Dental Implants
Lifelong Tooth Replacement with Dental Implants
Traditional tooth replacement options only restore the portions of teeth that are visible when patients smile, but these restorations do not fully renew oral health as they don’t replace the supportive underlying root structures. At Anderson Dental, we offer implant placement and restoration in our comfortable Anthem dental practice. Contact us to find out more or schedule a dental implant consultation.
Why Choose Anderson Dental for Dental Implants?
- Places and Restores Dental Implants Entirely In-House
- Modern and Relaxing Dental Office Equipped with Advanced Tech
- Multiple Financing Solutions Available for Easier Budgeting
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small posts that resemble a screw. They are inserted into the gum line where they mimic the natural function of the lost tooth roots. Once implants are surgically placed, they fuse with the gums and jawbone, recreating the lost tooth roots. Abutments are attached to the implant post in order to affix the replacement tooth or teeth. When in place, your replacement teeth will look and feel just like your healthy, natural smile. You can also expect many long-term oral health benefits that you won’t find with other tooth replacement options, making them a highly recommended and sought-after procedure.
The Dental Implant Process
- Consultation – During a consultation, Dr. Anderson will look at every aspect of your oral and overall health to make sure implants are right for you.
- Preliminary procedures – In some cases, separate treatment is needed beforehand (e.g. gum disease therapy, a bone graft, or extractions).
- Implant placement – For convenience and continuity of care, Dr. Anderson will perform your implant surgery right here in our office. It usually takes 1-2 hours per implant, during which she’ll make your comfort a top priority from start to finish.
- Osseointegration – Implants generally take 3-6 months to osseointegrate, or fuse, with the surrounding jawbone. Exceptions to this are All-On-4 or Teeth-In-a-Day cases, in which implants are placed and restored on the same day.
Restoration – The last step is having your implant restored with either a single dental crown, bridge, or a denture.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants are ideal for almost every age and nearly all levels of tooth loss. Whether you’ve been missing teeth for years or you recently had one extracted, chances are dental implants can completely change your life!
Missing One Tooth
Once the dental implant has fused with the supportive tissues, we are able to attach tooth replacement prosthetics. An individual missing tooth is replaced with a single implant connected to a dental crown.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Two consecutive teeth are typically replaced with two connected crowns affixed to one implant. Patients missing three to four consecutive missing teeth will need a fixed bridge supported at either end by a dental implant post. Because of this, there’s no need to modify existing enamel of neighboring teeth just to receive a replacement.
Missing All Teeth
Patients with more extensive tooth loss need an implant denture. Like their traditional counterparts, dentures replace numerous teeth along a single arch or a full row of teeth. We use the minimum number of implant posts that will still effectively support teeth. Usually, dentures can be supported by four to eight strategically positioned dental implant posts. We offer both fixed and removable full dentures depending on patient preference.
In the past, patients with significant tooth loss who lacked jawbone density needed to undergo time-consuming bone grafting procedures prior to receiving tooth replacement via dental implants. Additionally, patients with significant tooth loss often needed to wait weeks or months before receiving a prosthetic. At Anderson Dental, we offer a solution by performing the All-on-4 procedure. This implant tooth replacement allows our team to place fewer implant posts and offer patients a dental prosthetic on the same day implants are placed. Using just four dental implants, this treatment option requires less jawbone density to provide the same amount of support.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Dental implants provide countless benefits that other options don’t, including superior strength and stability, more self-confidence, and longevity - just to name a few. However, we understand that many additional factors go into your decision to get dental implants. For many patients, cost is one of the biggest considerations. Below, you’ll get an idea of what determines the final figure, but if you’d like an estimate that’s tailored just for you, contact us to schedule a consultation!
Types of Dental Implants
There are two main types of dental implants: endosteal and subperiosteal. Once Dr. Anderson has evaluated your needs, she’ll make a recommendation for which one is right for you. Endosteal implants are the most common. These titanium posts are surgically placed in the jaw and require an adequate amount of healthy jawbone for support.
Subperiosteal implants rest on top of the bone, underneath the gum tissue. These can be used for patients who lost their teeth long ago and have lost bone mass in their jaws as a result.
Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?
Yes! Dental implants are the only replacement option that can last several decades or a lifetime with basic maintenance. Additionally, you won’t have the cost of periodic adjustments, relines, or replacements like you would with dentures or bridges.
Furthermore, you’ll get dramatically improved function from implants that allows you to eat a wider variety of foods, smile and laugh with confidence, and even maintain your jawbone and facial structure over time.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
One of the biggest drawbacks of dental insurance is that it usually covers the lowest-cost treatment, regardless of what’s best for patients. However, it’s still a good idea to check your plan, as they vary quite a bit. If you have questions, you can always contact us. We’re happy to clarify what your plan covers and what it doesn’t.
Also, keep in mind that we offer other ways to make dental implants in Anthem more affordable, including an in-house savings plan and financing options to break up the cost into monthly payments. Don’t hesitate to get in touch for more information!
Dental Implant Salvage
Here at Anderson Dental, our priority is to make sure your dental implant process is a success. While the failure rate for the procedure is very low, you might still end up losing the implant post if the underlying bone becomes injured or infected. If you notice the signs of implant failure (radiating pain around the post, red or inflamed gums, difficulty chewing, and so on), call us right away so that we can take an X-ray of your mouth and figure out the problem. Ideally, once we’ve treated the problem, you should be able to safely have implant placement performed again.