1. What is an Implant?
A dental implant is a small "anchor" made of titanium. It is inserted into the jawbone to take the place of your missing tooth root. After osseointegration, or when the surrounding bone has attached to the implant, a replacement tooth is secured to the top of the implant.
2. Will my new teeth look natural?
Your new teeth will look and feel like your natural teeth.
3. Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
If you are healthy enough to have a tooth extracted, you are probably healthy enough to have an implant. General good health and adequate bone in the jaw are the key requirements. Anyone who is missing one or more teeth due to injury, disease or decay may be a candidate for dental implants.
4. How successful is the procedure?
For more than three decades, dental implants have been used successfully with people just like you. Good oral hygiene is an important factor in insuring long lasting results from your implants.
5. Is the procedure painful?
Anesthesia is used during the surgical procedure to eliminate any discomfort. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication for any discomfort after surgery. Most patients indicate that the discomfort is minimal once they arrive at home. Many feel great the next day and are able to return to work.
6. How much will the treatment cost?
The cost will be determined by the number of implants that will be placed, the type of prosthesis recommended and your particular case. This can only be determined after a thorough examination by your dentist.
7. Will my insurance pay for implants?
Your insurance coverage will depend on your individual plan. It may be possible to obtain additional coverage. Check with your insurance company to see if they can extend your plan.
8. How long will it take?
The dental implant process involves several steps and the overall treatment period varies greatly by patient. The typical treatment time lasts several months, but in some cases implants can be placed and restored immediately.
9: What about eating after implant surgery?
It’s generally important to avoid exposing any recent surgical site in the mouth to food if possible. A good rule of thumb is to eat soft, nutritious foods and keep well hydrated. Your dentist will recommend a diet and instructions on how to care for your new implants during healing.
10. How long does healing and construction of the replacement teeth (implant crowns) take?
The entire process usually takes about two to nine months, depending on your treatment plan. There are two main phases: First the implants have to heal by fusing to the bone, and then the tooth replacement restorations have to be fabricated and attached.
11. How long do dental implants last?
Once a dental implant has fused to the bone successfully and it is functional, it should last many years if cared for properly. Many implants have now been in place for more than 40 years.
12.Can my body reject a dental implant, and if so what then?
Rejection of dental implants because of an allergy to titanium is extraordinarily rare, but it can happen. Occasionally an implant also doesn’t “take” or fuse to the bone the first time, either because it develops a capsule of fibrous tissue around it instead of fusing to the bone, or it gets infected. In either case it is simply removed and the site is allowed to heal. Then your surgeon can place another implant, which will integrate with the bone normally.
