Dental Implant Services in Norcross

What are Dental Implants?

As artificial tooth roots, dental implants are a permanent base for replacement teeth. They’re an effective, long-term alternative to bridges, crowns, and dentures if you suffer from failing or missing teeth or chronic dental conditions. With dental implant surgery, you can have natural-looking replacement teeth that fit and feel like the real thing.

There are three parts to implants. The implant is a screw or root for your artificial tooth. The abutment is a permanent, removable connector that holds and supports the tooth. The crown is the artificial or prosthetic tooth and is typically made of porcelain or zirconium.

Additionally, there are two types of dental implants:

• Endosteal – these dental implants are surgically embedded into your jawbone
• Subperiosteal – consisting of metal frames, these dental implants are surgically inserted just underneath the gums

How Much are Dental Implants?

Several factors affect the cost of dental implants. Along with getting dental implants in Norcross being a factor itself, whether you get endosteal or subperiosteal implants has an impact on how much the dental implants cost. Other factors that can affect the cost include the brand and the materials used in the implant, abutment, and crown.

However, the aspect that has the greatest impact on how much dental implants cost is the complexity of your surgery. Your overall cost will increase if you need reconstruction such as bone grafting beforehand. Additionally, you will end up spending more if you need multiple implants. Schedule a consultation to get a better idea of how much dental implants cost for you.

Are Implants Covered by Dental Insurance?

Most insurance plans list the dental implants procedure as an elective, so it’s not covered if cheaper alternatives are available. As implants have increased in popularity, however, some companies have started to offer dental insurance implants coverage.

The cost of dental implants with insurance will depend on how much money your insurer is willing to pay toward the materials and procedure. Some dental implants insurance policies, for example, only cover the crown portion, leaving you to pay for the rest.

If you don’t have dental implants insurance coverage, you can still get affordable dental implants with financing options. Contact us for details about payment options if you’re without dental implant insurance.

Steps for the Dental Implants Procedure

The dental implants procedure involves several steps, some of which depend on the condition of your jawbone and the type of implants to be inserted. If you’re replacing a damaged tooth, for instance, that tooth will need to be removed first. However, the following are the main dental implant procedure steps:

• The jawbone is prepped for surgery, which might involve bone grafting
• When the jawbone heals, the implant is inserted
• The abutment and crown are attached after the gums and jawbone heal

The entire dental implants procedure takes months from beginning to end. Sometimes the process of dental implants takes nine months or longer. Most of this time is spent waiting for your gums and jawbone to heal. During this time, dental implant procedure pain is managed with a combination of anesthesia and pain relievers.

Benefits that Dental Implants Provide

The solid support that affordable dental implants provide is the main benefit because they don’t come loose like dentures and don’t have to be attached to your natural teeth like bridges. Below are some other dental implants benefits that you may experience:

• better oral health
• easier eating
• enhanced appearance
• improved speech
• more confidence

Caring for Dental Implants

Dental implants care after surgery is important because there’s a risk of inflammation developing in the bone and gums that surround your implants. Implant care generally involves keeping follow-up visits so that we can examine the soft and hard tissues as well as remove any calcified deposits around the implants. Your bite might also need adjusting so that the implants don’t sustain harsh biting forces. Caring for dental implants also includes routine brushing and flossing as if they’re your natural teeth.

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

Someone who needs dental implants usually has failing or missing teeth or wants to replace uncomfortable dentures. You may also be an ideal dental implants candidate if:

• bone grafting can accommodate the implants
• the implants can attach to your bone
• you can’t wear dentures
• you have no health conditions that could impact your ability to heal
• you want to improve your speech
• you’re willing to dedicate several months to the procedure
• your jawbone has reached full growth
• your oral tissues are healthy

Call our office about getting dental implants in Norcross. We can help you decide if implants are right for you.

Are Dental Implants Long-Lasting?

Since dental implants are more expensive than bridges and dentures, one of the most frequent questions we get is: How long does a dental implant last? Since implants are inserted or fixed to your jawbone, they last for decades. Many people keep their dental implants for more than 40 years. However, you can lengthen how long dental implants last by avoiding habits that damage implants, such as eating hard foods and using tobacco; practicing proper oral hygiene; and visiting your dentist regularly.