A Close-Up Look Into Dental Implants: The Cost, Types, Problems, and Safety

Nothing compares to having your natural teeth. But life has its unexpected turns that can lead to tooth loss. People lose their teeth because of cavities, gum disease, old age, and accidents. But living with missing teeth is no way to live. Other dental and overall health issues may begin to crop up, such as bone deterioration and chewing difficulties that might cost you a lot of time and money to rectify.

Thanks to dental implants in Ancaster, ON, you no longer need to live with missing teeth. Dental implants offer a blend between functionality and aesthetics. You might never get your teeth back, but dental implants will definitely come close.

Types of Dental Implants

Technology has made it easier for people with various issues to receive dental implants. Now, there are different types of dental implants categorized based on various factors such as:

• Type of procedure – subperiosteal and endosteal implants
• Coatings – plasma-sprayed titanium surface, zirconia, etc.
• Connectors – internal hex connectors, etc.
• Implant sizes – standard platform, wide platform, and narrow body

How Are Dental Implants Done Step By Step?

Dental implants are either made of zirconia or titanium. As such, they will need to be surgically inserted into your jawbone to ensure that they are sturdy and can hold the crown. Implants are considered the best option since they replace the root and the crown.

Without further ado, let’s check out the step-by-step process of receiving a tooth implant:

Initial Examination

During your initial appointment, our dentist will perform various examinations to ensure that you are eligible for dental implants. You can expect our dentist to take CT scans and digital x-rays to examine your jawbone.

Tooth Extraction

If the tooth you need to replace is still intact, then our dentist will proceed by extracting the tooth. Our dentist will identify the tooth that needs extraction and then proceed b administering local anesthesia. Our dentist near you will perform a surgical or simple extraction depending on the tooth type.

Additional Procedures

At times, patients need additional procedures to ensure that the implant is securely fixed on the jawbone. Some of the procedures that our dentist may perform are sinus lifts, gum grafting, and bone grafting.

Inserting the Tooth Implant

Once the additional procedures are performed, our dentist will numb your mouth to ensure that the procedure is pain-free. After the anesthetic has kicked in, our dentist will cut open your gum to reach your bone. Our dentist will use a drill to bore a hole in the jawbone where the dental implant will be placed. Since the implant is designed to replace the root, it will be deeply planted in the jawbone.

Abutment Placement

An abutment is a part of the implant that acts as a connector linking the tooth replacement with the abutment to the dental implant.

Fixing the Tooth Replacement

Once our dentist has placed the implant, and the jawbone has healed, then you will receive the tooth replacement. This is usually a crown, bridge, or denture.

How Long Does a Dental Implant Procedure Take?

Getting an implant is a bit of a complicated process that is completed over several months. Plus, dental implants are done in phases. After your initial examination, our dentist can tell if you need additional procedures such as bone grafting. If bone grafting is necessary, the first phase will take three to six months.

The second phase is when our dentist places the implant. The procedure will only take two hours, but healing will take another three to six months. After it heals, you can come back to receive the crown, which will take almost two visits. Therefore, you can expect the whole procedure to take six months or so when no additional procedures are performed.

If there are additional procedures, then getting an implant will take a year or more.

Is Getting a Dental Implant Painful?

When you hear our dentist throw words such as drilling and making incisions around, you might assume that the procedure is excruciating. But it’s not! Our dentist cannot perform the procedure before administering anesthesia. Therefore, pain and discomfort will not be part of the procedure.

But once the anesthesia wears off, you might experience discomfort and pain. The level of discomfort and pain will vary. There are ways that you can deal with the pain and discomfort at home using medication and remedies.

What Are the Three Stages of Dental Implants?

There are three distinct stages that you will have to undergo before you receive your dental implants:

1. Stage 1 – Evaluation and Preparation

In this stage, you might undergo several procedures ranging from tooth extraction to bone grafting.

2. Stage 2 – Artificial Root Placement (Placing the Tooth Implant)

After the preparation phase, our dentist will proceed to the next phase, placing the artificial root or implant into the jawbone.

3. Stage 3 – Crown Placement

The last stage occurs after your jawbone heals. This is when the implant is covered by a crown that resembles your surrounding natural teeth.

Cost of Dental Implants

The dental implant cost may vary depending on the region, the dentist, and the number of implants. But you might pay $3,000 to $4,500 for a single implant. You may also need to check with your insurance company and see what they cover.

The Bottomline

Getting dental implants is usually a safe and straightforward process, but it doesn’t mean it lacks risks or potential complications. Proper planning ensures that the process runs well. The procedure may seem costly, but it’s worth it.

In any case, you can book an appointment with our dentist in  Ancaster, ON, at Ancaster Family Dentistry, and we would love to help you better understand dental implants near you.