Dental Implants

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant does not look like a tooth on its own; in fact, it is more similar to a screw. It actually serves as support for crowns and other types of restorations. The implant is placed in the jawbone and undergoes osseointegration, forming a bond with the bone tissue. This way, it can closely mimic natural tooth roots and perform a variety of important functions that will keep your new smile healthy and strong.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Did you know that more than 3 million people in the United States have dental implants and that more than 500,000 are placed each year? These permanent prosthetics are changing lives every day, giving patients like yourself who are suffering from tooth loss the opportunity to embrace a better quality of life. The biggest advantage of dental implants is that they replace the underlying root system of your missing teeth, which is something that traditional restorations are unable to address on their own. Obviously, new roots mean that your prosthetic teeth will stay firmly in place, but it also provides stimulation for your jawbone so that it does not break down. This way, the jaw stays strong and continues to maintain the youthful shape of your face. Other key benefits of dental implants in Willowbrook include:

Day-to-Day Benefits

                               
• Eat the Foods You Love: Improved biting force that allows you to eat tougher foods without having to worry about your teeth slipping out of place.
                               
• Natural Look and Feel: A highly natural feel and appearance that is the next best thing to having your real teeth again.
                               
• Better Oral Health: Cleaning and maintaining your dental implants in Willowbrook are easy because they look and act just like regular teeth, so you can brush and floss with greater ease. This allows for a reduced risk for tooth decay and gum disease.
                               
• Better Quality of Life: Instead of feeling embarrassed or worried about your dental prosthetics, you can feel comfortable and confident when surrounded by others. Your quality of life will significantly improve as opposed to those who wear dentures who remark of their lack of interest in attending social gatherings because of their prosthetics.
                       

Health Benefits

                               
• Teeth Remain in Place: Dental drift is no longer an issue because your dental implants will help keep your natural teeth in place and prevent potential shifting over time.
                               
• Jawbone Stimulation Increases: Because the implant post mimics the natural tooth root, it will continue to stimulate the jawbone to prevent shrinking over time.
                               
• No Altering of Your Natural Teeth: Restorations that can be placed in your mouth without having to make any changes to your existing teeth.
                               
• Minimal Risk of Systemic Issues: It is believed that tooth loss and lifespan are closely connected. With patients over the age of 65 with 5 or more missing teeth believed to have a shorter lifespan than others, you can lower your risk of many of the most common systemic issues that often occur because of tooth loss. By replacing your teeth with dental implants, you will work to improve your overall health and extend your lifespan.
                       

Long-Term Benefits

                               
• High Success Rate: When placed by a licensed and trained implant dentist in Willowbrook, you can expect your prosthetics to have a high success rate of 95%. After 10 years, this number remains at 90-95% if properly maintained.
                               
• Longer-Lasting Smile: Dental implants have an extended lifespan of 30 years or longer with minimal maintenance.
                               
• Money-Savings Decision: Instead of wasting your hard-earned dollars on tooth replacement solutions like dentures and dental bridges, dental implants will be your most cost-effective option. How? You’ll never need to buy dental adhesives, special cleaning supplies, or seek help for adjustments and replacements every 5-10 years.
                       

Who Dental Implants Can Help

When you first visit for a dental implant consultation, we’ll go over the process and how implants work so that you understand exactly what you’re getting into. Then we’ll examine your mouth to determine if you’re a good candidate; we might have to perform certain preparatory procedures first before moving on to the surgery. No matter how many teeth you’ve lost, implants hold the solution. Below, you can learn more about how the process works depending on the severity of your tooth loss as well as the most important factors that influence your ability to complete treatment.                        

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Ideally, candidates for dental implants should have good oral health before completing any significant dental treatment, whether it be for tooth replacement or another service. For example, if you have any existing tooth decay, gum disease, oral infections, or other problems, they will need to be taken care of ahead of time.

Furthermore, patients should have sufficient bone tissue so the implant can properly integrate with the jaw. Without enough healthy bone available, the implant will never fuse properly, causing it to fail. We’ll perform detailed exams and scans to gain a better understanding of the condition of your mouth.

Missing One Tooth

Traditionally, nearby teeth need to be modified so they can hold a bridge that fills the gap in your smile. When just one tooth is missing, you don’t need to have existing teeth adjusted when you opt for dental implants. Instead, we can insert an implant post into the jaw, then an abutment inside of the implant once osseointegration is complete. The abutment ensures a stable foundation for the permanent crown that will be attached to the implant. After the crown is attached, it will mimic the appearance and function of a real tooth, making it indistinguishable from your remaining teeth to those around you.

