Life Changing Benefits of Dental Implants

Overview of Implant Placement | Cost of Dental Implants | Evaluation of Dental Implants

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Dental implant placement is a short procedure lasting only 20 to 30 minutes in most cases.  Dr. Laudenbach provides local anesthetic in the most gentle way possible so that there is no discomfort during the treatment.  Our patients frequently tell us they have almost no discomfort even on the same day / afternoon / evening after dental implant placement.  Patients typically take something like Advil liquid gels or Tylenol Extra Strength regularly every 6 hours after treatment and have a backup pain medication which is rarely ever needed.  Please be sure to take a look at what our patients are saying about dental implant placement in the patient testimonials area.  In many cases patients are surprised that the procedure was much more straightforward than what they had imagined and wish they had started treatment sooner.

Dental Implant Facts

1. Are the most advanced tooth replacement system ever devised
2. Help preserve the jawbone to prevent the appearance of premature aging
3. Look and function like natural teeth
4. Are placed / restored in the doctor’s office with minimal discomfort!  Most of our patients report minimal to no discomforton the same afternoon / evening of treatment.
5. Improve your comfort, appearance, and speech.
6. Have over a 95% success rate.  If an implant is not successful it may be easily replaced after a brief waiting period of a few months
7. Allow you to eat the foods you love
8. Never develop tooth decay
9. Allow you to talk, smile, and laugh with confidence
10. Represent a conservative treatment option – your adjacent teeth are left untouched unlike traditional crown and bridge treatments.
11. Never require root canals
12. Can provide great stability for dentures and prevent bone loss caused by dentures
13. Can completely eliminate the need for a denture
14. Can help people of any age
15. Are natural looking and very long-lasting

What Types of Prosthesis are Available?

A single prosthesis (crown) is used to replace one missing tooth – each prosthetic tooth attaches to its own implant.

A partial prosthesis (fixed bridge) can replace two or more teeth and may require only two or three implants.

A complete dental prosthesis (fixed bridge) replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. The number of implants varies depending upon which type of complete prosthesis (removable or fixed) is recommended.

A removable prosthesis (over denture) attaches to a bar or ball in socket attachments, whereas a fixed prosthesis is permanent and removable only by a dental professional.

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Overview of Implant Placement

The Surgical Procedure

The procedure to place one or more dental implants is relatively short, typically ranging from takes 30 to 90 minutes. The number of appointments and time required vary from patient to patient. The surgeon will bring great precision and attention to the details of your case.

Prior to surgery, you may receive antibiotics and for greater comfort, intravenous sedation or nitrous oxide (laughing gas). These options are discussed with you at your consultation appointment. A local anesthetic will be administered to numb the area where the dental implant will be placed.

When you are comfortable, the surgeon makes a small incision in the gum tissue to reveal the bone, creates space using special instruments, and gently inserts the titanium implant. The top of this implant is often visible through the gum. Sometimes it is better in the early stages of healing to have the implant covered by the gum tissue.

Healing after Dental Implant Surgery

Patients are often pleasantly surprised to discover that they experience almost no discomfort following dental implant surgery. The length of time varies from person to person, depending upon the quality and quantity of bone. In some cases, implants may be restored immediately after they are placed. The surgeon will advise you on follow-up care and timing. After the initial phase of healing, the surgeon places an abutment (support post) or a healing cap onto the dental implant during a brief follow-up visit. This allows gum tissue to mature and provides access to the implant.

Occasionally, impressions are made at the time the implant is placed. This enables the crown to be ready when the implants have healed. How long your mouth needs to heal is determined by a variety of factors. Follow-up care (one to four appointments) is usually needed to ensure that your mouth is healing well and to determine when you are ready for the restorative phase of your treatment.

It may be beneficial to perform a soft tissue graft to obtain stronger, more easily cleaned and natural appearing gum tissue in the area around the implant. This process involves moving a small amount of gum tissue from one part of your mouth to the area around the implant. Most often, it is a brief and relatively comfortable procedure.

Whether it’s one tooth or all of your teeth that are being replaced, your dentist will complete the restoration by fitting the replacement tooth (crown) to the dental implant.

When are dental implants placed?

In some situations, implants are placed several months after extraction. In many cases an implant may be placed immediately following extraction of a tooth if the available surrounding bone is favorable.  This advanced treatment decision made by your doctor simplifies the treatment process so that you won’t require an additional surgery or healing phase related to place the placement of the implant. When infection or other problems with the bone are present, immediate implant placement may not be the best treatment option and limited bone grafting will likely be recommended.  With this in mind it is always best to address a dental infection or problem as soon as possible to avoid further deterioration or loss of the supporting bone volume.

