Unlike natural teeth, dental implants aren’t at risk for tooth decay.
During the initial consultation, we will take a thorough exam of your mouth. This includes taking x-rays so that your doctor can assess your oral health and jaw bone density. To be a good candidate for dental implants, good oral health is important. Your Elma dentist will go over your exam with you and discuss if you meet the requirements of dental implants, or go over alternative treatment options.
After your consultation, we will provide a detailed, personalized treatment plan and schedule your appointment for oral surgery. Before the procedure, your dentist will create a small incision in the gum line. This incision is where your dentist will carefully place the implant into your jaw bone. The implant, a screw-shaped titanium post, will bond with your natural bone. Then your incision will be cleaned and disinfected so the healing process can safely begin.
Your gums will begin healing immediately after the implants have been placed. It takes about 2 weeks or less to heal after the procedure. However, for the implant to permanently bond with the jaw, a process called “osseointegration,” it will take between 3 to 6 months.
Throughout the healing process, you’ll visit our office several times so that we can ensure that the implant is successfully bonding with your jaw. To check this, your dentist will take impressions of your bite. We will then send those impressions to our trusted dental lab where they will create the custom dental prosthetic that will connect to your dental implant.
When the bonding process is complete and we receive your completed dental prosthetic, you’ll return for your final visit. Your dentist will then affix the restoration to your implant and secure it with an adhesive (usually a dental cement). This will permanently secure the restoration to your dental implant. After this, you’ll walk out of our practice with a smile that you are satisfied with!
When it comes to maintenance and aftercare, dental implants don’t require any special care. Incorporating good oral hygiene practices can assure that your implants last a lifetime! Just be sure to brush twice a day, or preferably after every meal, and floss daily. It would also be beneficial to schedule dental exams every six months for routine cleanings and exams. Practicing good dental hygiene is the best way to keep your implants healthy so that they can withstand for a lifetime!
Single tooth implants are the most common type of dental implant. They have two primary parts, the implant that attaches to the bone, and the dental crown, which affixes over the titanium post. The implant is a titanium “post” shaped similar to a screw. The dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that attaches to the implant post to complete the final restoration.
Single tooth implants are embedded directly into the jaw, acting as the tooth’s root. When the site heals, the crown will be attached over the post via an “abutment.” Crowns are highly durable and look like natural teeth. Due to their stability, crowns can last for decades, while implants can last a lifetime.
Many patients opt for full-arch implants if they are missing the majority, or all, of their teeth. When compared to dentures, full-arch implants won’t slide around in the mouth, which is a huge factor when patients consider them both.
Full-arch implants look and feel more natural than their traditional counterparts. This is because the dental implants serve as natural roots to support fixed dental bridges or a set of implant-supported overdentures. They will keep the natural movement of your mouth, not shifting when you eat or speak.
Implant-retained dentures are a great solution for those looking for a permanent replacement for a full set of teeth. They are one of the most secure options available as they are attached to the jaw. This means they won’t be sliding around your mouth, so brushing, eating, and performing regular functions won’t be any different than natural teeth.
All-on-4 implants are a natural-looking, permanent solution for patients who have lost all, or most of their teeth. In just one visit, your doctor can replace a full arch of your teeth with just 4 dental implants. They are an affordable option compared to replacing each tooth individually and completely restore the function of your teeth. All-on-4 implants are a great option for those who may not be candidates for traditional implants or dentures but want the same results.
For many patients, dental implants can last a lifetime.
A lot of people don’t know much about dental implants and therefore have no idea if they are an option for them. Unfortunately, this question is not a straight forward yes or no question. Most healthy people who would like to replace their missing tooth ARE good candidates for implants, however, anyone interested must be assessed on an individualized basis. That being said, the following should give you an idea on what to expect!
An important factor that will need to be taken into consideration is the amount of bone you have where the implant needs to be placed. The longer your tooth has been missing the less bone you will have. Even if your tooth has been missing for years and years this does NOT mean you are not a candidate. However, it may mean bone grafting will need to be done first to build your bone back and make a strong foundation for your implant.
