| What
are Dental Implants?
Do you wish you could start all over? Dental
implants are like a second chance at having natural teeth. These
durable tooth replacements allow you to close the gaps from missing
teeth, or anchor custom-fit dentures and partials for unsurpassed
stability and comfort.
As prosthodontists, Dr. Keith and Dr. Chao are
specialists in this restorative option providing you a unique
perspective as they understand both the surgical and restorative
details involved.
What
are the advantages of Dental Implants?
For many patients, dentures, partials, and bridges
simply aren't enough. Loose dentures and metal clasps can cause
embarrassment, pain, and difficulties with eating and speech.
Crowns and bridges can have limited life expectancies if their
supporting teeth are't strong.
There are many reasons why many people choose
dental implants to replace missing or hopelessly damaged teeth:
- First, we are living longer. This has created a need for longer-lasting
dental replacements.
-
Second, removable dentures and partials
are inconvenient, less sturdy, and not permanent. Dental implants
eliminate the pain and discomfort of removable full or partial
dentures. Since dentures sit on top of the jawbone and gums,
continuous shrinkage of the jaw bone alters the fit of the
denture resulting in slipping or rocking of the dentures.
Exposed nerves and irritation of the gum tissue may add to
the discomfort. Implant supported replacement teeth are like
natural teeth because they are anchored securely to your jawbone.
Gum irritation and the pain of exposed nerves associated with
conventional full or partial dentures are eliminated.
- Third, bridges must have strong supporting natural teeth
and require grinding of those teeth. Literature shows that the
average lifespan of a bridge is 7-10 years. If you are in your
40's, you may have to change your bridge at least 3-4 more times!
- Dental implants are more stable, more convenient, more practical
and more natural.
- When teeth are lost, there in ongoing shrinkage of the jawbone
which may make your face look older. Dental implants stimulate
the bone and slows down this shrinkage and prevents bone resorption.
What
are the disadvantages of Dental Implants?
There are few disadvantages of dental implants:
-
Dental Implants can only be placed if there
is enough bone present in the jaw. When teeth are lost, the
bone around the teeth gradually disappears. Careful evaluation
and x-ray studies will help us determine if you have enough
bone or whether it may be possible to grow bone in its place.
See Bone Grafting.
-
Your oral health affects implant
success. Success depends on your body's reaction to implants
and your personal care of them. Implants can fail due to gum
disease, just as teeth do. Success may be improved with your
dilligent attention to oral hygiene.
-
Your systemic health affects implant
success. Systemic conditions that impair your body's ability
to heal, such as uncontrolled diabetes, are contraindications
to implant therapy. In addition, both smoking and heavy alcohol
consumption reduce the survival of implants (and teeth). If
you think that either of these two habits could be a problem
for you and your implants, it may be advisable to avoid this
form of dental treatment or accept the higher risk of implant
failure.
-
Due to the complexity of treatment and
the high cost of materials, implant therapy may get expensive.
However, the beauty of implants is its "upgradable"
nature. In some instances, you may consider placing a few
implants now and use them for awhile. In the future, you may
be able to add more implants and improve your prosthesis.
For example, a patient with no teeth in the lower jaw may
have two implants placed to stabilize their denture. Later
on, if adequate bone is present, more implants may be placed
and a fixed restoration may be supported on the implants possibly
eliminating the denture altogether!
What
conditions must be met for implantation?
If general medical requirements and adequate
jaw anatomy are met, most gaps in teeth can be closed using dental
implants.
Implants survive best in a healthy environment.
Good oral hygiene and normal wound healing are essential for implant
success. Before implantation, natural teeth must be rehabilitated
and any gum disease treated and eliminated.
Adolescents and young adults must wait for the
body to finish growing.
Systemic conditions that impair your body's ability
to heal, such as uncontrolled diabetes, rare blood diseases, leukemia,
or patients being treated with chemotherapy are contraindicationed.
Patients who have successfully undergone cancer therapy and received
permission from their oncologist may benefit from implant treatment.
In addition, both smoking and heavy alcohol consumption reduce
the survival of implants (and teeth).
What is a
CT Scan?
Conventional x-ray views we take in the office
are only 2-dimensional and are subject to varying degrees of distortion
and inaccuracy. Where important anatomical structures must be
avoided, the information provided by conventional x-rays are often
inadequate. A CT scan in contrast can provide life-sized 3-dimensional
information of all regions of the upper and/or lower jaw. In addition,
we fabricate a special stent for you to wear during your CT scan
which allows us to make precise measurements for pre-operative
treatment planning. We also use this information to refine our
implant angulation prior to the actual surgery and improve our
esthetic results. In some cases the CT scan may also be used to
evaluate the results of bone-grafting procedures prior to placing
implants.
Are
Dental Implants Safe?
