Using dental implants to replace missing teeth provides you with a long term and permanent management strategy. And while there are patients who enjoy success with dental bridges and dentures, dental implants have an extremely high success rate of between 95 and 98%, when they are performed by suitably experienced dental practitioners. Today we are going to take a closer look at your options, your potential dental implant cost, and just how dental implants are done.
What Is The Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a small metal screw that is embedded into your jaw bone. Once it has been embedded it can’t be seen – its primary purpose is to provide a strong anchor for your crown, which is the part that can be seen.
Tooth implants are usually made from titanium, which is a biocompatible material that is well tolerated by the body. Once your body starts to heal from the dental implant procedure, it will integrate the implant into your jaw, by growing bone around it.
What Are Your Options?
You can have a single dental implant to replace one tooth, or multiple implants can be used to replace multiple teeth. in the event that you are missing an entire arch of teeth, it is possible to replace the arch using just four dental implants.
In order to proceed with dental implants, you should be generally healthy and free of gum disease. You should be a good candidate for oral surgery and practice strict dental hygiene. You should also not have any unmanaged chronic conditions that interfere with your body’s ability to heal itself.
How Much Does A Dental Implant Cost?
Your dental implant cost depends on a number of variables that can only really be established once you have consulted with your dental practitioner.
Your dentist must evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums and assess the complexity of your procedure. You will need to have some digital photographs and x-rays taken, and discuss your lifestyle factors with your dentist.
The cost of your dental implant procedure will depend on the number of teeth to be replaced, the complexity of your procedure, the cost of your prosthesis and your dental practitioner’s fees.
Do You Need A Bone Graft?
If you have been missing a tooth for some time it is quite possible that you may have bone loss in your jaw. You need enough bone in your jaw in order to have dental implants, so you may require a bone graft prior to your implant being placed. This would influence your treatment plan cost.
Your Prosthesis
The cost of your dental implant is a fraction of the total cost of your procedure so it isn’t worth considering cheap dental implants to reduce the cost of your procedure. If you would like to have the dental implant in your jaw for the rest of your lifetime, it makes sense to invest in a high-quality dental implant.
Your Dental Practitioner Fees
Your dental implant procedure could take as long as 18 months to complete, during which time you can expect to see your dentist frequently for each of the mini procedures that comprise your dental implant treatment.
What Can You Expect From The Procedure?
While everyone’s procedure will depend on their treatment plan, this is generally how dental implants are done
Your prosthesis consists of three components: the dental implant (screw), the abutment and the crown, and each component is usually added in a separate procedure.
Your first procedure could be the extraction of a tooth, a bone graft procedure, or the implantation of a dental implant, depending on your treatment plan.
If you begin with a bone graft or the surgical embedding of the dental implant, you can expect a waiting period of two to three months while your body heals, before you can progress with your treatment plan. It is important for healing to complete, so that the dental implant has a strong foundation.
When you have your abutment fitted, your dentist will place a temporary crown over it, for the healing period. Only once the site of the abutment has healed will your dentist fit the permanent crown.
Ultimately you can expect a natural-looking tooth replacement that doesn’t move when you speak or eat, and which is able to withstand the forces of biting and chewing that your other teeth can manage. Your tooth implants should give you confidence and enable you to chew with comfort. While you won’t be able to see it, your dental implant will also ensure that you do not experience any further bone loss in your jaw. This is because the roots of the implant will stimulate the growth of new bone tissue in your jaw.
Do you still have questions about dental implants and how they could benefit you? Please contact us for an appointment: 03 9626 9581.