If your tooth has been missing for some time, the adjacent support bone is likely to grow thinner and shrink. This occurs because the root of the natural tooth has to be present to stimulate the bone. As much as one third of your jaw’s thickness can be lost in the year following tooth extraction. If you are missing enough bone, you may benefit from having additional bone grafted into the area. This ensures the implant will be adequately supported when it is placed in the jaw.

How many implants do I need?

Most frequently, one implant per missing tooth is placed. Because many of the larger teeth in the back of your jaws have two or three roots, the most common approach is to replace missing back teeth with larger implants.

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Cost of Dental Implants

Considering the Value of Dental Implants:

Dental implants have been available for several decades and they are highly effective in restoring patient esthetics, comfort, function and confidence. When considering the value of dental implants there are several important points that should be considered.

Longevity

When comparing the cost of dental implants to other tooth replacement methods such as dentures and bridges, it is important to take into consideration the longevity offered by dental implants that is not always afforded by other, more traditional methods.

While dentures and bridges are initially less expensive, their affordability can be short-lived. Because these older methods require repair and replacement every 5-10 years, they are often more expensive over time. By contrast, dental implants, when properly placed and cared for, can last a lifetime.

Jaw Bone Health

Over time, when a tooth is missing, the jaw bone deteriorates. So while a denture or bridge may seem to function similarly to a tooth, underneath the surface damage is being done to the jaw bone and ultimately to the structure of the face. This can result in the distortion of the shape of a person’s face, leading to additional cosmetic costs down the road.

On the other hand, dental implants are made of titanium, which integrates with the jaw bone, strengthening it and stimulating bone growth. This preserves the natural strength and quality of the mouth, reducing the risk of problems in the future.

Quality of Life

Dental implants can be seen as a long-term investment not only in terms of money, but also in terms of quality of life. A dental implant is the closest thing to a natural tooth. In addition to allowing the patient to eat the same healthy foods he or she has always enjoyed, it also eliminates the day-to-day hassles and possible embarrassment that are frequently caused by dentures.

Determining the Cost of Your Dental Implant Care

There are several steps (and often multiple professionals) involved in the placement of a dental implant. When considering the cost of your dental implant care it is important to realize that your care will involve several visits involving evaluation and treatment as follows:

• Exams/office visits
• Tooth/root extraction
• Bone grafting
• Placement of the titanium root (the “dental implant”)
• Placement of the crown
• X-rays, pre/post operative care

When comparing the cost of care recommended by different dental providers it is important to realize that our office focuses on a comprehensive approach so that you are fully informed about your overall dental condition and the variety of treatment options available to you.

Financing for Dental Implants

We offer a variety of payment options for our patients to help them obtain the dental care that they need and deserve.  In additional to traditional cash and credit card payment, we work with Lending Club and Care Credit, the leading dental care finance companies that offer no-interest and low-interest loans for medical procedures including dental implants.

Although our office does not participate directly with any dental insurance company, as a service to you we will check with your dental insurance carrier to see what portion, if any, of dental implants they cover.  Our team is skilled at maximizing your dental insurance benefit.

Dental Implants are an investment in your health as well as your appearance. A full set of teeth makes eating a pleasure again, making it easier to eat a balanced, healthy diet. A full set of teeth also preserves the contours of the face, keeping you from looking old before your time.

Schedule Your Consultation

The only way to receive an accurate price quote is to call us and come in for a consultation, and we can give you a specific price for your case. Please schedule your consultation.

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Evaluation for Dental Implants

Benefits of Dental Implants Philadelphia

As part of your evaluation we will complete a comprehensive medical history, dental examination, and radiographic examination.  We do this to make sure we have a full understanding of your overall medical and dental health. Whenever possible we will request your radiographic records from your referring dentist’s office and only take the required images at our office.

When planning dental implant therapy it is critical to obtain a 3-dimensional x-ray known as a CT scan to safely and accurately plan your treatment.  CT scans are now considered by many dental authorities as the “standard of care” when performing any dental implant treatment.

For your safety our office is equipped with a low dose 14 second “cone beam CT scan” system known as Galileos.  The Galileos CBCT represents a significant reduction in radiation exposure for our patients and is a safer alternative to medical CT scans at hospital imaging centers.

During your consultation visit, Dr. Laudenbach will address your specific needs and considerations. Your questions and concerns are important to us and our team will work with you very closely to help make your procedure a success.

Once we have all of your diagnostic information we will also provide a detailed treatment plan.  Our team will review the costs of therapy and review your insurance plan at this time. There are many types of insurance plans, and coverage for implants is varied. Unfortunately your insurance company does not guarantee coverage, but we will be happy to assist you in maximizing your insurance benefit and will complete any necessary insurance paperwork on your behalf.

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