Osseointegrated dental implants are the state of the art in modern
dentistry. Extensive research for more than three decades in the
United States and abroad has recognized titanium for its biological
compatibility with the human body. Studies have shown that the
earliest patients treated over 30 years ago with these modern
osseointegrated implants continue to enjoy healthy, stable smiles.
Do Implants
hurt?
Many patients have their implant procedure done
right in our office, using local anesthetic to make them comfortable.
Patients describe their recovery period as "about the same
as when they originally had their teeth pulled". No pain
is felt during the surgical procedures. Depending upon the number
of implants placed, there may be swelling and/or tenderness for
a few days following the surgery. Pain medication is usually prescribed
which alleviates this discomfort. Patients generally prefer a
soft foods diet for the healing period following surgery. Cold
foods and tepid soups are suggested, as they aid in reducing swelling.
How long do
Implants last?
How long do teeth last? They should last a lifetime.
Unfortunately, teeth don't last a lifetime or we wouldn't need
implants (or dentists)!. We know that dental problems mostly
stem from improper home care or lack of treatment when needed.
The same holds true for implants. With proper care and routine
dental check-ups they should last a lifetime. No one can
give guarantees because the health of a person is dependent upon
many factors which are out of the control of one's dentist, e.g.,
proper nutritional needs being met, proper hygiene, genetics,
disease processes which might occur. So, the answer to this
question really is that no one knows how long each individual
implant will last. The success can be influenced by the way you
live and the quality of practitioner that you choose to do your
implants-- these things can tip the scales in your favor.
How many
Implants do I need?
There are no hard and fast fules on the number
of implants necessary. Several factors may influence this decision:
Quantity & quality of bone; opposing dentition; harmful grinding
or clenching habits; health compromises such as cigarette smoking;
etc. As a general principle, as many implants as possible should
be used. This allows the stresses of biting to be spread over
the maximum number of implants, thus diminishing the load on each
particular one.
How long does
it take?
This depends on the complexity of the treatment.
Initially there is a treatment planning stage. Then there may
be some time spent on preparatory procedures as improving gum
health, removing any unsavable teeth and growing bone. This may
take anything from a few weeks to many months.
After the implants are placed they are left to settle in place
from six weeks to six months. The final fitting of crowns or bridges
or the attaching of dentures to the implants takes a month or
two. The time depends on your individual situation.
One thing to keep in mind with implant therapy
is to "respect nature". It is important that
neither the patient nor the implant provider attempt to rush the
treatment or try to advance the various stages faster than the
time required for complete healing and maturation of bone and
soft-tissues.
Even treatment that is well-planned and executed
can fail as a result of moving too quickly from stage to stage.
If you do not have the time available, then it may be more sensible
to consider conventional forms of dentistry which can be completed
more rapidly.
How much will
implants cost?
The fee for tooth replacement with dental implants
will depend on several factors, including the number of teeth
being replaced and the number of implants required to support
your replacement teeth. Some additional procedures may be required
prior to the placement of your dental implants to ensure the long-term
health of your dental implants. Typically, there is a fee for
the surgical procedure and a separate fee to attach the posts
and construct your replacement teeth. To obtain a specific fee
estimate, it is necessary for us to examine your mouth. After
a thorough diagnostic examination, we will recommend the treatment
that is best for you and what your investment would be for the
procedure.
The procedure can involve a significant investment,
with fees ranging from $3,000 and up for a single tooth replacement
(about the same as a conventional "3-tooth bridge").
However, the cost of non-treatment can be considerably more expensive.
Continual bone loss occurs from the wearing of full dentures (plates)
and partials. This progressive loss of bone can eventually
cause nerve exposure, jaw fracture and a complete inability to
function with regular dentures. Correction at this point
may be very expensive and can involve extensive bone grafts, which
requires hospitalization and an extended recovery period. Placing
implants before the bone loss becomes severe not only saves money
in the long run, but also slows the bone loss process, increasing
the likelihood of long term success.
Some may believe that dental implants are expensive.
However, when one evaluates the return for the investment and
the long range benefits that come from having secure, functional,
attractive teeth and a winning smile-- implants are not expensive.
For those who prioritize dental health, we have been able to provide
comprehensive dental implant treatment to patients of every
income level. For some, a home equity loan is a good solution.
Others forego a new automobile or a family vacation in lieu of
a longer lasting benefit. Still others agree to participate in
a research study and receive reduced cost treatment that is supplemented
by the program sponsor. Finally, in many cases, a treatment program
can be broken into several phases, accomplishing the more serious
needs first. It is not unusual to design a plan that is delivered
and paid for over a period of several years.
Does
insurance pay for dental implants?
As you may know, all insurance carriers and policies
are different. Some may cover a portion of the costs while other
will not. Our staff will work hard to see that you get the best
possible benefit from your insurance. During your initial visit,
bring your insurance information and our staff will help you determine
your benefits.
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