Missing Multiple Teeth

The number of implants you get depends on how many teeth need to be replaced. For example, two implant posts can anchor a bridge in order to replace several teeth in a row. An implant bridge is generally recommended when there are two or more consecutive teeth missing inside your arch. You won’t need to worry about modifying any nearby teeth just to make room for your new restoration. Keep in mind that an implant bridge is much sturdier and longer-lasting than any traditional bridge out there.

Missing All Teeth

Dental implants are just as effective at replacing several teeth throughout the mouth or an entire arch of teeth. The more teeth you intend to replace, the more implants we’ll need to attach ahead of time. For example, a partial denture can be held in place with about four implants, while a full denture may require six or more depending on the quality of your jawbone tissue. Implant dentures can also be customized to be removable or fixed depending on your preference.

Start-to-Finish Convenience

Dr. Song has completed numerous continuing education courses over the years in order to be able to both place and restore implants. Other dentists might have to refer you to a separate specialist for certain steps of the implant process, costing you additional time and money as a result. Meanwhile, at Song Dental, everything is handled by the dentist and the team that you are already familiar with for both your comfort and your convenience.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

We can only give you an accurate estimate for the cost of dental implants in Willowbrook after we’ve thoroughly examined your smile and properly evaluated your needs. We’ll need to consider various factors, such as the number of teeth missing, where they’re located in the mouth, and the need for any preliminary procedures. The initial cost will likely be higher than that of a standard denture or bridge, but dental implants have a much longer lifespan, so you won’t need to pay for a replacement as often. In the long run, dental implants may actually save you money!

While the price of treatment varies from patient to patient, here are a few things you need to know about how much dental implants cost.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

During your initial consultation with your implant dentist in Willowbrook, Dr. Song will closely examine your mouth to determine whether you’ll require one or more preparatory procedures before implants can be placed. Some of the common issues we see include jawbone loss, gum disease, and tooth decay, but these can usually be remedied with bone grafting, periodontal therapy, and tooth extractions, respectively. These procedures will increase your overall treatment costs.

On the bright side, Dr. Song can surgically place your implants right here in our own office. This not only streamlines your treatment, but also saves you from having to pay a separate bill to an outside specialist.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

In addition to the number of dental implants required, the price may vary based on the materials used to craft your implants. The posts and abutments can be made from various materials, each of which has their own unique benefits and cost. The restoration (crown, bridge, or denture) must also be considered.

Rest assured that our team will be transparent about why we choose one specific material over another, as well as how that choice impacts your total costs.

Why Dental Implants Are the Most Cost-Effective Tooth Replacement  

It may seem unbelievable that dental implants in Willowbrook can save you money, but it’s true! Here are some of the reasons why dental implants are an investment worth making:

                               
• They don’t require you to constantly purchase adhesive to keep them in place.
                               
• You won’t need to buy specialized cleaning solutions – regular oral hygiene products should be sufficient.
                               
• They can last for 30+ years, compared to the average lifespan of dentures and bridges (seven to 10 years). With implants, you won’t have to pay for frequent replacements.
                               
• Because dental implants improve oral health, you lower your risk of gum disease and other oral concerns that may require expensive treatments.
                       

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Not all dental insurance plans cover dental implants or their surgical placement, but some do. Our team will be happy to help you navigate the ins and outs of your plan and how much coverage you qualify for. Even if your plan doesn’t cover the implants themselves, it may partially cover other portions of the treatment, like your restoration.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Aside from dental insurance, we have other payment options for dental implants. One of these is CareCredit, a third-party financier that has helped countless Americans afford their medical and dental care. They offer multiple payment plans that can be split up into monthly installments, often at little or no interest.

We also have our very own in-house Wellness Plan here at Song Dental. For a flat yearly or monthly fee, this plan gives you the same basic care that traditional dental insurance does, but without any annoying waiting periods, deductibles, or annual maximums to worry about. You also get a significant discount on all of our other services, including dental implants.

Maintaining & Caring For Your Dental Implants

 If you want the secret to keeping your dental implants functioning and looking their best for 30 years or more, it’s proper dental implant care in Willowbrook. At Song Dental, our team of dental experts believes in providing our patients with the most effective ways to maintain healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime. As a patient with dental implants, it will be your job to clean, protect, and ensure the health of your new teeth year-round. Naturally, we will want to see you every six months for regular dental checkups and cleanings, but if you incorporate the following tips into your daily lifestyle, you can expect to enjoy your new smile for years to come.                        

