Dental Implants – Derby, KS

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

For the first step of treatment, you’ll have a consultation with Dr. Clark . This visit lets her learn your smile goals, dental history, and general background. Based on those factors, she’ll then confirm whether you qualify for implants and tailor her efforts to suit your needs.

 

Even if you aren’t a good implant candidate at first, our office can still help you. We’ll happily work with you on any preliminary dental work, ranging from gum disease therapy to tooth extractions. Your mouth will then have the support it needs to handle implants.

 

Should Dr. Clark approve treatment, this initial consult will also cover the implant process details. Our whole team will guide you on the procedure’s timeline, cost, and similar matters.

 

Dental Implant Surgery

To be clear, our office doesn’t place implants in-house. We’ll refer you to a local specialist for the actual surgery. By doing so, you can trust you’ll receive the best results possible. The treating surgeon will make your smile full and beautiful!

 

When it comes to the implant surgery, you’ll undergo:

 

• Anesthesia – Before the treatment, the specialist will numb your mouth with a local anesthetic. This drug will keep you from feeling pain during the surgery. At most, you’ll only sense a slight pressure as the procedure continues.
• A Minor Incision – Once the relevant area is numbed, the specialist will make a minor incision in your gums. This cut creates the needed space for your future implant(s).
• Implant Placement – Your implant will be placed after the incision, all while the specialist uses advanced methods and tools.
• Gum Closure – Following placement, the incision in your gums will be closed. The specialist and their team will then put a cap over your implant post.

 

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

As you recover from the surgery, your implant(s) will gradually fuse with your jawbone. This process – also known as osseointegration –  typically takes about 4-6 months. When finished, it’ll make your implant a secure and stable part of your mouth.

 

A bit after the implant fusion, you’ll receive another surgery that places your abutment. The latter is a metal connector that holds an implant’s tooth-like portion. While you adjust to this new part, the final restoration will be crafted from prior dental impressions.

 

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

For the last step of your treatment, our team will place the final restoration in your mouth. Depending on how many teeth were lost, this prosthetic might be a crown, bridge, or denture.

 

Typically, fitting the final restoration doesn’t take long. All it takes is an application of special cement. Once that’s done, you’ll be ready to enjoy your newly restored smile!

Day-to-Day Benefits

When your replacement teeth are firmly grounded in the jawbone because of dental implants, you don’t have to worry about them slipping out of position. Eating and talking, even in front of other people, become easier and more comfortable as a result. In addition, taking care of your dental implants requires the same effort as that for real teeth, much less than with traditional dentures. Your daily maintenance routine should be, therefore, simpler to stick to. Plus, dental implants look completely natural, boosting your confidence!

Health Benefits

The health benefits of dental implants can be broken down into two categories: those for oral health and those for your overall health. Unlike bridges, dental implants do not involve reducing or depending on surrounding teeth for stability. As a result, you can hold onto your healthy tooth structure for as long as possible. In addition, the implant post acts like a tooth root, stimulating the jawbone and keeping it healthy and robust.

Traditional dentures and bridges do allow you to eat food, but you often must cut it into tiny pieces, and you may struggle to eat raw vegetables and fruit. When you have a stronger bite, however, you have the greater ability to choose a more nutritious diet, which can help you enjoy a higher quality of life.

Long-Term Benefits

Did you know that traditional dentures usually need to be relined and adjusted every couple of years and replaced about every 5 to 7 years? Bridges typically require replacement about every 10 years or so. Compare that to dental implants, which can go multiple decades and still be in excellent working condition.

In addition to lasting significantly longer than traditional tooth replacements, dental implants come with advantages you can continue to enjoy for many years. For instance, because implant posts stimulate new jawbone growth, your face should retain its more youthful shape. You shouldn’t develop a sunken look and weak bite that are typical in those with normal prosthetic teeth.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Before you can receive dental implants, our team must first decide if you need preliminary treatment(s). These might include bone grafting, a sinus lift, tooth extraction, ridge augmentation, or gum disease treatment just to name a few. If these are required to ensure a healthier environment for your dental implants, you can expect the cost to be added to your total.

