Dental Implant FAQ – Select Dental

Dental implants replace both the roots and crowns (visible portions) of teeth and can replace any number of missing teeth. They consist of a titanium screw that acts at the root and fuses with the jawbone, and a highly esthetic, natural-looking crown, bridge or denture restoration that attaches firmly to the implant screws.

Because they integrate with the bone, dental implants mimic natural teeth more closely than any other option and offer long-term, permanent tooth replacement. Unlike traditional bridges and dentures, dental implants fuse solidly with the jaw, do not rely on other teeth for support, and offer a wealth of health and lifestyle benefits. Dental implants preserve jawbone health and natural facial contours, and blend seamlessly with your smile for a look, feel and function that rivals natural teeth.

Dental implants have a 98 percent rate of success, and rarely need to be replaced. To ensure precision placement and the most predictable results, our periodontist uses guided implant surgery for precision placement of dental implants within the jaw. We use Zimmer Biomet dental implant systems and other high-quality materials that are known for their proven strength and lasting durability.

Dental implants can replace single, multiple and full arches of missing teeth. But you do not necessarily need a dental implant at each missing tooth site. Our full arch systems rely on four to six dental implants, which support a full arch prosthetic, or replacement teeth. Implant supported dentures utilize a series of two or more strategically placed dental implants, and also replace entire arches of teeth with a hybrid denture that fits snugly over your dental implants.

The cost of dental implants is unique to each individual patient, and is determined by your oral health needs, number of teeth to replace, and type of implant procedure and restoration. As a full-service implant practice, we can bundle the cost of treatment for implant surgery and placement, saving you money, time in the chair and from having to visit multiple offices for your care.

Surprising to many patients is the fact that dental implants are a minimally invasive procedure and cause only minor post-operative discomfort. To ensure your comfort during implant surgery, we offer sedation services and use a gentle yet thorough technique to numb treatment areas. We are highly committed to making your implant procedure as comfortable as possible, and strive to put you right at ease the moment you walk through the door!

The dental implant procedure begins with a consultation with our team, where we take 3D cone beam CT images and evaluate your oral health needs. Our periodontist uses guided implant surgery for extreme accuracy in implant placement, and our restorative doctors can often give you temporary crowns for your dental implants with functional, esthetic provisional restorations on the same day your dental implants are placed. Over the next three to six months, your dental implants will integrate with the bone, after which we remove your temporaries and place the final permanent implant restorations.

We take every measure to make receiving dental implants as minimally invasive and streamlined as possible. Most patients report only minor discomfort following implant surgery and require minimal downtime. Because dental implants fuse with the jaw, they permanently become part of your mouth and feel just like real teeth.