Dental Implants – Portage, IN
A Modern, Lasting Solution to Tooth Loss
Traditional tooth replacement options only bother with rebuilding the structure that was visible above the gum tissue. While this method is sufficient for restoring cosmetic value and biting strength, it still leaves half of the original tooth missing. Without a root in place, the patient’s jawbone is no longer stimulated and can start to deteriorate over time. Thankfully, dental implants are a state-of-the-art method for replacing missing teeth comprehensively, starting from the root and building up. If you would like to learn more about this revolutionary service or schedule a dental implant consultation here in Portage, contact Advanced Dental Concepts today! Our dentists and team would love to hear from you.
Why Choose Advanced Dental Concepts for Dental Implants?
- Dental Implants Placed In-Office
- Team That Puts Customer Service First
- Honest and Compassionate Dentists
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants have three main parts: the implant post, the abutment, and the prosthesis. The implant post is shaped like a screw and is meant to be surgically inserted into the jaw to act as an artificial tooth root. The abutment is a metal connector piece that is attached to the implant post once it has formed a lasting bond with the jaw. The purpose of the abutment is to anchor the final prosthesis to the post; said prosthesis could be a dental crown, a dental bridge, or a denture depending on the patient’s tooth loss situation.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Even if you’ve heard of dental implants before, you may still be unsure how the process works overall. Considered to be a more complex tooth replacement procedure, there are multiple steps involved when it comes to rebuilding your smile with implant posts. Below is a closer look at what you can expect during each stage.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
During your first visit, we’ll need to make sure that your oral health is in good condition and that you have sufficient bone tissue to receive dental implants. To do this, we’ll complete a series of exams and capture X-rays to better understand your jawbone volume and structure. We’ll also make sure you have healthy gum tissue as it’s essential for the healing phase of your dental implant treatment. Once we have a better understanding of your oral health, the number of teeth that are missing, which teeth need to be replaced, and the best treatment option moving forward, we’ll schedule your surgery for a later date.
Dental Implant Surgery
Dental implants do require oral surgery in order to be placed. Prior to surgery, you’ll be given localized anesthetic to ensure you feel zero sensations during the actual treatment. To place the implants, a small hole is created inside the jawbone, allowing space for an implant to be placed. From there, we’ll suture the gum tissue closed so that it can begin to heal. The length of your surgery will vary depending on how many teeth need to be placed. Keep in mind that before surgery even begins, we’ll have a clear treatment plan laid out, ensuring a highly predictable process.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
After the implant is placed, it’s going to need time to become fused with your existing bone and soft tissue. This phenomenon, known as osseointegration, is an essential phase of the healing process after an implant is attached. Over the next four to six months, you’ll visit our office for follow-up appointments so we can examine the implant further. When the implant is fully healed, we’ll be able to attach an abutment to it in preparation for the prosthesis. This will involve a second, smaller surgery.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
Following the healing of the gum tissue around the implant, which takes an additional two weeks on average, you’ll come back to our office to have final prosthesis attached. This portion works to fill the gap in your smile, keep your bite even, and prevent neighboring teeth from moving out of place. We always utilize ceramic materials to design your prosthesis, ensuring the most natural-looking tooth replacement possible.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- Long-Term Results: You can expect your dental implant to last 30 years or longer when properly taken care of. This makes it a fantastic investment compared to dental bridges.
- Reliability: Since your implants are integrated with your jaw, they should never shift out of place.
- Supreme Functionality: Biting, chewing, and speaking couldn’t be easier with dental implants!
- Natural Looking and Feeling: It’s extremely difficult to recognize the difference between your replacement teeth and your natural teeth. Since it’s surgically placed, it will even feel like a natural tooth.
- Easy to Maintain: Brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits are no different when you have a dental implant.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
If you’ve lost any number of teeth and have good oral health overall, dental implants could be an excellent option for rebuilding your smile. Note that the number of implant posts used and the type of prosthesis they support can vary based on the number of teeth missing. Below is a closer look at some of the tooth loss situations that dental implants can help with.
Missing One Tooth
One dental implant is all that’s needed to replace a single tooth. Once the implant post has integrated with the jawbone, it can support a dental crown that has been customized to blend in with the rest of your smile.
