Are you a Baltimore County resident considering dental implants to enhance your quality of life? We want you to feel confident about your decision. Please review our dental implant FAQ section. If you have any further questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call our Glyndon, MD office. Our goal is to provide you with all the necessary information so you can make the best choice for your health.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM THE DENTAL IMPLANT PROCESS?
Since every case is unique, the process will differ for each person and each tooth. The first step in any implant placement is a thorough examination with Dr. Romay. Once a treatment plan is established, we will capture your dental records and schedule you for either tooth extraction with grafting, implant placement with grafting, or a combination of the two. After ensuring the implant is fully integrated with a new 3D digital radiograph, we will fabricate a screw-retained, porcelain prosthetic restoration. Depending on your needs, this prosthetic restoration will be a crown, bridge, or fixed denture.
HOW LONG DOES THE DENTAL IMPLANTS PROCESS TAKE?
Every patient will have a unique dental implant experience. The dental implant process includes taking records, removing the tooth, preparing the site, placing the implant, fabricating the crown, and inserting the crown. Simple cases can take as little as 5 months, while more complex cases may take up to 12 months. On average, the implant process lasts around 8 months.
WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THE MISSING SPACE DURING IMPLANT HEALING?
When missing a visible tooth, it can be difficult to feel confident when you smile. If desired, we offer different cosmetic appliances that may be worn temporarily while waiting for the site to heal. The most commonly utilized option is called an essix. This is a plastic tray, like an Invisalign tray, that has tooth-colored paint in place of the missing tooth. Other options if you require extended healing time include an interim partial and a temporary Maryland Bridge.
CAN I AFFORD DENTAL IMPLANTS?
The better question is, can your overall health afford not to utilize dental implants?
Dental implants are not completed only for cosmetic reasons – they support your overall health in many ways! The cost of damage to other dental structures from not replacing a tooth is difficult to determine. In our experience, the investment made in dental implants is always less than the cost of not seeking treatment. As treatment for dental implants is staggered to allow time for healing, most patients are comfortable paying for each portion of treatment at the time of service. If this is not an option for you, the Baltimore Dental Co. team can provide the different third-party financing options we offer and even a few ideas outside of what we provide. Your overall health is too important to jeopardize because you are worried it is not within your budgets to receive the care you deserve.
WILL I NEED TO CHANGE MY DENTAL IMPLANTS IN THE FUTURE?
Generally speaking, you should not need to replace your dental implants once they have completely healed. Unless you have conditions that may affect your bone, such as an infection, neglected periodontal disease, or osteoporosis, dental implants will last for many years.
If the crown attached to the implant is damaged, which is uncommon, the crown itself may require replacement. Since Baltimore Dental Co. exclusively places screw-retained implant crowns, the process of removing the old crown and fabricating a new one is simple, safe, and noninvasive.
HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF DENTAL IMPLANTS?
Just as you take care of your natural teeth, you need to brush and floss around the dental implant. Flossing is especially important as it is the best way to clean properly around the implant to prevent infection and bone loss. Water flossers, such as Waterpik, are also a great option for those with dental implants.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DENTAL IMPLANTS?
Dental implants are a very safe tooth replacement option with over a 95% success rate. While, as with any medical procedure, there are some risks and complications, they are rare. Proper oral hygiene before and after your surgery is essential to prevent infection. Occasionally, the implant may not fuse to the bone, which can be due to factors like poor bone quality or smoking. Other rare risks include nerve or tissue damage, sinus problems, and gum recession. Despite these potential complications, dental implants remain a highly effective and reliable solution for replacing missing teeth.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER FROM DENTAL IMPLANT SURGERY?
Baltimore Dental Co. is here to make recovery as comfortable as possible. It is important to understand that tooth removal, grafting, and implant placement is surgery and there will be downtime involved.
Most healthy patients feel well enough to return to work and physical activities within a week. The site may still be tender and must be treated with care throughout the entirety of the implant process. In the rare occurrence there is notable pain, we will quickly schedule an appointment to help alleviate your symptoms.
HOW SOON AFTER EXTRACTION CAN I HAVE MY IMPLANTS INSERTED?
This is dependent on which tooth is being replaced, bone grafting needs, and general health related to healing. Some patients may have the option for the implant to be placed the same day as the extraction while others may require six months of healing before placement. When creating a treatment plan for you, Baltimore Dental Co.’s team will advise you of when is best to receive your implant and why.
Regardless of your situation, if you are considering an implant, it is always best to place bone graft when the extraction is completed. Implants should be placed within one year of grafting to prevent bone loss.
It is important to note that receiving the implant does not mean receiving the restoration (the part the looks like your natural teeth). The implant needs to be integrated with your jawbone before the restoration is attached to the implant. If proper integration is not achieved prior to the restoration placement, the implant may fail as it cannot tolerate the bite force being applied through the restoration.
CAN I GET A DENTAL IMPLANT FOR A SINGLE MISSING TOOTH?
Absolutely! Implant services for a single missing tooth are the most common implant restoration in our office. Regardless of if your tooth is missing due to an accident, advanced decay, or you simply weren’t born with the adult tooth, an implant and crown are the perfect restorative solution.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN IMPLANT AND A TRADITIONAL BRIDGE?
A traditional bridge relies on the support of surrounding teeth to hold a prosthetic tooth in place of the missing tooth. This requires the dentist to remove the enamel layer of the adjacent teeth, which means sacrificing solid tooth structure for support purposes only. An implant allows you to replace the missing tooth without modifying the adjacent teeth.
Another important consideration is that a dental bridge requires an additional at-home hygiene step of threading floss underneath the false tooth. It is important to floss the side of the supporting teeth that are covered by the bridge. If not, the supporting teeth are at risk of decay that is difficult to detect due to the location. Decay would require the entire bridge to be replaced, and if severe, the supporting tooth may need extraction. Without another supporting tooth, a bridge will no longer be an option.
In most cases, the cost difference between a bridge and an implant is negligible. After completing an examination, we are happy to provide all potential treatment options for your consideration.
CAN I SWITCH FROM DENTURES TO DENTAL IMPLANTS?
While dentures are an acceptable treatment for some patients, many are dissatisfied as they can be 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).
If you are considering a more stable denture, we will gladly schedule an examination to determine the number and type of implants you require. All treatment options will be explored, and the helpful Baltimore Dental Co. team will clarify what course of treatment best fits your needs.
WILL MY INSURANCE COVER DENTAL IMPLANTS?
Dental insurance makes it complicated to understand which services will be considered for benefits within your particular policy. In most circumstances, we see that dental insurance companies will consider contributing to part of the dental implant services.
Baltimore Dental Co.’s administrative team is knowledgeable on the inner workings of PPO dental policies and will help you understand what your personal insurance contract states about reimbursement towards these procedures. As with all patients, we will submit claims on your behalf to any PPO dental insurance to best utilize your benefits.
If you still have questions or concerns regarding dental implants, please do not hesitate to call Baltimore Dental Co. in Glyndon, MD. Our knowledgeable team is available during business hours to talk about this revolutionary tooth replacement treatment.