There’s more to your smile than you can see just by looking at it. Every tooth has roots that hide beneath the gums and jawbone; these roots play an important role in helping the tooth function properly. Since dentures and bridges do not replace the roots, they cannot perform all the same functions as natural teeth. On the other hand, dental implants from our Pensacola, FL dentist make it possible for your new teeth to work like your old ones. Dr. Lisonbee can place and restore dental implants entirely in-house; call us today for a consultation.
Contrary to popular belief, dental implants are attainable within nearly any budget! Because Patriot Dental has partnered with CareCredit®, we are able to offer flexible financing that fits your family’s monthly budget – with 0% interest! Ask our friendly team today about more details.
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A dental implant is a special kind of restoration that replicates the tooth’s root structure, making it the most comprehensive tooth replacement option available. Every dental implant can be divided into three main parts: a biocompatible post made from titanium, a restoration that closely mimics the appearance of your natural teeth, and a metal abutment that allows us to attach the restoration to the post. The post will fuse with the jawbone via osseointegration, which allows dental implants to feel like natural teeth.
Dental implants are considered the gold standard of tooth-replacement treatment as they’re able to rebuild missing teeth from the roots up. This option also involves an extensive process for restoring a patient’s smile, and it can take several months before you can fully enjoy your complete smile again. Fortunately, our team at Patriot Dental can perform the entire treatment in-office, meaning you won’t have to worry about driving across town to undergo this essential restorative service. Read on to learn the four main steps of the dental implant process so you know what to expect.
You’ll first need to schedule an initial consultation with our team. During your appointment, we’ll look over your oral health and determine if you’re eligible for dental implants. If we detect any developing or underlying issues in your mouth, then we’ll need to provide you with preliminary treatments before moving forward with restoring your missing teeth. These procedures may include periodontal therapy, bone grafting, and tooth extractions. Once you’re ready, we can walk you through your personalized treatment plan, which will involve the overall cost and timeframe.
After we’ve determined that you’re eligible for dental implants, our team will schedule you for surgery at a later time. While other practices sometimes refer their patients out to a local specialist to place their titanium posts, our staff at Patriot Dental can perform the entire process in-office! You’ll be able to receive the essential care you need from a team you already know in one location.
During your surgery, we’ll completely numb your mouth with a local anesthetic. We may even provide you with sedation dentistry to keep you calm and relaxed throughout the process. Your dentist will make a small incision in your gums to reach your jawbone. The dental implants will then be inserted in their pre-planned areas. We’ll close your gums around the posts and place protective caps over them to keep them safe while you heal.
As you recover for the next three to six months, your dental implants will undergo osseointegration—the process in which your posts will fuse to your jawbone. This is what allows the titanium posts to serve as your new permanent roots, providing the stable foundation necessary for your restorations. Once this is finished, you’ll come back into our office so we can attach your abutments, which are small connector pieces that will link your brand-new teeth to your implants. We’ll then send you home to let your gums heal while we fabricate your restorations.
After you’ve recovered from having your abutments placed, we’ll call you back in to have your new pearly whites fitted. Our team will place your crown, bridge, or dentures atop the connector pieces to form your full smile. At this point, we’ll double-check that your bite is comfortable and that you’re satisfied with your results. After answering any questions you may have, you’ll be free to go and show off your complete and confident grin!
Dental implants are useful in many different scenarios involving tooth loss. As long as your mouth and jawbone are healthy, you should most likely be eligible for the treatment, even if certain procedures such as bone grafts and periodontal therapy need to be performed first. We will outline the dental implant process during your first consultation depending on your needs. Below is a list of common situations that can serve as indications for dental implants.
Even just one missing tooth can be a serious oral health problem. To replace it, we can place a titanium implant post in its socket, wait for osseointegration to take place, then attach a lifelike crown. Implants do not require us to remove enamel from remaining healthy teeth and thus are more conservative compared to traditional bridges.
If there’s a gap in your smile that was left by three or more missing teeth, it can be filled with a dental bridge. However, instead of using teeth for support, a bridge can be attached to a pair of dental implants instead, giving them added strength and stability and letting you keep as much of your natural enamel as possible
You only need four to six implants to hold dentures in place, which is why implant dentures are a highly popular option for replacing entire rows of teeth. Depending on your own preferences, you can have your implant dentures be permanently anchored in place, or you can make them removable.
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No two smiles are identical, so it’s impossible to have a flat rate for dental implants. Various factors will influence the amount you’ll pay. After examining your mouth, we will provide you with a personalized estimate based on your treatment plan. We will explain the cost of dental implants in Pensacola and review your payment options to accommodate your budget. Since your treatment will be performed in several steps, you won’t have to worry about paying a lump sum. You can pay for each phase of your treatment separately to invest in a complete smile.
