Dental Implants
Rebuild Missing Teeth from the Roots Up
Even the loss of one tooth can have severe repercussions on your wellbeing and your quality of life over time. Here in Montgomery County, our team wants to help you regain the oral function and beauty you need to thrive in your everyday life as soon as possible, and there’s no better solution available today than dental implants. Because of their state-of-the-art construction, implants are able to rebuild missing teeth from the roots up and create rejuvenating results in ways that can’t be accomplished with more traditional reconstructive options. Better yet, our doctors and specialists have the comprehensive skills needed to perform the entire procedure right here in our convenient and comfortable facility. To schedule your dental implant consultation, give Dental Innovations a call today!
Why Choose Dental Innovations For Dental Implants?
- Replace Any Number of Missing Teeth for a Lifetime
- Entire Dental Implant Treatment Conveniently Performed In-Office
- Insurance Welcome & Flexible Financing Through CareCredit Available
What Are Dental Implants?
Natural teeth are comprised of two distinct parts. When you show off your smile, the part you can see is called the crown. Underneath it, hidden in the gums, is the second part: the roots. The roots are what hold your teeth in place. Traditional tooth replacement options like dentures and dental bridges only replace the crowns of missing teeth. While efficient, they aren’t nearly as comfortable or functional as home-grown pearly whites. Thankfully, we can now rebuild the entire structure of missing teeth thanks to dental implants!
A dental implant is a small titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone, where it fuses with the surrounding bone tissue. This replaces the roots of a missing tooth and provides your new smile with lifelike stability and strength. On top of a dental implant is a small connector piece called an abutment, which secures the final restoration above the gumline to the post. Depending on how many teeth you’re missing, dental implants can be used to support a crown, bridge, or denture for seamless results. In the end, rebuilding teeth from the roots up gives you a smile that looks, feels, and functions just like natural!
The Dental Implant Process
Once it’s been determined that you’re a good candidate for dental implants, the procedure will begin with the surgical placement of your new implant(s) into the jaw by our specialists right here in-office. Once placed, the implant(s) will need time to form a bond with your natural bone and tissue, creating a foundation for replacement teeth. This process can typically take several months.
Finally, our team will design and attach custom restorations over your implants completing your improved smile. Depending on the extent of your tooth loss and your personal preferences, our recommendation may involve metal-free dental crowns, a dental bridge, or a partial or full denture.
Dental implants may involve a significant commitment on the patient’s part, but the results are seamless, functional, and truly built to last. In fact, with the right level of at-home oral hygiene and professional maintenance, implants can thrive for the rest of the patient’s life.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Since a dental implant replaces the root and the crown of a missing tooth, it provides many benefits that are not possible with conventional treatments, including:
- High success rate for a long-term solution.
- Stimulates your jaw to encourage new bone growth.
- Your jawbone fuses to the post to restore as much as 70% of your biting force.
- Closely looks and feels natural.
- Improves your oral health by stopping dental drift.
- Reduces the risk of additional tooth loss.
- Protects your facial structures.
- Does not alter healthy teeth.
- Easy maintenance and care.
- Cost-effective because they never need to be replaced.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are an incredibly versatile tooth loss solution that practically anyone with missing teeth can benefit from! While not all patients are good candidates at first, oftentimes preliminary procedures such as bone grafting or gum disease therapy can help previously unqualified patients become ready for dental implants. Once your dental implant dentist in Montgomeryville ensures that dental implants are a good choice for you, we’ll begin designing your personal treatment plan. Whether you’re missing one tooth or an entire arch, dental implants can help!
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
When meeting with our doctors and specialists for your initial consultation, there will be three factors they consider when determining if you can immediately move forward with dental implant surgery or if you require preliminary treatments. These include:
- The status of your overall health and if you are in good shape to undergo minor oral surgery.
- The status of your oral health and if you have any signs of tooth decay or gum disease. If so, we may need to perform a tooth extraction or provide periodontal therapy.
- The status of your jawbone and if you have enough to adequately support your implants and customized restoration.
Even if you don’t think you’re eligible for dental implants in Montgomeryville, the truth is that only someone with the training and experience that our doctors have can decide. After examining your oral cavity using state-of-the-art equipment and technology, we will recommend the appropriate course of action and get you well on your way to achieving a healthy, beautiful, complete smile with dental implants.
