Understanding the Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants are a great investment. It is difficult to overstate the amount they can improve a patient’s quality of life through an improvement in both aesthetics and function. At our Tampa Bay area offices in Palm Harbor, Trinity, and Spring Hill, Florida, we’ve helps thousands of patients improve their lives with dental implants. The benefits are clear when it comes to dental implants. In this blog post, we’ll look at the those benefits as well as the cost of dental implants to help if you’re considering Same Day Teeth® or traditional dental implants.
Candidacy for Dental Implants
First off, who is a candidate for dental implants? With either Same Day Teeth® or traditional dental implants, candidacy must be determined.
If you are missing one or more of your natural teeth, you may be a good candidate for dental implants. Secured directly into your jaw, these restorations provide a long-lasting solution to missing teeth and the accompanying oral health problems. Dr. Michael A. Pikos can evaluate your candidacy for dental implants at his Tampa, FL, practice. Contact our restorative and cosmetic dentistry practice today to find out whether you might be able to enjoy the many benefits that dental implants have to offer.
Ideal Candidates
The best candidates for dental implants are missing one or more of their natural teeth, but are generally healthy enough to undergo routine dental extraction or oral surgery. Patients should have healthy gums, be committed to maintaining good oral hygiene, and have sufficient jaw bone tissue to support the titanium implant posts. The issue of bone density can be a concern for some patients, but procedures such as bone grafting and sinus lifts are available to help regenerate the tissue.
Preparatory Procedures
While the ideal candidates for dental implants are typically missing teeth already, long-term tooth loss can counter-intuitively lower your chance for a successful implant. When people’s teeth have been missing for a long time, their bodies take note and start redirecting minerals and nutrients to places where they can be used more efficiently. As a consequence, the jawbone starts to lose density and becomes substantially weaker. Because implant posts integrate with the bone, weak jawbone tissue can compromise the success of a dental implant.
Bone Grafting
The most common procedure available to counter a weakened jawbone is bone grafting. Also known as bone augmentation, the procedure builds up bone density and mass with tissue harvested from elsewhere in your body, from an outside source, or from synthetic material. Once collected, the tissue is surgically secured in your jaw with small screws. The new tissue is also supplemented with your own bone marrow and other growth-promoting substances to catalyze the development of new bone tissue.
After the graft and supplements are set in place, the surgical site is closed up with membrane and sutures and patients are prescribed with antibiotics and pain medication. The bone graft will typically heal and begin to spur bone growth within the next six to nine months. Once you have sufficiently recovered, your dentist will determine whether the bone tissue boosted by the graft is dense enough to support implants.
Sinus Lift
The other procedure most commonly used to improve bone density is a special type of bone graft known as a sinus lift. This graft builds up bone tissue in the area directly above the molars on your upper jaw, just behind your cheekbones. Because this space overlaps with the tissues at the base of the maxillary sinus, the sinus needs to be lifted in order to make room for a bone graft. Once the membrane has been moved up high enough from the jaw, the bone graft tissue will be packed into its old space and the surgical site sewn up. A successful sinus lift will stimulate bone growth within six to nine months, as well.
Other Considerations
While most people who are missing some or all of their natural teeth are good candidates for implants, certain factors can influence the success of the surgery, such as:
- Heavy smoking
- Untreated periodontal disease
- Uncontrolled chronic disorders (diabetes, heart disease)
- Radiation to head/neck area
Each of the above can interfere with a patient’s ability to heal, which may severely decrease the chances of success. However, cases are usually evaluated on an individual basis. Be sure to discuss your history with your dentist to ensure the best possible outcome for your implant placement.
The Dental Implant Procedure
Dental implants are often the ideal treatment option for patients who are missing teeth. A dental implant is a titanium post that is surgically embedded in your jawbone to replace a natural tooth root. A dental crown, bridge, or full-arch denture is then attached to the implant post to replace the entire structure of the missing tooth. Our practice uses advanced imaging techniques to plan your treatment and ensure your comfort and safety. Please contact us today to schedule your dental implants consultation at our Tampa Bay area offices in Palm Harbor, Trinity, or Spring Hill, Florida.
Our dental implant options available at our Tampa Bay offices include traditional dental implants and Same Day Teeth®.
Traditional Dental Implants
Traditional dental implants can provide the ultimate support for dentures and other restorations. They allow your new smile to look natural and healthy, but also provide many functional purposes. Traditional implants keep your restorations firmly in place, allowing you to enunciate clearly, as well as enjoy all of your favorite foods without hesitation. Implant-supported restorations are the closest alternative to your original teeth, allowing you to live life without feeling self-conscious as a result of missing or damaged teeth.
Traditional Dental Implants: A Dependable Implant Option
If you are missing one or more teeth, there are several options for restoring the function and aesthetics of your smile. Traditional dental implants placed by our oral surgeons in the Tampa, FL-area can provide the ultimate support for dentures and other restorations. Traditional dental implants require two surgeries and several months of healing time, but with proper care, they can last a lifetime. To learn more about how traditional dental implants can give you a healthy smile that is both attractive and functional, contact us today.Illustration of traditional dental implant in the jawbone.
Who is a Good Candidate?
A good candidate for traditional dental implants are those who have suffered from tooth loss and are looking to bring form and function back to their mouth. Traditional dental implants have a diameter of three to five millimeters, and provide the most dependable support for a restoration.
However, they require ample bone tissue for support. If you have waited to address missing teeth, you may have experienced some degree of bone atrophy. In this case, a bone graft may be necessary to create a suitable base for traditional implants.
However, certain diseases or conditions may affect whether you are a good candidate for a bone graft procedure. This can be discussed with Dr. Michael A. Pikos during your initial consultation.