Once you are cleared for dental implant surgery, you can expect this to be added as well. Since we will refer you to a local implant specialist for the placement of your implants, you will likely receive a separate bill from them for the surgical procedure.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

The actual dental implant is made up of various parts, so this will also contribute to the total cost of treatment. Some factors include:

• Number of implants – The number of teeth you are missing will determine how many dental implants you need to have put into place. The more that you require, the higher the cost.
• Materials – Implants are commonly made from titanium or zirconia, each of which carries its own price tag.
• Required restoration – Single dental crown restorations are naturally much less expensive than implant dentures. Since dental implants are versatile and can support crowns, bridges, and dentures, the type of restoration you will receive is based on how many teeth are missing.
• Manufacturer – Since there are many different manufacturers that dentists and patients can choose from, you can expect that we will provide our recommendation as well as explain why cheaper isn’t always better.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

Although the initial price tag for dental implants does seem steep in the beginning, the reality is that over time, you will actually save money. How?

• You won’t need to purchase denture adhesive to help hold your teeth in place.
• You won’t require your teeth to be relined or replaced (as long as you take proper care of them).
• You’ll enjoy prosthetics that can last 30+ years or a possible lifetime.
• You will be able to maintain better overall health, as tooth loss can lead to more serious health conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

While certain dental insurance companies are coming around to the idea of dental implants being medically necessary, others have yet to jump on the bandwagon. Instead, they only offer financial support for the restoration, consultation, or preliminary care. However, just because the surgical placement of your implants may not be covered doesn’t mean all hope is lost. Our team will do our best to maximize any available benefits you have as well as file necessary claims on your behalf.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

If dental insurance isn’t alleviating the financial burden of dental implants, there is an alternative way you can pay. Through our Illuminate In-House Membership Plan, you can pay a flat fee and receive complimentary preventive care as well as valuable discounts on all other available services. This not only cuts down on the red tape that is often required with private dental insurance but also helps minimize the stress commonly associated with oral healthcare.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Proper oral health maintenance at home is your dental implants’ first line of defense against failure. While dental implants cannot develop cavities, it’s still crucial to practice excellent oral hygiene after receiving them. Gum disease is a leading cause of implant failure, but it can be easily prevented with a daily regimen of brushing, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

In addition to a robust oral hygiene routine, it’s also imperative that you regularly see us at our office for exams and cleanings. The American Dental Association recommends having a checkup every six months, and these visits allow us to keep an eye on your dental implant and address any problems while they are in their early stages.

Eat a Healthy Diet

While you can eat whatever you like with dental implants, it’s still important to maintain a nutritious diet while limiting your sugar intake. Excessive sugar consumption feeds the oral bacteria that cause implant-threatening oral infections. Remember to enjoy foods and beverages that are high in calcium and vitamin C to maintain the health of your gums and jawbones.

Break Bad Habits

Certain bad habits can lead to oral infections or damage to your dental implants. Smoking is terrible for your oral health and a leading cause of implant failure, so it’s best to quit this habit at least a few weeks before having your new teeth placed. Chewing on objects like ice or writing utensils and using your smile to untie knots or open packages or bottles are excellent ways to break, chip, or crack your dental implants and natural teeth alike. It’s important to kick these behaviors as soon as possible.

Protect Your Dental Implants

While dental implants are incredibly sturdy, they are not invincible. Always remember to wear an athletic mouthguard to keep your smile safe when you play sports or ride a bike. If you grind your teeth at night, get into the habit of wearing a nightguard to bed to prevent unnecessary wear and tear to your teeth and implants.

Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

It shouldn’t! Before the procedure begins, your mouth will be completely numbed with a local anesthetic to ensure you’re completely comfortable. Besides, your jawbone does not have many nerve endings, meaning it’s unlikely you’ll feel any pain. Although the surgery itself shouldn’t hurt, your mouth will feel sore for a few days afterward. The good news is you can manage your symptoms with over-the-counter pain medication and cold compresses.

What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?

There are two main reasons why dental implant failure occurs: peri-implantitis and failed osseointegration. Peri-implantitis is a type of gum disease that often develops from poor oral hygiene, potentially damaging the bone and gums supporting the implant. Some other common causes of implant failure include chronic teeth grinding, tobacco use, poor oral hygiene, and certain health conditions (i.e., diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, autoimmune disorders).

Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?

On average, patients only need to take one or two days off of work to get dental implants. However, every case is unique, which means the number of days you should take off will depend on your specific situation. If your job requires physical labor, you should plan on taking an additional three to four days off. Strenuous exercise can divert blood from the implant site and delay healing.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

It’s possible for smokers to get dental implants. However, the risk of implant failure is much higher. Smoking or chewing tobacco can lead to dry mouth and slow down healing, which can interfere with the implants ability to fuse with the jawbone. If you smoke, you should plan on quitting for at least two weeks before the procedure and wait to resume the habit for at least two to three months afterward. Of course, this is the perfect opportunity to kick the habit to the curb for good!