Dental Implants – Freedom, WI

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Although a consultation may not initially seem important, this appointment is actually essential for implant success. During this visit, we will evaluate your mouth and make sure you’re ready to proceed. We will check to see if you have any infections and if you have enough jawbone density to support the implants. Even if you don’t meet these requirements immediately, we can provide preliminary treatment like gum disease treatment to prepare you for the placement surgery.

Dental Implant Surgery

At Dental Expressions, we want the best possible care for our patients, which is why if you get dental implants, we will refer you to one of our experienced oral surgeons locally. These experts have undergone much more advanced training and specialize in these types of procedures, increasing the chances of success. After numbing your mouth, the oral surgeon will insert the implant post(s) into the jawbone and close the gum tissue around it.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Surface healing process usually takes about a week to achieve. By that time, you should be able to return to normal activities and your usual diet without causing damage to the site. However, the deeper, more essential process requires additional time. For about three to six months, your jawbone will produce new growth and surround the post, which is called osseointegration.

When osseointegration is complete, the surgeon will then place an abutment or connection piece that will slightly stick out above the gums. At this point, you’ll come back to our office for the rest of your treatment.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

Before we order your custom crown, bridge, or denture to attach to your implants, we will take impressions of your upper and lower arches. These impressions will be sent to our trusted dental lab, where they will craft a personalized restoration. A couple of weeks later, you’ll come back to have your replacement teeth bonded into place, secure and ready to use like real teeth!

Day-to-Day Benefits

• No Food Restrictions: Because dental implants replace the root of teeth, you can expect many of your tooth’s previous functions to come back. For example, your biting strength increases, making it easier to enjoy your favorite foods.
• Enhanced Appearance: Blood flow is reestablished when you replace a missing tooth in this way, which means your cheeks will not hollow out but instead, retain their elasticity.
• Minimal Maintenance: Your dental implants in Oshkosh will be easy to maintain because they act just like regular teeth. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing require no special products or equipment.
• Ability to Live Life to the Fullest: You can freely eat, speak, and smile with dental implants. You’ll never need to worry about being embarrassed by your prosthetics but instead, you can engage in conversation, attend social gatherings, and ultimately, live your best life.

Health Benefits

• Structural Integrity Remains: Dental implants are strong enough to hold restorations entirely on their own. This means you won’t have to sacrifice existing tooth enamel just to fill the gap in your smile.
• Prevention of Jawbone Deterioration: The continuous stimulation offered by your implants will ensure your jawbone remains sturdy and does not collapse or deteriorate over time.
• Improved Overall Health: You won’t need to worry about tooth loss causing diabetes, heart disease, or osteoporosis. With these permanent prosthetics, you can avoid many of the most common systemic problems that are commonly caused by nonexistent teeth.

Long-Term Benefits

• Long Lifespan: With a success rate as high as 98 percent when placed by a trained implant dentist in Oshkosh, you can expect your implant to last up to 30 years or longer when you practice routine oral care.
• Success Rate After 10 Years: If you continue to commit to proper oral hygiene and take better care of your new teeth, you can expect that success rate to remain between 90-95% after 10 years!
• Money-Saver: If you like the idea of saving money, you can with dental implants. Although costlier upfront, these prosthetics require no denture adhesives or special cleaning supplies, which can add up over the years when wearing dentures or dental bridges. Also, you won’t need to worry about investing in frequent adjustments or replacements.

Missing One Tooth

If you only need to have one tooth replaced, then we can install a custom dental crown on top of a single implant post that has been inserted into the empty space.

Missing Multiple Teeth

If you are missing several teeth in a row, an implant-supported bridge may be an appropriate solution for you. This type of restoration has two crowns on top of dental implants. One or two pontics (artificial teeth) are suspended between the crowns.

Missing All Teeth

An implant-supported denture, which can replace all of the upper or lower teeth, is a fitting solution for many patients who have suffered extensive tooth loss. The denture may be either a fixed or removable prosthesis.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

The cost of dental implant surgery can be influenced by factors such as where the dental implant posts are being inserted in your mouth as well as whether sedation is used. The oral surgeon who is responsible for placing your dental implants can explain the cost of the procedure to you in more detail.

On top of that, you also need to consider any necessary preliminary treatments. If you require bone grafting, gum disease treatment, or other procedures before you can qualify for dental implants, you will need to account for the cost of each individual service.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

You may need multiple implant posts to replace all of your teeth. As you can probably guess, the number of dental implants you receive can affect the overall cost. On top of that, the prosthesis that will ultimately be attached to your dental implant posts will carry its own price tag.

The brand of dental implant as well as the materials used to make it can also affect the cost. Feel free to ask your oral surgeon why a specific brand is being used and what benefits it offers.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

Some patients choose more traditional forms of tooth replacement in an effort to save money. However, dental implants can end up being the wiser investment thanks to their longevity. Because they can last for decades with good maintenance, you won’t need to have them replaced as often, if at all; in comparison, a traditional denture or bridge typically only lasts around 5 to 10 years. On top of that, unlike with dentures, you won’t need to buy any special products to take care of your dental implants.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Not all dental insurance plans are exactly the same in terms of what they do and do not cover, so you should take a look at your benefits to make sure that you understand them. Oftentimes, your dental insurance company may not pay for the dental implants but could still offer partial coverage for related services like the final restoration or specific types of preliminary work.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Another way to make the cost of dental implants more manageable is to apply for CareCredit. This is a third-party financing company that offers a number of flexible payment plans with little to no interest attached. Being able to break up the cost of your care into monthly installments can make the financial aspect of getting dental implants seem less daunting.

Does it hurt to get dental implants?

If you’ve never had any type of surgery before, it can seem daunting to have dental implants placed. However, you’ll be happy to know that our dentists ensure that your experience will be completely painless. Before your procedure begins, your oral surgeon will administer local anesthesia so you can’t feel any type of discomfort while they place the implants below your gums. Depending on how many implants you need placed will determine how long the surgery takes.

In addition to anesthesia, the area where the implants will be placed doesn’t have many pain-sensing nerves. Plus, there will be sedation options available as well to help you feel more comfortable and relaxed.

What is the recovery like after dental implant surgery?

After your surgery, you will experience some tenderness and discomfort while your gums are healing. However, most of our patients report being able to return to their daily routines within a day or two. As your gums heal, you can use over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen to help make you more comfortable.

It’s also not uncommon for patients to experience some tension or soreness in the chin, cheeks, and even underneath the eyes, so if you notice this, don’t panic. Placing a cold compress on the area can help bring down any swelling and address this issue. For the next week or two following the surgery, it’s a good idea to maintain a soft-food diet to reduce any swelling and help your gums heal faster. It’s also important to maintain your oral hygiene and gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water to clear debris and provide some extra relief.

How long do dental implants last?

With the proper care and maintenance, dental implants can last for over 25 years, which is, on average, about three times longer than traditional tooth replacement solutions like dentures. The implants themselves are made from titanium, which is a durable and biocompatible metal that forms a protective oxide layer around it when the implants are surgically placed below the gums. This prevents any deterioration or erosion from occurring.

After your restorations are secured to the abutments, we’ll provide you with some additional tips and tricks to help extend the lifespan of your replacement teeth. Typically, these include:

• Maintaining a thorough dental hygiene routine.
• Visiting our office every six months for checkups and cleanings.
• Avoiding consuming high amounts of sugars and carbohydrates.
• Maintain a nutritious diet.
• Quitting bad oral habits such as smoking.
• Getting a customized nightguard for teeth grinding or TMJ disorder.

If you have any other questions following your dental implant procedure about maintenance and care, don’t hesitate to contact our office.