Part of your consultation will be considering how many teeth you are missing. Fortunately, dental implants are capable of treating all types of tooth loss, such as:
Missing One Tooth
In the case of one missing tooth, a single implant and crown can replace it. Even the loss of one tooth can negatively impact your ability to eat, speak, and smile with ease. Fortunately, because dental implants are solo titanium posts that are placed into a designated area of the bone, they don’t require the use of healthy teeth to remain in place. Instead of filling down the healthy neighboring teeth to support a dental bridge, a single tooth dental implant preserves healthy tooth structure and supports the adjacent teeth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Dental implants can easily be paired with traditional dental bridges to replace three to four teeth at a time. Just two implants on either side of the restoration are needed to hold a bridge, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice valuable tooth structure just to fill the gap in your smile. Even if your missing teeth are not consecutive along an arch, we can create an implant partial that works just like a traditional prosthetic except it is held into place by dental implants, not metal clasps that attach to nearby teeth.
Missing All Teeth
Patients with dentures tend to experience discomfort and even embarrassment from shifting and slipping prostheses. However, we can combine your denture with dental implants to provide a firm and secure smile. Plus, it will look more natural than ever, seamlessly blending into your mouth. The best part is that we won’t need a dental implant for each tooth, but we can use multiple (between 4 and 8) to stabilize your denture.
Alternatively, All-On-4 differs from traditional implant dentures because only 4 implant posts are needed. They are placed at an angle into the thickest parts of your jaw. This can eliminate the need for bone grafting. You are also fitted with a temporary denture the same day as your placement surgery, so you won’t need to go without your teeth while you heal. Although fewer posts are used, rest assured, you’ll enjoy the same stability and results as the standard method.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
If your insurance provider will not cover the cost of your implants, you can opt to enroll in flexible financing through CareCredit, which is a third-party financier that offers low- and no-interest payment plans. If you are eligible, you will be able to establish a line of credit and stay well within your budget while working toward a new and improved smile.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Determining the price of your treatment requires a thorough examination from one of our dentists. The cost of dental implants in Montgomeryville can widely vary depending on several different factors. For example, the implant post, abutment, and restoration can all vary in price depending on material and complexity. A single implant will cost less than placing two or more; furthermore, not all patients can receive dental implants until they complete preparatory treatments first.
Regardless of what your dental implants will cost, it’s important to note that they are considered a long-term investment. While they can be expensive upfront, they are still considered the most cost-effective tooth replacement option thanks to their durability and longevity.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
When you first meet with your implant dentist in Montgomeryville, they’ll examine your smile to determine whether you require any preliminary procedures before your mouth is ready to receive dental implants. Although these treatments – bone grafting, periodontal therapy, tooth extractions, to name a few – give your new teeth the foundation they’ll need to last, they do add to your overall treatment costs.
The dental implant placement surgery will also come with its own cost. On the bright side, our team can complete this procedure in-house, saving you from having to pay a separate fee to an outside practice.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
The cost of your treatment is largely based on the type of restoration you need, which, in turn, is determined by the number of implants you’ll need. Naturally, the least expensive option is a single tooth dental implant that replaces only one missing tooth. Just slightly more expensive is an implant bridge that requires at least two dental implants to be surgically put into place. However, replacing an entire arch of missing teeth with an implant denture is much more cost-effective than replacing each tooth individually.
Your implants and abutments, as well as your restorations, can be made from various materials that each have different costs. Rest assured that we’ll thoroughly explain our reasons for choosing one material over another and how your final price will be affected.
How Dental Implants Can Save You Money
Although they do require a substantial investment on your part, you will find dental implants in Montgomeryville to be extremely cost-effective in the long run because of their longevity, durable materials, functionality, and ability to improve your oral health. Unlike dentures or fixed bridges, dental implants can last for 30+ years with the right aftercare. As a result, you’ll have lower dental costs over the years because you won’t need frequent adjustments, repairs, or replacements. Additionally, dental implants don’t require you to purchase special cleaning products or adhesives – just regular toothpaste and a toothbrush should be enough!
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
It is important that you check with your dental insurance company to find out if they will cover any or all of your dental implant treatment. Unfortunately, many insurers do not, but what you may find is that they will agree to cover the restoration, initial consultation, or even any pre-implant dental work you might need (i.e., periodontal therapy, tooth extraction, bone grafting).
