Understanding Dental Implants at Jorge A. Alvarez DDS
Do you have a missing tooth? For more than 30 years, the best tooth-replacement option has been a dental implant. Dr. Jorge Alvarez can provide you with a more stable and durable replacement by using an implant. Implants are the closest substitute for natural teeth by bonding with the jawbone and making a sturdy base for one or more crowns (artificial teeth).
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is basically a titanium post that replaces a missing tooth root. An abutment is placed on top of the screw, which provides a connection for the topping of a natural-looking crown.
Who needs dental implants?
If you're missing one or more teeth and have good bone support, implants may be just right for you.
What are the benefits of getting dental implants?
They look, feel, and function like real teeth and help prevent bone loss.
Bone loss prevention is the #1 health benefit of an implant. The chewing motion on the implant screw creates pressure that stimulates bone growth and keeps the jawbone strong and avoids volume loss. Implants are constructed with titanium because of its ability to fuse with bone.
Bones start reabsorbing into the body with the lack of stimulation that a natural tooth root (or an implant screw) causes. In the first year after a tooth is lost, the jaw can experience up to 25% of volume loss. After one year, the bone volume continues to decrease. If caught early enough, an implant can help recover some bone density. As soon as healing begins, the bone begins to bond with the implant and grows around it.
What is the process of getting a dental implant?
First, we have to do a full exam in which we review your medical history and then build a personalized treatment plan that's just right for you.
What are the steps of getting a dental implant?
If you're already missing a tooth, it's very straightforward. We place the implant, allow the site to heal for about 3 or 4 months, and then fabricate what's called a custom abutment and a crown right over that abutment.
Sometimes, if there's a tooth that's badly decayed, we will remove the tooth, then do some bone grafting. We may decide to place an implant the same day or at a later time.
The healing time is about 3 to 4 months. Then we either place the implant at that time, or if we placed the implant at the time of the extraction, we will place an abutment and a crown right over it.
Will I need a bone graft before I get a dental implant?
Yes, sometimes, especially if you've had missing teeth for a while. We'll evaluate that with the scans.
What kind of teeth can go on top of dental implants?
You can choose fixed or removable. If you need to extract all the teeth or are missing all the teeth in your mouth, we can place a certain number of implants, maybe four, six, or eight, in strategic sites. We can then fabricate either a removable denture that snaps on or something fixed, called a hybrid. The fixed restoration is the most natural, and the removable snap-on is the most affordable.
How long is the recovery from getting dental implants?
Most people feel back to normal in a few days, with full healing over a few months.
How long does an implant last?
With proper care, 20 or more years, sometimes a lifetime. It all depends on your hygiene and the well-integration of the implants.
Can dental implants get cavities?
No. But you still need to brush and floss to protect the gum and the nearby teeth.
What's the cost of dental implants?
It depends on the case. We offer flexible payment plans to make it manageable.
Does insurance cover them?
Some plans do have some coverage for dental implants. We will help check your coverage and explain all your options.
What kind of conditions would have to be met in order to have a dental implant?
One condition is having any missing teeth, whether in the front or back. That would be an indication to have a dental implant to replace one tooth or multiple teeth. The advantage of dental implants is that they replace any missing teeth, helping to restore function and allowing you to eat and chew your food properly.
What is the process that we would go through for me to get dental implants?
It depends. Let's say there's a tooth that's broken down and no longer restorable by means of a root canal or a crown, and it needs to be removed. You're going to have a missing tooth, which would be an indication for an implant. If you already have a missing tooth, that would also be an indication for an implant. The difference between having an implant and a permanent bridge is that a bridge requires preparing adjacent teeth as if doing crowns to connect the bridge. An implant is a better option because it keeps the teeth separate. If you're missing one tooth and you put an implant in, you get a crown over it, and it becomes an individual tooth, not connected to the teeth next to it.
What is involved in the dental exam for implants beforehand?
Beforehand, we must evaluate your medical history. This includes checking for medical conditions that might affect having a dental implant, such as osteoporosis or medications for osteoporosis.
At Jorge A. Alvarez DDS, your dental health is our priority. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call our team at (561) 783-7783, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!