We scoured Google to find out what questions people ask about dental implants. In today’s blog, you’ll learn a wealth of information about dental implants: what they are, what the procedure entails, the risks, and the rewards.
After reading, if you still have questions about dental implants or would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Aiken or Shessel, call Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta at 404-846-4793.e.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are a dental prosthetic that secures and stabilizes a single tooth, bridge, or denture. Implants are small biocompatible screws. We insert them into the jaw during a brief surgery. Over the course of months, the patient’s jawbone integrates with the implants to create a solid anchoring point for a dental prosthetic.
A single implant can hold a single tooth; a bridge usually requires a few implants; and with the All on Four technique, four implants can hold a denture in place so that the patient doesn’t experience any slippage, wobbling, or looseness.
Who should not or cannot have dental implants?
Patients with insufficient bone density to support implants aren’t good candidates. However, these patients can undergo bone grafting to improve jawbone density and thus become candidates for dental implants.
Patients with diabetes, and those with an autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis, often heal more slowly than healthy people. Slow healing can result in implant failure.
Other potentially poor candidates include those who grind their teeth (bruxers), those who have untreated gum disease, and cancer patients with jaw irradiation (osteoradionecrosis).
What does the procedure involve?
If your health qualifies you for dental implants, the entire procedure will take about nine months to one year. The bulk of this time is spent waiting for the jawbone to solidify implant posts during a stage called osseointegration.
First, the surgeon will secure your implant(s) to the jaw during an outpatient oral surgery at Oral Health Specialists of Atlanta.
Next, we wait. Your jaw needs months to integrate with the implant posts through osseointegration. The surgeon will tell you how long he expects osseointegration to take.
Once the implants are completely stable, another brief surgery is necessary to reveal the implant heads and secure abutments. Abutments allow us to attach prosthetics to implants.
Next, the doctor will secure your final prosthetic. Denture patients can opt for a permanently affixed or removable denture. Patients with physical or cognitive disabilities may benefit from a permanent prosthesis.
What’s the timeframe for a complete dental implant procedure?
Nine to 12 months, in most cases. The bulk of this time is a waiting period when bone tissue grows strong around implant posts, securing them so that they can endure the pressures of biting and chewing while holding a prosthetic.
Is getting dental implants painful?
Not at Oral Surgery Associates of Atlanta! As oral surgeons, Drs. Aiken and Shessel can administer a local anesthetic, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and general anesthesia. If you’re concerned about procedure pain or pain from sitting in a dental chair for an extended time, tell the surgeon so he can recommend appropriate sedation.
Following surgical placement of dental implant posts, patients may experience pain, bleeding, bruising, and/or inflammation. Symptoms will peak on day three. You’ll need to take about a week off work to rest after dental implant surgery. We provide implant patients with postoperative instructions for pain management and recovery.
After two weeks, all of these symptoms should have subsided. If they persist, call our office for an appointment. Rest assured, dental implants have a 95% success rate.
What do dental implants cost?
The cost of dental implants ranges significantly based on factors like:
Prerequisite procedures (extraction, grafting)
Where in the mouth implants are to be placed
How many implants are being placed
The type, materials, and quality of the final prosthetic
Will insurance or Medicaid pay for my dental implants?
While a denture, bridge, or single tooth replacement is considered necessary, dental implants aren’t a medical necessity. Insurance and Medicaid will not pay for dental implants. However, you can seek cosmetic insurance coverage or finance the procedure through a third party like CareCredit, which offers low- and no-interest loans for qualified applicants.
Is there a “best” age for getting dental implants?
The only concern with age is whether a person is too young. We prefer to place dental implants in patients over the age of 25, but in some cases will perform the procedure on someone as young as 18 years of age.
Bone growth may still occur in a patient in his early 20s. Because an average of 5mm vertical tooth movement occurs between the ages of 15 and 25, an implant placed too early in life could be shorter than surrounding teeth.
How long will dental implants last?
We often say “implants last a lifetime,’’ but the truth is, implant posts usually last up to 30 years. Because many implant patients are senior citizens, 30 years likely encompasses the rest of their life. The crown, bridge, or denture on your implant(s) is not expected to last three decades.
The average lifespan of restorative prosthetics is as follows:
Crown: 5-15 years
Bridge: up to 10 years
Denture: 5-15 years
What problems are associated with dental implants?
Dental implants have a 95% success rate overall. However, in 5% of dental implant patients, problems may surface. It is extremely important for you to qualify for implants prior to placement and if you smoke, you should stop.
The most common causes of implant failure include:
Diabetes
Gum disease
Poor jawbone density
Poor oral hygiene practices
Pre-existing conditions (cancer, etc.)
Tobacco use (smoking, dipping)
Bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching)
If you develop a fever and chills while recovering from implant placement surgery, call us. You may have developed an infection. An estimated 4-10% of implant patients develop infection after implant placement surgery. We might save your implant by prescribing antibiotics to treat bacterial infection, but you must contact us as soon as you notice problems.
Also, if your implant(s) ever feel loose or appear to have shifted, give us a call. We will want to assess your implants and oral health to determine if infection or failure is occurring. Both issues may be treatable.
In some cases, a failing implant may be saved. It’s vitally important that you call us if you notice anything abnormal. The earlier we address issues, the better chance we have of saving your implant.
Do dental implants get cavities?
No dental restorations or prosthetics will ever develop cavities.
Other issues can occur, though. For instance, when oral health is not maintained with daily brushing and flossing, as well as six-month dental checkups and cleanings, an implant patient may develop:
Gum disease
Shifting of implant
Gum recession
Jawbone damage
Infection
Peri-implantitis
Call for Your Dental Implant Consultation
Do you have more questions? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Aiken or Shessel. The surgeon will evaluate your oral health, take x-rays, and inform you of your candidacy or need for prerequisite procedures. He’ll also answer all of your questions. Call Oral Surgery Specialists of Atlanta today at 404-846-4793.