Making Dental Implants Affordable
If your insurance provider will not cover the cost of your implants, you can opt to enroll in flexible financing through CareCredit, which is a third-party financier that offers low- and no-interest payment plans. If you are eligible, you will be able to establish a line of credit and stay well within your budget while working toward a new and improved smile.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
After investing so much time and energy into getting dental implants in Montgomeryville, you’ll want to do everything you can to make sure you get the most out of your treatment. The key to a long-lasting new smile is proper routine care, which our team here at Dental Innovations can help you maintain. Below, we’ve listed a few priorities when it comes to preventing infections and damage from occurring with your dental implants. We’ll also answer any questions you may have at your initial consultation.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Just like with your natural teeth, dental implants require regular brushing and flossing to keep away harmful oral bacteria that can result in problems like gum disease. By brushing twice each day for at least two minutes, flossing daily, and rinsing your mouth with an antimicrobial mouthwash, you’ll be able to minimize plaque and tartar accumulation to reduce your risk of implant failure.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Oral bacteria’s favorite foods are those that are high in carbohydrates and sugars. By maintaining a well-balanced diet and substituting fresh fruits and vegetables for processed foods every now and then, you can minimize the accumulation of bacteria.
Break Bad Oral Habits
Bad oral habits like nail-biting and using your teeth to open packages or bottles can not only spread bacteria to your mouth, but they can also increase your risk of damaging one of your restorations. Try to break these habits to avoid ending up with an unexpected visit to your implant dentist in Montgomeryville. Also, smoking and using tobacco products have been shown to increase the risk of implant failure, so take time to discuss goals for quitting with your primary care physician so you can enjoy your smile for longer.
Protect Your New Teeth
If you play sports or grind your teeth when you sleep, you’ll want to take proper protective measures to make sure you don’t loosen a dental implant or damage a restoration. By investing in a custom-crafted nightguard or athletic mouthguard, you can play and sleep with complete confidence that your teeth won’t be damaged after the match or whenever you wake up.
Schedule Regular Checkups & Cleanings
IOne of the most important tips for dental implant care in Montgomeryville is to continue visiting our office every six months for your checkups and cleanings. During these visits, our team can inspect your implants and gums and make sure they’re stable and infection-free. If we do spot anything, we’ll be able to quickly address the problem before it gets any worse.
Dental Implant FAQs
If you are missing teeth, dental implants are an excellent option for replacing them. But before you commit to the procedure, you probably have some questions that need answers so you can be 100% confident about the future of your smile. Here are some of the most common questions that the Dental Innovations team is asked about dental implants in Montgomeryville. If you don’t see your question listed below, feel free to give us a call. We’d be happy to provide you with the information you’re looking for!
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental Implants can last upwards of 30 years when cared for properly. Their lifespan depends on the patient’s health and lifestyle choices. It is important to thoroughly brush, floss, and rinse with a mouthwash every single day. You should also be attending dental cleanings and checkups on a regular basis. Be careful when it comes to eating foods that are particularly hard or sticky, and don’t use your implants as tools to open up packaging. When you look after your dental implants with care, they can last several times longer than other tooth replacement options, like bridges and dentures.
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
Before the start of your procedure, your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic. You will most likely be sedated when you have your implants placed, which will lower your body’s ability to register pain. The surgery shouldn’t be painful, but your mouth may be sore for a few days afterwards. Take prescribed or over-the-counter pain relievers that your dentist recommends as directed in order to reduce discomfort. Using a cold compress may also be able to help. If the pain is worsening instead of improving after two to three days, give your dentist a call.
Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?
It is possible to get dental implants if you smoke, but smokers have a higher rate of dental implant failure. This is because using tobacco products causes dry mouth, slows down healing, and can interfere with the implant’s ability to fuse with the jawbone. Smoking can also cause dry socket to occur. If you smoke, you should quit at least two weeks before the procedure and wait at least two or three months to start up again. Of course, this is a great time to work to discontinue the habit for good.
Do I Need a Bone Graft Before Getting Dental Implants?
A bone graft involves transplanting a piece of bone tissue (which can be synthetic or from an animal, human donor, or another part of your body) to the jawbone in order to strengthen it. This way, it will be strong enough to support a dental implant. The jawbone can atrophy after teeth have been lost because the tooth’s root no longer stimulates it through biting and chewing. Your dentist will need to take detailed scans of your jaw to determine whether or not you’ll require a bone graft before your procedure.