Missing Multiple Teeth
If you’ve lost multiple consecutive teeth, it’s often possible to fill in the gap where they used to be with a dental bridge supported by two dental implants. One of the advantages that an implant bridge has over a traditional bridge is that it doesn’t require us to make any alterations to the teeth you still have.
Missing All Teeth
Even if all of your teeth are missing, dental implants can still help you enjoy a complete smile again. By attaching a full denture to a number of implant posts placed in specific areas the jaw, it’s possible to replace an entire arch of teeth at once.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Are you curious about the cost of your dental implants? The best way to receive a precise estimate is to contact our office for a consultation. However, we want our patients to have easy access to all the information they need, which is why we’ve taken note of some of the most significant variables that influence the total price of their treatments. Read on to learn more about the cost of dental implants in Portage and why they’re worth the investment.
Types of Dental Implants
We offer different types of dental implants depending on the number of teeth you’re missing. Typically, the more missing teeth you have, the higher your treatment cost will be. You can generally expect to pay more for a denture supported by multiple dental implants than a dental crown anchored to a single implant post.
What are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?
After your initial consultation, your surgery will be scheduled, where small holes are created for the placement of your implants. You will be numb, and there is the option of sedation, so you will be comfortable and relaxed throughout the process. Once placed, the implants require a healing period called osseointegration that takes at least 3 to 4 months. After that, impressions and images are taken, which are used to create your final prosthesis.
We’ll make sure that you have an accurate idea of what the cost of each stage of the dental implant process will look like so that you can plan accordingly.
Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?
There are several reasons why dental implants can be a worthwhile investment. They are the only replacement that restores your teeth from the roots up, allowing your new smile to look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth. Plus, dental implants stimulate the jawbone to prevent it from deteriorating after tooth loss. This keeps your facial appearance full, but it also protects you from losing additional teeth. Most importantly, dental implants give you the confidence to smile!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Typically, dental insurance does not cover dental implants; however, your plan may help out with the cost of certain aspects of the process. For example, treatment of preexisting gum disease, your initial consultation, and part of your prosthesis will usually be covered. At Advanced Dental Concepts, we help maximize our patients’ insurance benefits to provide them with quality dentistry that is also affordable.
Dental Implants FAQs
How Long Does the Dental Implant Process Take?
From beginning to end, the dental implants process may take several months to a year or longer. That is because the treatment takes place across several different procedures, and your mouth and body will need time to recover after each phase. For example, after your implants are placed, it may take a few months for them to properly fuse with the surrounding bone tissue.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
With proper care, dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime. The prostheses on top of them can also last for many years — perhaps a decade or longer. To help your dental implants and the artificial teeth they support thrive for as long as possible, you must stick to a good oral hygiene routine, visit your dentist in Portage for regular checkups, and take care to avoid situations that might damage your new teeth.
Do Dental Implants Ever Fail?
Dental implants have success rate of over 95 percent. However, in some cases, complications arise that lead to implant failure. Rarely, an infection of the tissue around an implant can compromise its base of support. In other cases, the implant never bonds properly with the surrounding bone. You can reduce your chances of implant failure by taking care of your implants and avoiding the use of any tobacco products.
What Help Can I Get to Afford Dental Implants?
Dental insurance is sometimes willing to cover a portion of the cost of implants. If it does not cover the implants themselves, it might cover the prosthesis or other portions of the treatment. Alternatively, most patients qualify for low-interest financing through CareCredit. Our practice even offers a FREE dental implant consultation and an in-house savings plan for patients without insurance.
Dental implants tend to have a higher upfront cost than other tooth replacement options. However, they are worth it because of the remarkable longevity and stability that they offer.
Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Ideal candidates for dental implants:
- Have one or more missing teeth
- Have adequate bone volume and bone height to support dental implants
- Do not smoke
- Are free of gum disease
- Are in fair overall health
- Have excellent oral hygiene habits
Even if you do not currently qualify for dental implants, you may qualify in the future after some preparatory dental treatment. For example, you may need a bone graft so your jaw can support the implants. During your consultation, we will frankly tell you whether you are currently a candidate and what you can expect throughout your tooth replacement journey.