Missing or severely damaged teeth can make you self-conscious and negatively affect how you chew your food and your bite alignment and change the shape of your face.
Many dentists recommend dental implants for patients who need to replace their missing teeth. When you get a consultation at your local dental clinic, you can ask your dentist whether you’re a suitable candidate, how a dental implant works, and what the procedure entails.
Dental implants are small titanium screws surgically inserted deep within the jawbone to function as the root for an artificial tooth. They are a permanent and fixed solution for one or more missing teeth.
Most people who wonder how a dental implant works can get a better idea by understanding the three components.
Dental implants work through a process called osseointegration. The implant post features screw-like threads that are coated in a biofilm. When the post is embedded in the jawbone, the pressure triggers the release of bone cells called osteoblasts which calcify and deposit on the titanium post. As the bone tissue gradually builds up, it secures the post.
Dental implants can improve the quality of your life by restoring confidence in your smile. They also look like natural teeth and enhance your chewing function and speech impaired by missing or broken teeth.
Dental implants are natural-looking replacements for teeth and last decades with proper oral care and hygiene.
Three common treatments using dental implants are single or multiple implants and teeth-in-a-day implants. You should discuss your individual treatment plan with a dentist that offers a consultation.
Replacing a missing tooth isn’t always a cosmetic choice. Dental implants are often used to prevent other teeth from shifting or prevent erosion in the jawbone.
When two or more implant screws are placed in the bone and connected by side-by-side crowns, it creates a dental bridge. These can be used to replace several teeth at once.
Patients with severely diseased or decayed teeth can have functional implants affixed in just one day at Townsend Family Dental & Implant Centre. An implant-supported denture is designed to replace a full row of teeth. This option appeals to those who aren’t comfortable with dentures.
The dental implant procedure is completed over several months. The time it takes for your dental implant procedure will vary, depending on your treatment plan and healing timeline.
Your dentist examines your teeth and gums at your initial consultation to check for signs of decay or gum disease. If you have active gum disease, you’ll need periodontal therapy to treat the infection before receiving implants.
Your dentist also performs a digital diagnostic assessment of your teeth and jaw to evaluate the bone density. Your dentist may recommend a bone graft to stimulate tissue growth if you have insufficient bone density. You should have enough jawbone to support the implant post six to nine months after the grafting procedure.
If your dentist determines dental implants are the right tooth replacement option for your smile, they develop a treatment plan and schedule your surgery.
A dental implant procedure is performed under local anaesthetic in the dentist’s chair. After numbing the area with a gel and injecting the anaesthetic, your dentist incises the gum tissue to expose the bone underneath. They then drill a small hole and screw the implant post in place. The dentist then sutures the wound closed.
Once the implant is placed, it may take between two and six months for the gums and surrounding areas to heal. During this time, the abutment may be placed during a second surgery, adding more length to the recovery period.
During the healing time, a process called osseointegration begins. During osseointegration, the natural bone in the jaw heals and closes, or knits, around the implant. This holds the implant in place securely and allows almost normal function.
In a separate surgery, your dentist opens the implant site, attaches a ball-like abutment, and then closes the gum tissue around but not over the site. Once this has healed you can be fitted for your restoration.
Once your jawbone and the gum tissue have fused with the implant and abutment, your dentist can fit you for a dental crown. They will take digital scans of the implant site and send the data to an off-site lab to have the crown fabricated. Then when it is ready, they cement it onto the implant.
To discover whether a dental implant procedure is best, schedule a dental consultation near you at Townsend Family Dental & Implant Centre. The friendly and caring staff can help you decide what type of dental implants and treatments meet your smile goals.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Dental implants
https://www.teeth.org.au/dental-implants
Dental implant procedure
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-implant
Everything to Know About a Dental Implant Procedure
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/dental-implant-procedure
Damaged or missing teeth can leave you reluctant to share your smile. Restorative dentistry can replace them with dental implants. Implants provide the most natural-looking result and offer high long-term survival rates. They increase your quality of life and enhance your oral health.
Understanding what to expect from dental implants before and after can help you determine if they’re right for you.
The health of your mouth has a significant impact on your quality of life. It affects your general health, ability to eat and speak, and mental health.
Chewing on a bad tooth or where you have lost a tooth can cause extreme pain. Heat, cold, and hard bits of food irritate the nerves that are no longer protected.
Your tongue, teeth, and lips work together to make the sounds associated with speech, and missing teeth can interfere with that.
You may be ashamed of your teeth and reluctant to speak or smile in public. You may lose out on job opportunities because of your reluctance to talk, smile or laugh in professional settings.
There are some things patients can do to prepare for dental implants that increase the chances of success, including:
If you have any level of gum disease, you must treat the problem with scaling and root planing, or flap surgery, before getting dental implants. Periodontitis causes bone loss, which can impact the osseointegration process.
When you get your scans, your dentist determines whether you have sufficient bone density or thickness for a dental implant. If not, you may require a bone graft or sinus lift. Both procedures add to the width or depth of the bone to ensure the dental implant has adequate support.
Tobacco use interferes with the healing process. Whether you smoke or chew tobacco, your dentist may recommend quitting in advance of your surgery.
Start eating a nutrient-rich diet that supports healing. Include foods like dark leafy greens, eggs, salmon, cruciferous vegetables, berries, shellfish, sweet potatoes, and poultry.
The bulk of recovery comes after placing your dental implants, though there is also a short recovery after the abutments are attached.
