Although dentures and dental bridges can help keep your teeth properly aligned, they still don’t address the critical aspect of loss of jawbone density. That’s where dental implants come in. These titanium posts mimic the natural tooth structure so well that the jawbone grows to surround and fuse to them, securing them into place. Then, you can top the dental implants with any kind of restoration, depending on how many teeth you’re replacing.
Carlsbad Dental Implants
The Permanent Solution to Tooth Loss
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants replace your missing tooth’s entire root structure — not just the visible crown. Dental implants are titanium posts drilled into the jawbone under the missing tooth. After placing the implant, the surrounding jawbone is allowed to heal around the implant for several months. In approximately 6 months, the titanium post becomes a firmly-rooted part of your overall dental anatomy.
Once your jawbone has healed completely, natural-looking dental restorations, such as crowns, bridges, or dentures can be attached to the implant. As such, dental implants replace the entire dental structure to provide a new tooth that looks and functions like natural teeth. Since they’re firmly rooted into your jawbone, there’s no risk of the tooth sliding out, loosening, or causing other inconveniences.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Because dental implants replace the entire tooth, they have many advantages over the other tooth replacement options, including the following:
- Longer lifespan. With proper care, dental implants can last over 30 years!
- Better oral health. Unlike dental bridges, which require reducing and anchoring to healthy teeth, dental implants do not impact the surrounding teeth.
- Natural appearance. Keeping the jawbone stimulated means that you can keep your youthful facial shape for longer.
- More security. Dentures are notorious for slipping out of position at the worst times. With dental implants, you won’t have to worry while you eat or speak.
- Longer life expectancy. Studies have shown that dentures alone have a life expectancy of 10 years. Combining dental implants and dentures extends the life expectancy to a lifetime.
Why Choose Carlsbad Beach Dental, Drew Addy DDS, for Dental Implants?
- Same-day CEREC crowns are available for single implants.
- High-quality materials are used to create restorations.
- A caring, experienced team of dental professionals.
Am I a Candidate for Implants?
You’re a suitable candidate for dental implants if you’re missing one or more teeth and you’re tired of dealing with dentures. If you want a dental restoration option that lasts a lifetime and replaces your missing teeth perfectly, then you should seriously consider getting dental implants. The biggest advantage of dental implants is that they look, function, and feel like actual teeth because they replace your teeth’s entire root structure.
Candidates for dental implants must have good oral and overall health, including healthy gingival tissues and jawbone. You need to have sufficient jawbone density to support the titanium post.
If you’ve suffered bone loss under the empty socket, you’ll need bone grafting to regrow sufficient jawbone before getting implants. To avoid needing bone grafts, you should get implants shortly after losing your tooth — the longer you wait, the more your bones will disintegrate.
Dr. Addy will carefully examine your dental anatomy, take the necessary X-rays, and review your medical history to determine if you’re a suitable candidate for dental implants.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Many factors contribute to the cost of dental implants. For instance, the location of the implants can influence what kind of implant you need for success. Also, keep in mind that the number of implants you need could differ from the number of teeth you’re replacing, affecting the price of your treatment. To get an accurate estimate of what dental implants will cost, you need to come in for a consultation with Dr. Addy. He and our team can provide details that are specific to your case.
In the long run, when you factor in the cost of other tooth replacement options, you may find that dental implants are the wisest financial decision. You won’t know unless you schedule that consultation!
Indications for Dental Implants
One of the amazing things about dental implants is that they are versatile and can be used in every tooth-loss situation. So whether you’re missing just one tooth or all of them, our Carlsbad team can help you find a dental implant solution to help!
Missing One Tooth
For a single lost tooth, a dental crown will be attached to the dental implant and will not negatively impact the surrounding teeth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Depending on how many and where the missing teeth are, you can use an implant-retained bridge or implant-retained partial denture to address larger gaps in your smile.
Missing All Teeth
In the case of total tooth loss, you don’t need a dental implant for every single tooth in the arch. Rather, with four to six strategically placed dental implants, you can keep your dentures in position and enjoy the same health benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions – Dental Implants
As the most versatile option for tooth replacement, dental implants can rebuild your smile no matter how many pearly whites you’ve lost over the years. They also offer countless benefits over traditional methods like dentures or bridges. However, chances are you have some questions about implants, even after reading all of the information laid out above. That’s why we’ve decided to answer some of the questions we get asked the most often about dental implants for your convenience.
I Have a Denture. Can it Be Combined with Dental Implants?
Absolutely! Traditional dentures are notorious for losing their fit every few years, sliding out of your mouth causing you embarrassment. Instead, you can receive four to eight implants per jaw, which we can use to secure a full denture. This denture can be either fixed or removable depending on your personal preference. With implant-retained dentures, your new teeth should stay in place and last for decades to come.
Can Dental Implants Replace Front Teeth?
Although it’s more common to lose molars (back teeth) than those in the front of the mouth, implants can be used to replace front teeth. Since each restoration is custom-made to mimic the smile you were born with, onlookers shouldn’t be able to tell your implants aren’t your “real” teeth unless you tell them!
Does Dental Insurance Cover Implants?
While most insurance plans don’t cover the cost of the implants themselves, they’ll usually pay for some other aspects of the process, such as your consultation or your restoration. Don’t let this deter you from investing in your smile, though. To help you finance your implants, we have a partnership with CareCredit, a third-party company through which you can take out loans and pay them back in a budget-friendly system. Often with very little or even no interest!
How Long Does the Dental Implant Process Take?
The answer to this question is different for every patient. If you need a bone graft before the implant placement, that can add several months to the process while the graft integrates with the bone. Once the implants have been placed, you’ll need another three to six months of healing before we can attach your personalized crown, bridge, or denture.
Are Dental Implants Right for Me?
Dental implants can restore your smile and oral health, whether you’re missing one, several, or even all of your teeth. They do require you to have generally good oral health before placement, as well as a strong jawbone. If your jawbone isn’t sturdy enough to accommodate implants, you may have to undergo a bone graft before the implant placement. This procedure strengthens the bone, and although it may add a few months of healing time to your implant journey, it’s worth it to have the foundation for a smile that can stand the test of your life.
Partnered With Carlsbad’s Best Specialists
At Carlsbad Beach Dental, Drew Addy DDS, we do not perform the placement procedure, but we have formed strong professional relationships with experienced, talented specialists in the area. When we recommend a specialist, you can be certain that they will show the same level of care and advanced training that you’ve come to expect of Dr. Addy. Once the dental implants have been placed and the allotted healing time has passed, you will return to our dental office so that Dr. Addy can finish the restoration process.
