Am I a candidate for dental implants?
Almost anyone will qualify for dental implants from ages 18 to 99 years old. To qualify for them, you simply must be in good health, a non-smoker, free from any dental diseases, and have enough bone to support the implant fixtures.
Glyndon, MD dentist, Dr. Leah Romay will evaluate your teeth, mouth, gums, and medical history to determine if you are a good candidate for a dental implant.
Can I get a dental implant for a single missing tooth?
There are many people that are missing only one tooth either from an accident, advanced decay, or they simply weren’t born with the adult tooth. We offer implant supported dental crowns for these patients. A single implant fixture can be placed in the gap and a dental crown will be attached to it for a single tooth replacement.
Can I switch from dentures to dental implants?
Many patients want to try to wear dentures after tooth loss. While dentures are a perfectly acceptable treatment for some patients, many people are dissatisfied with them. They are bulky and difficult to get used to.
Most denture wearers will experience some type of slippage either while speaking (slurred speech) or eating (difficulty chewing food). In these cases, we can schedule the implant surgery if you are in good health and have adequate bone available to support the fixtures.
How long does it take to recover from dental implant surgery?
Most people recover in about 1 – 2 weeks. At this point, there should be no bleeding, the wound in your gums should be completely healed, and you should not be experiencing any pain.
Additionally, most of the swelling and bruising should be gone. After the two week mark, you can also resume normal physical activity such as exercise and you resume eating a normal diet. Any amount of serious pain is abnormal after two weeks and you should call our office as soon as possible to seek help.
How soon after extraction can I have my implants inserted?
It depends on how healthy your gum tissue is and the condition of the underlying bone. If you have healthy gum tissue and bone, you can actually have the implant fixtures placed in the same appointment as the extraction or a few weeks later. Although it is hard to imagine going too long without teeth, it is best to wait until your mouth is healed before inserting the fixtures.
In either case, we do recommend not waiting years to begin your tooth implant treatment. The surrounding teeth will begin to shift and the jaw bone will begin to deteriorate.
Will my insurance cover dental implants?
Dental insurance can be complicated to understand and there are many different types of coverage. In most circumstances, we see that dental insurance companies consider dental implants a cosmetic treatment which means they are not medically necessary. However, a prosthesis or restoration is medically necessary.
Therefore, they may offer some coverage for the dental bridge, dental crown, or denture. Additionally, some policies offer some form of cosmetic dental treatment coverage. As with all patients, we will submit claims on your behalf to any PPO dental insurance to maximize your benefits.
How do dental implants prevent bone loss?
A natural, healthy tooth has a root that is imbedded in the jaw bone. When you chew or bite, it stimulates the jaw bone allowing it to regenerate and remain strong and healthy. If a tooth is missing or extracted, the root is also no longer imbedded in the jaw bone. This means there is no stimulation for the bone.
Over time, the jaw bone will slowly begin to break down or reabsorb. A dental implant is the only tooth replacement treatment that replaces teeth at the root. The implant fixture will act as a root and provide the bone with proper stimulation to regenerate.
If you still have questions or concerns regarding dental implants, please do not hesitate to call the office Dr. Leah Romay in Glyndon, MD. Our helpful staff is available during business hours to talk about this revolutionary tooth replacement treatment.