In order to determine how much bone you have our practice uses the latest in technology called a CBCT scan (cone-beam computed tomography.) This scan gives us a 3D picture of your jaw which allows us to see if there are any bony defects that need to be corrected along with being able to digitally plan your implant so we know exactly what to expect for an outcome!
There are two major factors that can lead to problems with dental implants and they are smoking and uncontrolled diabetes. Both of these issues lead to a much higher implant failure rate than normal. If you are a smoker we do not recommend having dental implants placed until you have quit for at least a few months. If you are diabetic you can absolutely still have dental implants, but it is very important to make sure your blood sugar is well controlled with your diet and medications first.
Hopefully, this helps you determine if you have any risk factors that must be addressed prior to moving forward with dental implants. If you would like to learn more about your individualized options please call our office today!
The placement of a dental implant is a surgery, and therefore it is normal to expect some discomfort following the procedure. However, most patients are pleasantly surprised to find that the discomfort is usually mild and they feel better than expected following the procedure.
Most patients are even able to return to their everyday activities the following day. Whenever we place a dental implant, we will be sure to give you thorough instructions to minimize your discomfort and make sure the implant is kept clean and healthy to give you an excellent end result. Call our office to learn more about this procedure.
The implant process can be long, but it is worth it in the end as it is the best treatment available for missing teeth. A dental implant looks and feels just like a natural tooth. The implant process may take anywhere from 3-9 months on average. It is important the process is not rushed because moving too fast can lead to implant failure. Our goal at Springbrook Family Dentistry is to give your implant the very best chance of success.
If you have a tooth that needs to be removed prior to the implant placement, this may lengthen the process. Most of the time, when a tooth is removed a bone graft will be placed in the tooth socket to prevent the bone from shrinking. This is important because a graft you will lose bone, which may lead to inadequate bone for future implant placement. This graft needs to be given 3-4 months to fully integrate with your body. If the missing tooth is located in a place visible when you smile, we will make you a temporary tooth to be worn while your implant heals.
Once the graft has healed, or if your tooth has already been missing for a period of time, the actual implant (the screw portion) is surgically placed into the bone. Most patients do extremely well with the part of the treatment and post-operative discomfort is usually minimal. A cap is then put on the screw and the gums will be stitched to cover your implant while it heals. The implant is given 3 months to fully mesh with your bone.
Once the implant has fully healed, it is finally time to add the tooth! You will return to our office for an impression of your implant. The impression will be sent to a dental lab where they will make the abutment (the connecting piece) and the crown (the tooth portion) fit together and fit on a model of your implant. When you return to the office the abutment and crown will be fit and adjusted as necessary to give you a natural looking tooth.
While the implant process may be a lengthy one, almost all our patients find it was well worth it! There is no other procedure that gives such a similar look and feel to your natural tooth. Please call our office today if you are interested in finding out more about dental implants.
Our typical fee for a dental implant is about $3500. This includes the three parts of the implant: the implant itself (the screw), the abutment (this connects the implant to the crown), (the part that looks like a tooth.) While this may seem costly, the fee is actually split up overtime since an implant can take anywhere from 3 months to a year to complete which can make the cost much more manageable.
Please keep in mind that there are often other things that there may be additional costs for the removal of a tooth and grafting of the site to improve the bone for implant placement. These are dependent on the site that needs the implant but a full treatment plan will always be reviewed with you prior to proceeding with treatment. Please call our office in Elma, NY to schedule a consultation to learn more about this procedure.
Most dental implants are made of titanium. Titanium is an excellent metal for use in the human body because it is very biocompatible and resistant to corrosion. This is the same metal that is typically used if you have a joint replacement. The crown, which sits on top of your implant is typically made of zirconia. Zirconia is an extremely strong material that has the esthetics of porcelain but a strength similar to that of metal.
Dental bonding and porcelain veneers are both ways to improve the esthetics of your teeth. There are a few main differences between the two.
Dental bonding is done directly in the mouth with a material called composite. Often we do not need to remove any tooth structure in order to add bonding, although it does depend on certain factors.
