Dental Implants – Edmonton, AB

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step toward receiving dental implants is attending your consultation with us. During this visit, our team will closely examine your mouth and facial structures, in addition to reviewing your medical history, to determine if implants are a viable option for you. In some instances, patients may need to undergo preliminary procedures to prepare their mouth for receiving implants. These treatments generally include things like supplemental bone grafts, gum disease therapy, and tooth extractions. Once you’ve been treated and cleared for implants, we can schedule your implant surgery!

Dental Implant Surgery

Our incredible team is able to complete the entire dental implant process in-house, meaning that you won’t have to worry about coordinating visits with other offices. The actual implant surgery itself is a straightforward procedure. First, your mouth is numbed before small incisions are made in your gum tissue to access your jawbone. Next, the implants are carefully and precisely inserted directly into the bone before the gums are sutured shut. Finally, a protective cap is placed over the posts to protect them as they heal.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

It normally takes three to six months for implants to naturally fuse with the jawbone. This fusion, called osseointegration, is arguably the single-most important stage of the entire dental implant process! You’ll be given detailed instructions to follow to ensure that osseointegration occurs without interruption or delay; if your implants are unable to successfully meld with your jaw, they’ll ultimately fail. Once this stage is complete, you’ll need to return for a second, smaller surgery to receive your abutments. These metal connector pieces are placed on top of your implants and allow your restoration to sit in the correct position.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

Your restoration will be designed based on impressions of your smile, meaning that once the replacement teeth are ready, you can expect them to look and feel exactly like your natural teeth! When they’re ready, we’ll call you back in to attach them to the abutments on top of the implant posts. We’ll also check to make sure that your bite looks and feels normal and make any necessary final adjustments before sending you back out into the world with your newly restored smile!

Day-to-Day Benefits

• No Diet Restrictions: While traditional dentures do let you eat a variety of foods that you wouldn’t be able to enjoy without teeth, they often have trouble with tough, chewy, or sticky foods. Dental implants keep your new teeth stable at all times so that you can comfortably eat whatever you want, so you can fully enjoy all your favorite meals again.
• Easy Maintenance: Because dental implants are permanently anchored to your jaw, taking care of them is similar to taking care of natural teeth. This makes it very easy to take care of them compared to traditional dentures that might require you to purchase adhesive, soaking solution, and other products.
• Improved Confidence: Dental implants look and feel very lifelike compared to other tooth replacements, and they don’t slip out of place. You’ll be able to laugh and smile at any time without having to worry that your teeth might move when they’re not supposed to.

Health Benefits

• Strong, Healthy Jawbone: The jaw needs to be stimulated frequently to maintain its bone density levels. Lost teeth can lead to bone loss, but if you get dental implants, they can provide the necessary stimulation needed to maintain the jawbone.
• Nutritious Diet: Being able to eat whatever you want can make your mealtimes more pleasant, but it also helps you maintain a more nutritious diet. Since you can eat whatever you want, you won’t have any trouble eating the foods you need to stay healthy.
• Better Oral Health: Because dental implants are so easy to clean, they can lower your risk of gum disease and other oral health issues.

Long-Term Benefits

• High Success Rate: The success rate of dental implant surgery is as high as 95% even 10 years after placements. In other words, when you get dental implants to replace your teeth, you’re investing in an option that you can count on for the long term.
• Longevity: Dentures and bridges need to be replaced every 7 or 10 years due to wear and tear. Dental implants are much more durable and are known to last for decades. With the right maintenance, you might even be able to keep them for the rest of your life.
• Long-Term Investment: The higher initial cost of dental implants is often balanced out by their longevity and the various health benefits that they offer, allowing you to save time and money that would otherwise have to be spent on replacements and additional treatments.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, and bone grafting are all examples of preliminary treatments that might need to be performed before implant surgery. These procedures carry their own cost, but they are necessary for making sure your new smile lasts for the long term. Preliminary work is typically partially covered by insurance.

The cost of implant surgery depends on factors such as the location of the surgical site and the type of sedation needed. Fortunately, we can perform the treatment in-office, so you won’t have to worry about being billed by another practice.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Different aspects of your dental implants can affect how much you end up paying for them. This includes:

• The number of implant posts you need. Obviously, one implant does not have the same price as four or more implants.
• The type of restoration you receive. Smaller restorations like single crowns tend to have smaller costs than larger restorations like dentures.
• The material used to make the implants. Implants are traditionally made out of titanium, but sometimes zirconia is used instead.
• The brand of implant. There are different implant manufacturers that offer various benefits to patients, and the manufacturer we choose has an impact on how much you end up paying.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

Some people try to save money by sticking with traditional bridges and dentures instead of getting implants. What they don’t realize is that dental implants often end up paying for themselves because of the benefits that only they can offer. Dental implants can last for decades, so you don’t have to pay to replace them. You also don’t have to buy any special solutions for maintenance. Dental implants also help lower the risk of gum disease and other oral health issues because they’re so easy to take care of compared to other tooth replacements.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Most dental insurance plans don’t include coverage for the actual dental implants (although there are exceptions). That said, parts of the final restoration or certain preliminary treatments often receive insurance benefits. We’ll review your insurance plan with you to help you figure out what kind of coverage is available and how you can maximize it.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

In addition to accepting dental insurance, we work with our patients to make sure they fully understand the costs of dental implants. Our team will give you reliable estimate to work with before you commit to the implant process so that you don’t end up being caught off guard by the cost later.

How long do dental implants last?

The average timeframe for dental implants is about 30 years; however, there are instances where patients have enjoyed their permanent prosthetics for an entire lifetime! It largely depends on how well you take care of your new teeth. To extend their lifespan and ensure their longevity, it’s necessary that you avoid unhealthy habits and foods, continue to see your implant dentist in Edmonton every six months, and practice optimal oral hygiene at home.

How successful are dental implants?

When placed by a trusted and skilled dental professional, dental implants are extremely successful. In fact, they’re known to have a success rate of 95% initially. After 10 years, this rate only falls to 90-95%. Of course, much like the longevity of your dental implants, how well you take care of them will determine their success rate as well. Eating ice, not wearing a mouthguard while playing sports, and using your teeth as tools are all ways you can increase your risk for serious damage. However, taking appropriate care of your new teeth will ensure they remain in place for many years to come.

Am I too young to get dental implants?

When it comes to receiving dental implants, it is best if you wait until you are in your mid-20s before pursuing this option. The reason is that it is unlikely that your jaw will be fully developed until then. If they are put into place before the jawbone is developed enough, it can cause serious issues that result in dental implant complications. Also, there are other, safer solutions for individuals under the age of 18 or who are in their early 20s. Dental bridges and partial dentures can be used until it is time to consider dental implants.

Will I have to take off work for dental implant surgery?

Yes, you will need to take at least a few days off even if you only have one or two teeth replaced. The more implants that need to be placed, the longer you’ll need to spend time recovering at home. This is why we often recommend that our patients schedule their surgeries for later in the week. This allows individuals to use the weekend as part of their recovery time instead of asking for more time off from work. However, even once you return to your job, you’ll need to make sure you do not practice any strenuous activity, as this can delay healing.