The first step to rebuilding your smile involves a consultation to ensure you’re a candidate for dental implants in Pensacola. Besides a visual examination, your dentist will also review a CT scan of your mouth to look for any concerns hiding below the surface, like bone loss. Besides the consultation and imaging fees, you can expect your estimate to include:
Rest assured; you’ll know exactly what you’ll have to pay before committing to anything.
A dental implant is unlike any other because it replicates both the root and crown. If you’re missing several teeth, you can expect it to cost more than when treating a single tooth. A specific number of posts are used to support a bridge or denture. Depending on how many teeth you’re replacing, you’ll have to pay for:
You may pay more for dental implants upfront than traditional prosthetics; however, they are the most cost-effective long-term. With the proper aftercare, dental implants are proven to last for 30 years or longer, so you won’t have to pay for new ones every few years like regular bridges or dentures. You will enjoy reduced oral health expenses overall because dental implants stop bone loss in your jaw to preserve your natural smile.
Most dental insurance can be used to offset the cost of certain steps in your treatment, like the consultation, tooth extractions, or restorations. A member of our team will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your yearly benefits to lower your out-of-pocket expense.
Besides using your dental insurance, our office has many financial options to keep dental implants affordable for everyone, including:
If you have any questions, or you’re ready to schedule your consultation, contact our office today.
After browsing the above information on this page, you now have a basic idea of how dental implants work, what they cost, and what to expect before, during, and after treatment. Even so, it’s normal to have a few additional questions on your mind. To make locating the answers you need as simple as possible, we’ve responded to some of the questions about dental implants that we get asked the most often. Of course, if you’d prefer to learn more in person, you’re always welcome to give our team a call!
The crown, bridge, or denture that your implant dentist in Pensacola attaches to your implants will be meticulously designed to match your original teeth. We accomplish this by capturing highly detailed impressions of your mouth and partnering with the best dental labs in the area, ensuring that your replacement teeth appear natural. Plus, you’ll never need to worry about your teeth slipping or falling out, so you won’t have to hold your jaw in an awkward position to keep them in place like denture wearers often do.
In addition to looking incredibly lifelike, dental implants also feel basically indistinguishable from the pearly whites you used to have. With our CT/cone beam scanner, our dentists are able to position the implant posts at just the right location and angle where the roots of your natural teeth were. Once the posts have fused with your jawbone, you shouldn’t even be able to tell them apart from any natural teeth you may have left!
It depends, but often, dental implants in Pensacola can be eligible for reimbursement from your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) since they provide oral health benefits. With that being said, your FSA likely has a limit on the amount of reimbursement you can receive each year. Our team at Patriot Dental would be happy to take a look at the details of your FSA and help you navigate how it can offset your dental implant costs.
Your specific recovery timeline can vary depending on the type of work you do. If your job is mostly sedentary, you may be able to return to work the day after your procedure, if you feel up to it. However, if your job requires more physical activity, then we strongly recommend that you take off for at least three or four days. Excessive exercise could impair the healing process, as it draws blood away from the implant site. In this case, you may want to schedule your procedure on a Thursday so that you could spend the weekend recovering and minimize the amount of time you need to take off work.
The lifespan of dental implants typically depends on the health and lifestyle choices of the patient. To ensure implants last, it’s important to brush, floss, rinse with mouthwash, and see your dentist on a regular basis. With proper maintenance, dental implants can last upwards of 30 years! This is several times longer than traditional bridges and dentures.
The jawbone doesn’t have very many nerve endings, and your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic before the procedure begins. You will also most likely be sedated, lowering your body’s ability to register pain. While the surgery shouldn’t hurt, your mouth may be sore for a few days afterwards. Take prescribed and over-the-counter pain relievers as directed. Cold compresses can also help. If discomfort worsens instead of improving after three days, give us a call.
When placed by a skilled professional, dental implants can have a success rate of over 95%! When you care for them properly with excellent oral hygiene, routine checkups, and a healthy diet, they are more likely to last. Success can also vary depending on where the implants are located in the mouth. Molars receive more strain from chewing than front teeth, so they may be slightly more likely to fail.
Most dental professionals will not place dental implants in patients who are younger than 18. This is because if dental implants are placed before the jaw has finished growing, it could interfere with further bone development and potentially result in complications. Most people’s jawbones aren’t finished growing until young adulthood, and some people’s take until their mid-20s to fully develop. During your consultation, we can determine whether or not dental implants are the best option for you at this time.
