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Dental implants are an excellent option for those looking to replace a missing tooth or teeth with something that looks and functions just like a natural tooth. When properly cared for, they can provide decades of confident smiles. We’ve created this post as a resource for those looking for information on dental implants, their suitability, and their cost.
Are they right for you?
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium, screw-like devices designed to replace the tooth’s natural roots. Once they have been placed into the jaw, a dental crown is placed over the top to fill the patient’s smile line.
Dental implants are a dental restoration that closely mimics a natural tooth’s look and function. They are one of the most challenging dental replacement prostheses to install, but if done correctly, they can give patients the best long-term result.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
- Look and function just like natural teeth.
- Improve your oral health, which in turn improves your overall health.
- Permanent restoration; no need to remove from the mouth.
- No special care is needed; simply brush and floss as you would with a natural tooth and attend your regularly scheduled dental appointments.
- While the initial cost may be a bit higher than other treatment options, they are the most cost-effective treatment option in the long term.
- Prevent bone recession (preserve the health of both bone and other teeth).
- Improve confidence and self-esteem.
- No need to struggle with removable dentures or denture adhesive.
- Improved speech.
- Eat your favorite foods.
- Prevent premature aging.
What Are the Disadvantages?
- Certain types of dental insurance may not cover the cost of dental implants.
- The placement process tends to be lengthy.
- Certain patients may not qualify as ideal candidates for implant placement and may need to consider other treatment options, such as a partial denture or a bridge.
Find out if implants are right for you. Call 323-457-8787 or schedule an appointment and find out more about what you can expect. ( Hablamos Español )
Standard Dental Implant Costs
The cost of dental implants varies depending on the treatments needed, doctor’s knowledge, type of materials used to create the implant, location, etc.
The average dental implant costs between $3000 and $5000 per tooth. If a dental implant bone graft is required, an additional $300-$600 will be charged.
At Reza Dental Care, you can expect to pay anywhere from $2500 to $3500, including everything. With this limited-time offer, you can get the most trusted dental implants of the highest quality for long-term success.
Cheap Dental Implants Near Me
You may have seen dental implants offered for lower costs – we’ve seen ads stating dental implants are only for $999! This looks very tempting but, upon further investigation, only covers the price of the implant and not the abutment, crown, bone graft, or anesthesia.
That being said, there are times when newer dental offices offer cheap deals, so make sure to ask many questions. Make sure that you check their online reviews and testimonials and everything is included.
When choosing dental implants, our prices are competitive, offering long-term value for money when compared to other restorative dental treatments. We also guarantee that our prices reflect our expertise – our dental staff is caring, attentive, and knowledgeable in dental implants procedure, allowing you peace of mind during this obtrusive treatment.
Same-Day Dental Implants
Multiple studies suggest that same-day dental implants may be successful. However, the results of these studies are not yet clear. This is a less conventional installation technique and is not used at Reza Dental Care, and it has not been fully researched yet.
Other names for same-day implants:
- Teeth in a day
- Same-day smile
- Immediate dental implants
- One day implants
Why Are Dental Implants So Expensive?
Dental implants are one of the more difficult restorative dental services provided in clinics. The cost reflects the amount of work involved in the treatment and the skill of the dental staff involved.
The materials used in dental implants also affect the cost. Dental implants are attached to your jaw using implant posts made of either medical-grade titanium or zirconium. These materials are costly for great-quality implants. Placing an object into your body is a big decision, and you want to ensure you’re putting high-quality material.
Are you considering dental implants in South Gate, CA? Call today 323-457-8787 or schedule an appointment and find out more about what you can expect.
How to Financially Plan For Your Dental Implant
No one expects to need a dental implant, but sometimes accidents can damage the teeth or tooth decay can put an unexpected strain on your finances. This is why it’s best to plan for potential emergency dental services in a rainy-day fund.
However, if you don’t have one of those, don’t despair. Many people fund their dental treatments with their workplace or private healthcare insurance that covers dental treatments to relieve you of some of the outlay.
The first step is to request a full copy of your dental plan coverage to see what it supports. If your dental work is cosmetic (which many dental implants are classed as), it’s unlikely you’ll get funding and will have to source your funds from other means.
Low-cost finance can be helpful in this circumstance. We accept CareCredit and other financing options at Reza Dental Care to help you achieve a confident smile. We recommend that you plan your treatments together, having a bone graft at the same time as an extraction to minimize downtime and dental implant costs further down the line.
Dental Implants and Dental Insurance
Finding dental insurance that covers dental implants is difficult, but not impossible. Many insurance providers will consider a dental implant a cosmetic treatment, but for those who do help fund treatment, you’ll usually have to pay a percentage of the cost yourself. Most dental insurance companies cap their funding at $1000-$1500, leaving you with a good percentage of the bill’s balance to pay.
It’s worth noting that if you already have a missing tooth prior to signing up with your insurance provider and would like to replace it, the insurer is unlikely to help fund treatment.
In the end, your insurance company determines coverage, and you may want to consult with them regarding coverage amounts.
Types of Dental Implants
Dental implants can replace one tooth or many teeth.
Single Dental Implant
This option is ideal for patients only looking to replace just one or two lost teeth.
Multiple-tooth Implant
If you have a few teeth missing, your dentist may do a multiple-tooth implant with a custom-made replacement for your tooth.
Full-mouth Dental Implants
If you don’t have any teeth, the All-on-4 dental implant technique replaces the entire upper or lower set of teeth with just four implants.
Am I A Candidate for Dental Implants?
