After losing any number of permanent teeth, you’ll likely find that chewing certain foods and pronouncing words clearly have become much more difficult tasks. Eventually, you may notice that the rest of your teeth have started to shift out of place, and your jawbone will start to break down from the lack of stimulation. Replacing your teeth as soon as possible is essential for your oral health – and dental implants are often the best way to do just that. Call Magnolia Shores Family Dental today to set up a consultation to discuss replacing missing teeth with dental implants in Summerfield, NC with Dr. Parry.
Dental implants are small metal posts that can support artificial teeth. While other forms of tooth replacement rest on the gums or on natural teeth, implants are inserted directly into the jawbone itself; this gives them the unique ability to act as artificial roots that stimulate the bone and prevent it from shrinking. Most dental implants are made from titanium, which is a highly biocompatible metal that can join with the bone through the natural process of osseointegration.
While not everyone is a candidate for dental implants, some steps can be taken to make the procedure more viable. For example, if your jaw currently lacks the density to support implant posts, we might recommend having a bone graft performed. Also, periodontal therapy and other treatments might be necessary to ensure that your mouth is completely free of infection before the surgery. It’s important to know that the implant process will be different depending on how many teeth you’ve lost.
Even if a missing tooth isn’t visible when you smile, it can still throw off the balance of your bite and cause other health difficulties. The gap can be filled with a single implant post that is eventually topped with a porcelain crown after osseointegration is complete.
When three or more teeth in a row are gone, an implant-retained bridge can be used. Traditional bridges rest on two abutment teeth, which involves the removal of enamel. Such alterations can be avoided if the bridge is placed on a pair of dental implants instead.
Even guests who have lost an entire arch of teeth can still get implants. A full denture can be anchored to four to eight implant posts so that it won’t slip at inconvenient times. When a denture is permanently attached to implants, it can be brushed and flossed just like natural teeth.
The All-on-4 procedure is an advanced technique that lets guests who have suffered from extensive tooth loss get new teeth much faster. Four dental implant posts are strategically inserted into the jaw at specific angles so that they have the strength and stability to support a temporary denture right away.
Dental implant placement involves a surgical stage and a restoration stage. For the surgical stage, we will refer you to a skilled oral surgeon who is located right next door to our dental office; with their expertise, you can rest assured that every precaution will be taken to ensure the procedure’s success. In a few months, after the implant has fully integrated with your jaw, you can return to our dental office so Dr. Parry can place a crown, bridge, or denture.
When it comes to dental implant treatment (and tooth replacement in general), you truly get what you pay for. Dental implants are considered a long-term investment not just for your smile, but your oral and overall health as well as your quality of life. Since there are so many factors that can influence the final price tag of your care, you’ll need to speak with a dentist first and complete an exam. With that said, you can usually expect to pay for the following.
You need to have a consultation before an estimate of the cost of dental implants can be made. That is because the price is going to vary from guest to guest based on:
We work with an experienced oral surgeon that is right next door, so completing every phase of your implant treatment is just a short walk from our office! Keep in mind that the fees you pay the oral surgeon will be separate from fees you pay for other steps of your care at our office.
The more implants you need to place, the higher you can expect your costs to be. This is because more materials, including titanium, are needed from the manufacturer. Where the implants are ordered from can also influence the final price tag. More implants also means more abutments, which are used to connect the restoration to the implant. The oral surgeon is happy to explain why they use the implants they do and how they ensure a tooth replacement that lasts longer and works better as a result.
If you require a restoration that is more complex, such as an implant bridge or denture, the cost of treatment goes up because more time and dedication is needed to craft a properly fitting tooth replacement. Not only are the materials designed to look incredibly natural, but they also keep the bite even, preventing undue stress son the jaw joints.
Make sure to review your insurance benefits; not every plan will pay for the implants themselves, but related procedures could still be covered. For example, it’s a common exception for insurances to include coverage for preparatory treatments like bone grafts or periodontal therapy. The restorations may also be covered at a specific percentage depending on your plan. Our office will gladly go over your benefits and confirm that you are maximizing them to the fullest.
Even if you don’t have dental insurance, there are other options available to you that make dental implants a more affordable and accessible treatment. For example, we partner with multiple third-party financiers that allow you to make monthly payments on dental services with little to no interest attached. This includes CareCredit, Alphaeon, and Proceed Finance.
At Magnolia Shores Family Dental, we want you to be able to start living your life to the fullest as quickly as possible. If you have questions or concerns about dental implants that are making you hesitant about treatment, Dr. Parry is happy to answer them to help you feel more confident about your future tooth replacement. Below, you can find some of the most common questions we’ve heard, but feel free to call us directly if yours is not listed.
Ahead of surgery, our partnered implant dentist administers a local anesthetic to your mouth. Keep in mind that the jawbone does not have any nerve endings anyway, and while sedation may be recommended, it’s actually not needed in most cases. Many patients note it is much more comfortable than initially expected, and this is thanks to the expertise of the implant dentist we partner with and their team. With that said, you can expect to feel sore for the next few days after surgery, but this can be mitigated with painkillers and cold compresses. If your discomfort does not improve, get in touch with our office.
The most common signs that a dental implant is failing include significant discomfort around the implant itself. You may also notice inflamed gum tissue, swollen gums, or the sensation of a loose implant. These indicate that either an infection is present or the implant did not properly integrate. Call our practice as soon as possible if these symptoms appear!
It really depends on how complex your dental implant treatment is and how many teeth you intend to replace. For example, a single implant can take anywhere between one to two hours to place, while more implants can increase the length of your procedure. Keep in mind our implant dentist takes the time to ensure anesthesia is fully administered and a sterile, surgical atmosphere is established.
Those who have smoked in the past can technically receive dental implants, but we do not recommend smoking for several weeks ahead of treatment as well as quitting tobacco completely after you’ve received them. This is because tobacco causes dry mouth, slows down the healing process, and can interfere with the implants ability to fuse with the jawbone. Smoking can also cause the blood clot that forms over the implant site to dislodge, a painful condition known as dry socket. We recommend quitting all tobacco for at least 2 to 4 weeks before your surgery. To ensure the best longevity of your implants, you should quit smoking permanently.
Once the implants are placed and fully integrated, they should feel almost exactly your natural teeth. If you notice sensations around the implants, it’s actually coming from the gums that surrounds them, not the prosthetic roots themselves.
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