LEARN ABOUT SINGLE TOOTH DENTAL IMPLANTS AND BRIDGES
Advantages of single dental implant over other treatment options:
Natural appearance
Solid, natural chewing
Attached securely and permanently
Significantly reduces bone
Loss after removal of a
Natural tooth or teeth
No negative impact to nearby teeth like with other options (bridges)
What Is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a titanium screw that serves as the root to your new tooth.
There are 3 parts to an implant tooth:
The Implant Body – this is the foundation. It is placed in the jaw and acts as anchor for the replacement tooth..
Abutment – connects the implant to the crown
Crown – part that you can see. it mimics natural tooth appearance and function.
How Does The Process Work
Placement of implant post in jaw
Impression for crown and abutment
Attach crown and abutment to implant body
After being thoroughly numbed, the implant body (the titanium screw) is surgically placed in your jaw.
The implant body is made of surgical-grade titanium (the same material used in hip and knee replacements), which means your bone will fuse with it over a 4-6 month period (a process known as osseointegration). Once the dental implant is properly integrated, we will take impressions to have your abutment and crown fabricated.
The crown is the part of the implant tooth that you actually see in the mouth and the abutment is the support piece that connects the crown to the implant body.
How Long Does The Process Take?
The process typically takes 5-6 months from start to finish.
Place implant body and wait 4 months for integration into jaw bone.
Uncover implants and allow gums to form to correct shape for 2 weeks.
Take impressions and send off to outside lab for fabrication of abutment and crown. This normally takes 3-4 weeks.
Place abutment and crown.
For some patients, the process could take longer than described here.
How Much Does A Dental Implants cost?
Single-tooth Dental implant: $2,795
includes the implant body, abutment, and crown
replaces a single tooth
Implant Bridge, 3 unit: $5,495
includes 2 implant bodies, 2 abutments, and 3 unit bridge
replaces 3 teeth
more cost effective than placing 3 individual implants
Single dental implant FAQs
It depends. Since every case is unique, we'll need to see you for a consultation to figure out the best course of treatment for you.
At this time, we do not place temporary crowns or bridges on implants that have just been placed. The reason for this is that we want as little force being placed on the implants as possible while we wait for them to integrate with your jawbone.
Care for them like natural teeth:
- Brush and floss twice a day.
- Get cleanings regularly at intervals recommended by your dentist.
In the mouth, they look almost exactly like a natural tooth. The implant body (the screw) won't be visible in the mouth. It is under the gums in your bone.
Yes! It will feel different from a natural tooth but will function the same.
Most patients are able to return to work either the same day or the next day. Certain cases could require more time off from work.
You may continue to bleed slightly for the first 24 hours after your implant placement. If you feel that you are bleeding more than you should be, please call the clinic.
An old home reemedy that still works really well to help clotting and stop bleeding is the use of tea bags. Just get a regular tea bag, get it damp, ring out the excess water, place it on your extraction site or sites, and the tanic acid in the tea leaves will help you clot. Multiple tea bags can be used if needed. Replace the tea bags as they get saturated with blood. This process can be repeated as many times as you need.
While experiences will vary, there could be some discomfort and possibly swelling after your procedure. Many patients report very little discomfort after their procedure. You will be prescribed pain medication to help alleviate any discomfort.
The process is very straight forward. Your implant is placed into your jawbone and is left alone to intergrate for 4-6 months. After this, we take impressions and have your tooth fabricated. If bone grafting is needed, this can increase treatment time.
No, once your implant is completed, you will not be able to remove it.
While titanium dental implants do have a 95+% success rate, yes, they can still fail. Some of the things that can cause them to fail:
- failure to integrate into the bone
- smoking
- diabetes
If an implant fails within the first year, your dentist will replace it at no charge to you.