If you are healthy and have good periodontal health, you may be a good candidate for dental implants.
Who Are the Wrong Candidates for Dental Implants?
Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. If you have one or more of the following, you may not be able to get implants.
- Osteoporosis or other bone diseases
- Gum disease
- Tobacco use
- Leukemia
- Diabetes
- Blood-clotting condition
- Overall poor oral or general health
Dental Implant Procedures:
Before the Procedure
The first step is your dentist will evaluate your teeth and determine if a root canal can save your tooth or if it needs to be extracted and replaced with a dental implant.
Your dentist will evaluate the area with X-rays, panoramic X-rays, and sometimes a cone beam CT scan to determine if you have a healthy jawbone that will successfully support the dental implant.
The first step of your implant placement will be removing the natural tooth. In case your jawbone does not contain a sufficient amount of bone to support a dental implant, a bone graft will be completed before implant placement.
During the Procedure
To begin the placement procedure, your dentist will ensure that the area is fully numbed with a local numbing agent. Then the dentist will cut in your gums, expose the jawbone underneath, and carefully drill a small hole into your jawbone where the implant will be inserted.
Once it’s placed, the dentist closes the gums over the implant, so it remains covered.
What Are My Options for a Temporary Tooth?
Your dentist will likely offer temporary tooth replacement options while you wait for your implant to integrate into your bone. These include:
- Essix retainers
- Flipper dentures
- Temporary bridges
After the Procedure
Usually, the implant will take anywhere from 2 to 6 months to integrate into the bone properly. This process is called osseointegration which means the dental screw combines with the bone.
The dentist will examine you to make sure that the implant is secure. Then, they’ll place a connecting piece called a healing abutment over the post portion of the implant. This is the part that will hold the new tooth.
Once your gums heal, you will come back, and your dentist will make impressions of your teeth and create a custom replacement tooth called a dental crown. Your dentist, will attach your abutment and then add your crown to the top. It will look just like your natural teeth!
What Should I Avoid After Dental Implant Placement?
If you are a smoker, you must give up smoking after you have had your dental implant placed in your mouth to avoid implant failure. A direct link has been found between tobacco smoking and implant failure. It is also recommended to avoid:
- Extremely hot foods/drinks
- Crunchy foods
- Chewy or sticky foods
- Tough foods (steak, beef jerky, etc.)
What Can I Eat After I’ve Had A Dental Implant Placed?
In most cases, it’s best you wait a few hours before eating once your implant has been placed to ensure the bleeding has stopped and the numbing agent has worn off, preventing burns from overly hot food.
For the first few days, it is strongly recommended to keep a soft diet. This means enjoying foods like:
- Scrambled eggs
- Mashed potatoes
- Smoothies
- Yogurt
- Macaroni and cheese
- Protein shakes
- Soups
Solid or tough foods can potentially cause damage to the healing tissues, disrupting the overall healing process.
If you typically use straws to enjoy your beverages, it is recommended to avoid doing so for at least the first few days. Any sort of suction force in the mouth has the potential to dislodge the blood clots that have formed. This ultimately causes active bleeding and disrupts healing.
Do My New Implants Require Special Care?
When you first have your dental implant placed, you will be instructed to follow your post-operative instructions closely to help promote healing.
Once your implant has healed, you can care for it just as you would a natural tooth. This means brushing and flossing thoroughly at least twice daily and being sure to brush for a minimum of two minutes each time.
Alternatives to Dental Implants
When it comes to replacing a missing tooth in the mouth, there are a few alternatives to dental implants, including partial dentures, full dentures, fitted dental bridges, and fixed dental bridges.
Partial Dentures
These are an economical solution to dental implants, but they can feel uncomfortable for some wearers. Implants are ideal for preventing bone loss, but this is not the case for dentures.
Full Dentures
Full dentures are similar to partial dentures, but replace every tooth instead of a smaller number. These are fixed temporarily using adhesive and require nightly cleaning. Some people find they work their way loose, causing unclear speech.
Fitted Dental Bridges
Sometimes called stick-on-bridges, these bridges use the adjacent teeth to support the replacement tooth’s weight. While aesthetically these look very similar to natural teeth and provide a cheaper alternative to implants.
Fixed Dental Bridges
A fixed bridge is supported by the adjacent teeth in a similar way to a fitted dental bridge. Unlike the fitted bridge, the neighboring teeth are drilled significantly, reducing their overall strength and reduces their lifespan. It is, however, a more secure option than a fitted bridge and can be a decent alternative if you have gum and bone density issues.
Best Dental Implants Near Me
When selecting a dentist, it’s important to check out their qualifications and experience to ensure that they are capable of offering such a complex dental treatment. It would be helpful if you also looked at online reviews and the dental office website’s.
The American Dental Association recommends speaking to friends, family, and co-workers that received an implant and had a great experience.
To ensure that the dentist you choose is qualified, ask how many implants he or she has installed.
You can find an excellent dentist at Reza Dental Care who is incredibly skilled at placing dental implants.
Need dental implant consultation or second opinion in South Gate? Call us today at 323-457-8787. We look forward to taking care of all your oral health.
Conclusion
Dental implants are an excellent option for replacing missing teeth. However, When it comes to implants, there’s a lot to unpack. The treatment itself is pricey and a technically advanced treatment that needs a high level of expertise. Picking the right dentist for you is essential, so be sure to check out the ADA website and speak to your circle of friends for their recommendations.
Sometimes, implants will be unsuitable for you. In these cases, alternative treatments such as bridges or dentures can be used in place of implants for a natural-looking alternative.