Making Oral Hygiene a Priority

Everyone knows that brushing and flossing are essential components of any oral hygiene routine. And although it is true that dental implants in Willowbrook cannot decay, your natural, healthy teeth can. This is why you must maintain optimal dental health while wearing your dental implants. They may be undeterred by decay, but they can be negatively affected by gum disease. Regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing are all necessary to ensure the health and future of your smile.

Eating a Healthy Diet

You may be tempted to dig into a bowl of ice cream or bust open a bag of potato chips while watching a game on TV, however, these will not only add inches to your waistline, but they’ll also make you vulnerable to bad bacteria and harmful acids. Because sugars and starches are some of the worst foods you can consume if you want a healthy smile, it’s imperative that you adopt healthier eating habits. Incorporating leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and those high in calcium and Vitamin C will support strong tooth enamel and gum health, keeping your dental implants firmly in place.

Breaking Bad Habits

Smoking is one of the worst lifestyle habits you can practice. While bad for your overall health, it weakens your immune system, putting you at greater risk for dental implant failure, especially in the days following your surgery. Eating ice, biting your fingernails, using your teeth as tools, and chewing on inanimate objects are also ways you can damage your teeth, which will only cause you to spend more time and money trying to fix your dental implants instead of simply enjoying them. It’s better to break these habits early on so you don’t have to worry.

Protecting Your Dental Implants

While breaking bad habits is key to protecting your implants from possible damage, you’ll also want to invest in a customized mouthguard. Whether you enjoy playing sports or often find yourself stressed and grinding your teeth, these unique oral appliances fit comfortably inside your mouth for maximum protection. From a sudden fall or hard hit while on the field to clenching your teeth after a stressful day at work, a customized mouthguard will protect your dental implants and natural teeth from extensive damage, helping to keep them safe.

Scheduling Regular Dental Checkups

When visiting your implant dentist in Willowbrook, Dr. Song will examine your smile to check for any signs of tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, or damage to your dental implants. It is these six-month visits that allow us to make sure everything looks good and is functioning correctly. Should we discover a minor or major problem during one of your appointments, we can quickly get to work and fix it before it becomes a more serious issue.

Dental Implant FAQs

If you’re ready to invest in dental implants in Willowbrook, you likely have a few concerns about the road ahead. There isn’t any reason to worry because we’ll explain everything during your initial consultation. While you wait for your visit, here are the answers to a few of the most common questions we are asked by patients to ease any apprehensions. 

How long do dental implants last?

Traditional prosthetics are made of durable materials to last for about 5 to 10 years depending on the number of teeth you’re treating. Dental implants are proven to last for decades with the right aftercare, like maintaining your oral hygiene at home, using a daily mouthwash, and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. Healthy lifestyle habits and a balanced diet will also ensure your new smile thrives for years.

Can I take dental implants out?

Dental implants permanently treat tooth loss because titanium posts are surgically placed into your jawbone to serve as roots. Your bone will fuse to them through a process called osseointegration. As a result, only an implant dentist in Willowbrook can remove them. Although the implant posts aren’t removable, some prosthetics can be taken out for cleaning, like dentures.

Are dental implants safe?

Dental implants are safe when used for the ideal candidate, like those who have good oral and general health. It’s also best to choose a trusted dental professional who has undergone advanced training and has experience in implant dentistry. You’ll have a thorough consultation to ensure dental implants are right for you. Some patients may require additional procedures before their placement surgery, like periodontal therapy and bone grafting. If you have certain pre-existing medical conditions, your implant dentist will take extra precautions, such as diabetes or cancer.

Are dental implants successful?

Dental implants are the most successful option to replace missing teeth when placed by a skilled dentist. They have over a 95% success rate to last for 30 years or longer. Various factors will influence the success of your new smile, like the location in your mouth. Molars experience more stress and friction, so they have a slightly higher rate of failure than those placed in the front. You can lessen your risk of dental implant failure by committing to your oral hygiene and visiting your dentist twice a year. If you develop any concerning symptoms between your regular visits, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist, such as pain, swelling, or a feeling the implant is loose.

Am I too old for dental implants?

If you’ve finished growing, your age doesn’t matter if you are interested in dental implants. Many seniors choose the treatment to fill the spaces in their smiles; however, your process may be a little more complex. Your dentist considers other factors when determining your candidacy for the procedure, like your dental and overall health. They’ll create the personalized plan you need to treat your tooth loss to restore a beautiful, functional smile.