Frequently asked questions here at Expat Dental
Below is a list of frequently asked questions to assist you with your dental health. If you have a question which is not listed below please contact our team and we will be more than happy to assist you.
Most major insurance carriers cover dental implants, however you should check your individual plan. We offer payment plans options to ensure you get the best treatment available to replace missing teeth, regardless of whether or not you have insurance coverage.
Expense is always relative. For example, dental implants will likely be a larger upfront financial investment, but since they a definitive restoration, the lifetime financial, time & energy spend should be significantly less than restoring the same tooth multiple times.
Once a dental implant has fused to the bone successfully and it is functional, it should last many years if cared for properly. Many implants have now been in place for more than 40 years.
The entire process usually takes about two to nine months, depending on your treatment plan. There are two main phases: First the implants have to heal by fusing to the bone, and then the tooth replacement restorations have to be fabricated and attached.
It’s generally important to avoid exposing any recent surgical site in the mouth to food if possible. A good rule of thumb is to eat soft, nutritious foods and keep well hydrated. Your dentist will recommend a diet and instructions on how to care for your new implants during healing.
It depends on the number and location of the implants, but simple, uncomplicated dental implant placement usually takes less than an hour.
Generally there are no open wounds with implant surgery so healing is quite quick and un-eventful. You can expect some minor discomfort, but that can generally be managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or similar medication in prescription strength.
No, it is usually done under local anesthesia in your dentist’s office, in just the same way as a filling. Once the anesthesia takes effect, you shouldn’t feel anything.
Placing dental implants requires a surgical procedure in which precision channels are created in the jawbone, often using a surgical guide. The implants are then fitted into the sites so that they are in intimate contact with the bone. They generally require two to six months to fuse to the bone before they can have tooth restorations attached to them to complete the process.
After meeting with a dental implant dentist to develop your treatment plan, the placement of a dental implant usually involves several steps: 1. The dental implant, is placed surgically into the jawbone. 2. As you heal, your implant will osseointegrate, or fuse with, your natural jawbone.. This healing process can take weeks to months while you proceed with your everyday life in between appointments. 3. Once the implant bonds with the jawbone, a small connector called an abutment is placed on top of the dental implant to connect the implant to the replacement tooth or teeth. 4. An individual tooth, an implant-supported bridge or dentures containing multiple teeth are then attached to the abutment.
The surface of dental implants is quite sophisticated and designed to fuse to bone through a process called osseointegration (osseo bone; integration fusion or joining with). That’s because when teeth are lost, the bone that supported those teeth is lost too. Placing dental implants stabilizes bone, preventing its loss. Along with replacing lost teeth, implants help maintain the jawbone’s shape and density. This means they also support the facial skeleton and, indirectly, the soft tissue structures gum tissues, cheeks and lips. Dental implants help you eat, smile, talk and look completely natural. This functionality imparts social, psychological and physical well-being.
A dental implant is a replacement for the root(s) of a tooth. Like tooth roots, dental implants are secured in the jawbone and are not visible once surgically placed. They are used to support crowns, bridges or other fixed prostheses. They are made of titanium, which is lightweight, strong and accepted by the body. Titanium alloys are the most widely used metals in both dental and other bone implants, such as orthopedic joint replacements. Dental implants have the highest success rate of any implanted surgical device.
Nicotine causes constriction of the blood vessels in the gums and jaw bones. This decreases healing capacity and may lead to failure of the implant.