate, which requires a CBCT scan. After the implant is placed, it has to heal before an impression can be taken for the abutment and crown. Therefore, the costs are divided into phases of treatment.
What financing options are available for dental implants?
In terms of financing, we offer care credit. Insurances are improving; in the past, they would cover 0%. Most insurances choose to cover the least expensive option, which is something removable without any implants underneath. However, in the current age of implants, insurances have begun to cover a small portion of dental implants.
How can I schedule an appointment with Bense & Lopatofsky Dental?
We would be happy to discuss the steps involved with successful dental implant treatment. We're excited about dental implants! We love placing them surgically as well as restoring them prosthetically, and we would love to get your phone call and help you.
At Bense & Lopatofsky Dental, you come first. Whether you need dental care or simply have questions, call us at (570) 682-5050 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.