You need to avoid anything crunchy or hard and avoid chewing where your dental implants are placed.
Most people can take over-the-counter pain medication to control post-op discomfort. Sleeping with your head elevated on a pillow helps reduce swelling.
Contact your dentist if the pain around your implants doesn’t stop or gets worse, you experience heavy bleeding, the swelling gets more extensive after the first day, you notice heat or redness, or your bite is uneven or uncomfortable.
A 2018 study that examined the quality of life for dental implants, before and after, found that dental implants drastically improved patients’ quality of life.
You will have more confidence in dealing with customers, coworkers, and bosses when you have a healthy smile.
Talking and laughing with friends and family won’t cause any embarrassment with a dental implant.
The dental implant procedure allows custom-made crowns to blend seamlessly with your existing teeth.
Dental implants prevent bone loss and can lead to better gum health than some other restorative dentistry options.
You don’t need to do anything special to care for your implants. Treat them like your natural teeth by brushing and flossing twice daily and using mouthwash once a day.
Eating and speaking are directly affected by damaged and missing teeth, but those functions come back with dental implants. There is no need to modify your diet so you can enjoy all the food you love.
If you’re ready to restore your smile, contact Townsend Family Dental & Implant Centre online or at (07) 5235 5879 to book an appointment today. Our caring, award-winning team is happy to answer any questions you have about dental implants or any of our other general, cosmetic, or restorative services.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Comparing the Quality of Life of Patients Requesting Dental Implants Before and After Implant
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29114333/
Long term clinical performance of 10 871 dental implants with up to 22 years of follow-up: A cohort study in 4247 patients
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cid.12994
Everything to Know About a Dental Implant Procedure
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/dental-implant-procedure
Dental implant surgery
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-20384622
Dental implant procedure
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-implant
The effect of smoking on bone healing
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3686151/
Tobacco smoking and surgical healing of oral tissues: a review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19075440/
10 of the Best Foods to Help You Heal
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-help-you-heal#:~:text=%2010%20of%20the%20Best%20Foods%20to%20Help,should%20talk%20to%20your%20healthcare%20provider...%20More%20
A dental implant is an effective permanent replacement option for many patients whose teeth have been damaged, missing, or broken. However, the dental implant cost may be a concern for a patient when their dentist recommends the treatment.
The average cost of a dental implant treatment varies depending on several factors, including the number of teeth to be replaced and the materials used. You can also speak with your dentist at a dental consultation near you about your payment plans and financing options to help affordably manage the dental implants cost.
The fees for your dental implant treatment can vary depending on your oral health and the condition of your teeth. Several factors influence the final dental implants cost:
To determine if you are eligible for dental implant treatment, the dentist must first take X-rays and assess your oral health. At Townsend Family Dental & Implant Centre, we use cutting-edge technology, including cone-beam CT scanning, digital X-rays, and intraoral photography. This provides the most accurate, in-depth images and enables your dentist to more thoroughly examine the nerves, sinuses, and bone structure surrounding the area of your dental implant.
If you have low jawbone density or a damaged jawbone, you may need a bone graft procedure. Having a bone graft may add to the dental implant cost because it is a surgical procedure that can take between three and nine months to heal.
Damaged or decayed teeth may require extraction and add to the cost of your dental implants so your dentist can prepare the area for dental implants. This may take one to two weeks for your jaw to heal from the extractions, so you’ll need an additional appointment to place your implant.
The dental implants cost is impacted by the materials and type of sedation used during the installation procedure. Dental implant posts are typically made from titanium, a durable, biocompatible metal designed for long-lasting stability. This material is more expensive than porcelain or ceramic used in standard restorations.
Dental implants are priced per tooth, so the cost increases with the number of implants needed for your dental implant treatment. At Townsend Family Dental & Implant Centre, we offer IV sedation and happy gas for anxious patients. If you require sedation in addition to local anaesthetic, it is included in your final dental implant cost.
The dentist matches the colour of the porcelain crown to the surrounding teeth so that the smile appears natural. Depending on the specifications of the porcelain dental crown, the dental implant cost could be affected by the fabrication of your dental crown.
Once the permanent dental crown has been made, your dentist removes the temporary crown from the mouth and replaces it with the permanent crown.
Dental implants are worth the cost because they provide the following benefits:
The money you invest in paying for the dental implants cost can help you prevent future issues with your teeth and save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
Even though dental implants are a worthwhile investment, the initial cost can be overwhelming for some patients. You may need to find financing options to help pay for the final dental implant cost. You can find a dentist that offers consultation to assess the state of your teeth before getting dental implants to help you save money initially.
If you wish to see what dental implants costs you are responsible for, you need to speak with your insurance provider. Dental implants may be covered under HCF and Bupa insurance. The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) offers subsidies for dental implant procedures to individuals who meet the eligibility requirements.
At Townsend Family Dental & Implant Centre, we offer HICAPS for fast, onsite processing of health claims and payments for the dental implants cost.
Because each patient is unique, the dental implant cost is determined by your oral health condition and the number of procedures before your dental implant treatment. Contact our practice today at (07) 5235 5879 to learn more about the procedure and how you can achieve a healthier smile.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Dental Bone Graft
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21727-dental-bone-graft
Tooth extraction
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/tooth-extraction
Fee Schedule of Dental Services for Dentists and Dental Specialists
https://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-01/dental-fee-sched-jan22.pdf