Porcelain veneers are made by a lab outside of the mouth and then cemented into place. Typically some light sanding down of the teeth is required to get a good result. Porcelain veneers are usually more aesthetic and lifelike than bonding and because of this are more expensive. Lastly, porcelain veneers typically have a longer lifetime than dental bonding which is more likely to stain in a shorter period of time.
Both may need to be replaced down the line but porcelain veneers usually need to be replaced every 10-15 years while bonding may need to be redone every 3-5 years.
To schedule your consultation to find out which one is right for you, please call our office located in Elma, NY.
People are often surprised by the cost of implants so understanding why they cost what they do is important in understanding their value. The average cost for a dental implant is $4000, not including any additional grafting procedures that may be necessary to allow enough bone for the implant. At our office the price is approximately $3400 as we try to keep our fees below average to make this procedure affordable for our patients.
Dental implants are the best option for replacing a missing tooth, and are often considered the standard of care when it comes to such. Unfortunately, insurance companies are behind the times and many insurance carriers do not consider implants a covered service. Even when insurance companies DO cover implants, most patients have a yearly maximum of $1,000-$1,500 which means they max out their insurance before being able to finish the implant from start to finish. In order to work around this, our office will often recommend placing the implant (the screw) in one calendar year and the abutment and crown (the tooth) the following calendar year to maximize your insurance benefits and give you more coverage.
In addition to insurance coverage sometimes lacking, may seem costly because to properly place and restore them requires extensive time and training. Dr. Finney attended a one year training program following dental school that spent hundreds of hours on dental implant training and continues to take many hours of implant continuing education every year to keep her knowledge up to date on the best techniques and technologies. On top of additional training, extensive behind the scenes time is spent planning each implant case using x-rays, models, and 3-D technology to properly plan for your implant, as each case is unique. This time often includes collaboration with the dental lab to make sure you will receive an optimal result with your implant restoration.
Lastly, the titanium implants along with the equipment required for a doctor to place and restore implants are also very expensive which leads to a higher cost for the consumer. We want to ensure highly successful outcomes for our patients so we use high quality branded implants that have time-proven research to back their success.
If you are interested in dental implants and would like to get more information about what to expect for replacing your missing tooth give us a call for an individualized consultation!
While getting a dental implant is a surgical procedure, the good news is the vast majority of patients have only minimal discomfort after it is placed. During your implant placement the only thing you should feel is a little bit of pressure as we create the hole for your implant. Once the implant is in place we suture the area and place gauze over it to make sure the incision does not bleed.
Post-operatively we typically recommend 600mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours. Patients with more discomfort can alternate the ibuprofen with 500mg of tylenol every 3 hours. If for some reason you are unable to take ibuprofen or tylenol we will discuss what other options are available for pain management. The good news is that most patients feel back to their normal selves in about 2 days!
This is very dependent upon your specific dental plan. If you are interested in replacing a tooth with a dental implant we are always happy to submit your information and necessary treatment to your insurance company for an estimate to find out your coverage. Some plans do cover them and some don’t but we will always advise you of what is best for YOU regardless.
Losing a tooth isn’t just a problem that affects the appearance of your smile. When a tooth is lost, a whole series of events begins to occur. Chewing becomes difficult on the affected side, which puts additional pressure on other teeth. Over time, surrounding teeth can actually tilt and move into the open space.
Fortunately, today we have many options for replacing a missing tooth. Depending on the location of the missing tooth, we may recommend a dental implant, a bridge, or a partial denture.
- Dental implants are a more permanent tooth replacement and are quickly gaining popularity among dentists and patients alike
- A fixed bridge is usually secured to neighboring teeth with crowns, and an artificial tooth (pontic) is used to fill the space
- Dentures have been an effective tooth replacement option for decades. Today we can create beautiful full or partial dentures that look and feel as much like natural teeth as possible
Of course, everyone has different needs, and all of these options have their benefits and drawbacks depending on your situation. If you would like more information, please call our Elma dental office and we’ll be happy to arrange a convenient consultation to go over the specifics of your case.
Titanium is durable, light, and biocompatible.
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