How Implants Work

First, it is important to appreciate how dental implants work. One of the key factors when it comes to an implants is the integrity of the jaw bone. This will allow the implant to take hold and be grafted to the bone successfully. You also need the right amount of bone on the teeth next to the implant so that the papillae will grow properly. This adds to natural looking teeth by ensuring that the little pink triangles of gumline will regenerate after surgery. This also means that an implant will look more natural in between two regular teeth as opposed to being next to another implant. Finally, the thickness of your gum tissue will play a role. Gums that are eroding may eventually show the metal implant whereas healthy gums should cover it completely.

Matching Your Tooth Color

Every person’s teeth are a slightly different color, ranging from bright white to almost brown. Your dentist will be sure to match the color and shape of your implant to your other teeth so that everything looks as natural as possible. This is the aesthetic side of implants. Everything from the material the crown is made from to skill of the lab tech making the crown will affect how natural the final product appears, and well done implants are nearly indistinguishable from natural teeth.

A Word on Screw-Retained Crowns

Crowns are often fitted to the implant using a screw. This allows for easy maintenance in the future. The screw hole is then covered with a tooth-colored material. Some may choose to have front teeth cemented rather than screwed since the screw hole is more likely to be visible on a front tooth.

A Smile to Be Proud Of

In the end, the goal is to provide patients with a smile that they are happy to see in photographs. Dental implants are an excellent solution to replacing lost or missing teeth, they are absolutely the best option for both functionality and appearance.

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Financing

There is financing available for those who need it when it comes to dental implants. These companies (such as Care Credit and Prosper Healthcare) make it possible for you to get the care you need and then make monthly payments later. Financing is a great option for those who opt for dental implants because dental implants require minimal maintenance and last for many years, so you can minimize any future dental work and be able to steadily pay off the loan month to month. Your dental implants will look great and last a long time; financing is an option worth considering to afford this care.

In-Office Payment Plans

The office doing your dental care understands the need for flexibility, especially when it comes to specialty dental work. Talk with your dentist office about the possibility of an in-office payment plan. These payment plans will be set up based on what you are able to pay from month to month to cover your dental care. If implants are the best option for you but your insurance won’t cover the cost or will only cover part of the cost, in-office payment plans may be able to help you afford the cost. Talk with your dentist to discover how in-office payment plans can make your dental implants available and affordable for your smile.

Prevent Future Damage

One of the reasons that dental implants are a great investment for your oral health is because they help prevent any future damage to your teeth. If you were to opt for a dental bridge to replace your missing tooth or missing teeth, you would need to get to adjacent teeth sanded down to properly apply the bridge. With dental implants, the only teeth affected are the missing teeth. Dental implants will save you money in the long run because you won’t have the health risks and damage from not fixing the missing or damaged teeth or going with a cheaper option that might not be the best for your mouth.

If you need dental implants, don’t let the cost stop you from receiving the care that you need. Consider financing options, discuss in-office payments with your dentist, and consider the cost savings of dental implants for the future. Your oral health is important, so don’t skip on the care you need. Dental implants today are more affordable than ever!

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Losing a healthy tooth due to accident or injury requires quick action. When a tooth comes out in one piece, rinse it in water, trying not to handle the root end of the tooth. Very gently, try to put the tooth back in place in your mouth. If this is not possible, put it in a glass of milk or salt water. Get to the dentist immediately: The tooth is more likely to be able to be restored if you see the dentist within an hour.

If you chip or break a tooth, try to save any large broken pieces. They may be able to be reattached to the tooth, but in some cases a crown or other restoration materials may be necessary to rebuild the tooth. Rinse your mouth with water and tend to any injuries to your mouth or face. See the dentist as soon as possible.

Sometimes a toothache can be an emergency situation if the pain is severe or comes on suddenly. If you have something caught between your teeth that you cannot remove with dental floss, whether or not this is causing pain, you should see the dentist. You should see the dentist for a toothache even if it is not severe. A toothache that lasts for a day or more could be an indication of a serious problem inside the tooth.

If you lose a filling, break a crown, or wear braces and have broken wires or brackets, you should get to the dentist as soon as possible to have the issue fixed. Any sore or abscess in or around the mouth requires a trip to the dentist.

A lost or broken tooth requires immediate action and a trip to a dentist within an hour if possible. Other serious situations like toothache or lost fillings can wait a day or two, but the faster you get to the dentist, the sooner pain will be relieved and the healthier your teeth and mouth will be.

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A traditional dental bridge has one, two or three artificial teeth, called pontics, which are positioned between two dental crowns on the ends. In your mouth, the teeth that are on either side of the gap where the missing teeth were are called the abutment teeth. These teeth are reduced and shaped so that the crowns on the bridge will fit over them. The entire bridge is placed in your mouth, with the pontics filling the gap and the crowns fitting over the abutment teeth. The bridge is permanently cemented into place and does not come out.

The process of getting a bridge usually takes two appointments at the dentist’s office. At the first appointment the abutment teeth are prepared, and sometimes a temporary bridge is placed that you can wear while your permanent bridge is being made at a lab. At the second appointment, the permanent bridge is placed.

Another type of bridge, called a cantilever bridge, can replace missing teeth that have natural teeth on only one side. The crowns on a cantilever bridge are on only one side of the pontics. This type of bridge is not as common as a traditional bridge and is not recommended for teeth at the back of the mouth because it puts excessive stress on the abutment teeth.

A bonded bridge is a third type of bridge that uses resin to bond the bridge to the teeth. This type of bridge requires less preliminary work on the abutment teeth, but it also requires that the surrounding teeth be strong and healthy.

A dental bridge can usually replace one, two or three missing teeth. When a person has more than three teeth missing, a partial removable denture is usually recommended.

A bridge relies on its surrounding teeth to support it, and in turn, it can put pressure on the other teeth. With proper care, a bridge can last for 5 to 10 years and possibly longer. When you have a bridge it is important to continue to brush and floss your teeth regularly and keep appointments for regular dental checkups.

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