Types of Dental Implants
Coastal Jaw Surgery offers traditional implants, mini implants, and Same Day Teeth®:
Traditional: These implants require several months of healing before they can be restored with a permanent crown or dentures. However, since they achieve greater surface contact with the jaw, they provide exceptional support, and are considered more durable than mini implants.
Mini: These dental implants are particularly smaller in size, and do not require flap surgery. They are a good option for patients who do not possess sufficient jawbone density for full-sized implants.
Same Day Teeth®: This process places and restores traditional implants in one visit, providing increased functionality and immediate enhancement. In most cases, mini dental implants can also be placed and restored in a single session.
Dr. Pikos will carefully review your goals, needs, and budget with you, and fully explain your implant options, so that you choose the right solution for restoring your smile.
Benefits: Traditional Dental Implants
Traditional dental implants provide most of the same benefits as mini implants and Same-Day Teeth®. They allow your new smile to look natural and healthy, but also provide many functional purposes. Implant-supported dentures keep your teeth from shifting, and help maintain facial symmetry. Implant-supported restorations are the closest alternative to your original teeth, allowing you to live life without feeling self-conscious as a result of missing or damaged teeth.
Most importantly, they help you maintain a healthy jawbone. When patients suffer from tooth loss, the jawbone begins to atrophy, or shrink. Only dental implants can stimulate the bone in a way that prevents atrophy. Like your teeth, the durable implants require regular checkups. With proper care, traditional implants can be more dependable than mini implants, typically lasting 40 years or more.
Traditional implants keep your restorations firmly in place, allowing you to enunciate clearly, as well as enjoy all of your favorite foods without hesitation. Implant-supported restorations are the closest alternative to your original teeth, allowing you to live life without feeling self-conscious as a result of missing or damaged teeth.
How does Same Day Teeth® work?
The Same Day Teeth® protocol provides patients with the same state-of-the-art technology-driven planning as our traditional dental implants but with the added benefit of reducing the waiting time between the implants (the tiny metal post) being placed and the prosthetic (your new tooth) being inserted down to a single office visit at our Tampa Bay area office.
Traditional dental implants require at least two surgical procedures. Our prosthetics are milled from a solid block of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) using impressions and computer images of the patient’s bite. PMMA is non-toxic and highly biocompatible. PMMA is strong, durable and can be matched to your natural teeth to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing smile.
With Same Day Teeth®, we are able to provide immediate enhancement to both function and aesthetics of your bite. If you are interested in dental implants and would like to learn more about the Same Day Teeth® procedure, contact us today to schedule your consultation at our Tampa Bay area office. You can call us at 1-800-NEW-LOOK or use the contact form below to reach out.
Am I a candidate for Same Day Teeth®?
We have helped thousands of patients in the Tampa Bay area regain their smiles with Same Day Teeth®. How do you know if you’re a candidate for Same Day Teeth®? The best way to find out for sure is to visit us at our Tampa Bay area for a consultation. You can call us at 1-800-NEW-LOOK or use the contact form below to reach out. We’ll take a look at some of the common questions potential patients may have before making the decision to choose Same Day Teeth®.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Dental implants are widely recognized as the finest option available for patients who are missing teeth. The restorative solution can restore form and function to your smile, while also protecting your oral health. Many patients who suffer from tooth loss have questions about the cost of dental implants. The doctors at our Tampa Bay area locations (including offices in Palm Harbor, Trinity, and Spring Hill) can help you understand the different factors that affect the total price of dental implant treatment. If you have been considering dental implants or any other restorative procedure, please contact our offices to make an appointment with one of our doctors.
Restoring Your Smile
A dental implant is a zirconia or titanium post that is surgically embedded in the jawbone to replace the missing tooth’s roots. Implants are attached to a dental crown, bridge, or denture and provide unparalleled stability.
On the day of your surgery, your doctor will make a small incision in your gum tissue to expose the bone. The dental implant will be placed in its optimal location and angle. This ensures it can provide adequate support for your restoration while withstanding pressure and bite force from chewing and speaking. Many patients will have a temporary restoration placed while the site heals. For some patients, we are able to attach the permanent restoration immediately after surgery using Same-Day Teeth®.
Safeguarding Your Investment
Our practice was the first in the Tampa Bay area to incorporate 3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanners into all of our oral surgery procedures. The use of this advanced technology allows our doctors to evaluate the structure of your jaw and enhance treatment planning. This allows for extremely precise treatment and optimal outcomes.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Dental Implants
Each dental implant treatment plan is tailored to the individual patient’s needs. Because no two procedures are the same, cost varies from patient to patient. There are several factors to consider:
Periodontal disease treatment – Before beginning any implant procedure, your gums must be in good health.
Bone grafting – Dental implants need a strong foundation to provide support to the attached restorations. If you have suffered bone atrophy after tooth loss, our doctors can perform a bone grafting procedure to build up enough dense, healthy tissue.
Number of implants – Placing multiple implants requires a lengthier, more complex surgical procedure.
Type of implants – There are many types of dental implants made from different materials, each with their own associated costs.
Type of restoration – Dental crowns, bridges, and dentures, which can be made from various materials, each carry a different cost.
Financing Options
We believe every patient deserves access to the very highest level of care. We offer CareCredit®, a medical credit card with low monthly payments. Breaking up your total treatment cost can make implants a smart and affordable investment in your health.
Insurance Options
Visit our dental insurance options page to learn more about the providers and plans we accept. To make sure your plan is on our list of accepted insurance plans, visit our insurance plans page.
Contact Our Tampa Bay Area Offices to Learn More
If you are in the Tampa Bay area and are missing teeth and would like to learn more about the benefits of investing in dental implants, please contact us today to schedule your dental implants consultation at our Palm Harbor, Trinity, or Spring Hill location.
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