Dental Implants in Michigan City, IN

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

Compared to some other procedures, the dental implant process is complicated! Especially if you don’t know what to expect, it can feel intimidating, but rest assured that our team will guide you through every stage. The overall treatment can be broken into 4 basic steps: consultation, surgery, osseointegration, and restoration. When you meet with us, we can explain each step and answer your questions, helping you know what’s coming.

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Initial Dental Implant Consultation

 

Although a simple consultation may seem inconsequential at first glance, this appointment is essential at the start of implant treatment. In addition to discussing your needs and goals, during this visit, our dentists will examine your mouth to make sure it is healthy and ready for the procedure, which is critical to success. In addition to a visual exam, we will use our cone beam scanner to create a detailed 3D X-ray of your oral cavity, which shows not only your teeth and bones, but also blood vessels, nerve endings, and more. We can determine whether you need preliminary treatment like gum disease therapy or a bone graft to prepare your oral cavity to receive implants.

Dental Implant Surgery

 

As restoration experts, we want you to have the best care possible, which is why we work with trusted local oral surgeons for certain procedures. They will perform placement surgery, wherein they will insert the implant posts into your jawbone. Throughout the procedure, your mouth will be completely numb, so you will remain comfortable. Your oral surgeon will provide aftercare instructions and support, but we are available to help you as well.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

 

After about a week, your gums should be basically healed, but the important process (called osseointegration) has just begun. In the jawbone, the post stimulates new growth, and the bone envelops the implants. About three to six months after your surgery, a small incision will be made in the gums, and an abutment or connection piece will be placed. At this point, you’ll return to our office for your restoration.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

 

The abutment will stick out above the gums, which will allow us to take impressions of your top and bottom arches. Traditionally, a goopy, putty-like material is pressed to capture the arches, but here at Edgewood Dental, we use digital technology. A small device, which easily fits in your mouth takes scans and measurements within minutes. We submit these impressions to our dental lab, where your custom restorations are crafted. Once the lab is finished, you’ll come in and have these restorations bonded to your implants, securing your prosthetic teeth to the jawbone.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Unlike alternative tooth loss solutions, a dental implant replicates the entire structure of a missing tooth, including the root. Once we have placed this titanium post into your jawbone, the bone grows around the implant until it essentially becomes a part of your own body. This creates a sturdy foundation for your new teeth, ensuring they don’t slip out of place.

Dental implants also stimulate your jawbone, preventing the deterioration that typically occurs after teeth have been lost. As a result, the bone remains strong enough to keep you looking young for quite some time. Thanks to the high-quality materials we use, your implants can easily last 30 years or more.

Indications for Dental Implants

How many teeth have you lost? No matter your answer, our dentists can use any number of dental implants to replenish your smile. During your consultation, we can discuss all of your restorative options:

Missing Single Tooth

A traditional solution to replace one missing tooth would be to file down the remaining teeth on either side in order to place a dental bridge, sacrificing healthy tooth structure. Instead, a single implant root and crown can be placed into the gap without altering any of your other teeth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

If you’re missing several teeth in a row, we can place an implant at both ends of the space in your smile. These posts can provide enough support for a bridge that recreates up to three consecutive teeth.

Missing All Teeth

Even if you’ve lost all of your teeth, dental implants are still an option. Rather than replacing each individual tooth with an implant, we can insert just four to six posts per jaw. This creates a strong foundation for a full denture that won’t slide around.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Each dental implant treatment is uniquely customized based on a patient’s specific needs. Because of this, the cost of dental implants can vary greatly from person to person. The number of implants you require, the type of restoration used, and multiple other factors can all impact the price. Before beginning treatment, your implant dentist in Michigan City can discuss all of these factors with you and come up with a personalized cost estimate.

Although dental implants might have a higher initial cost than traditional dentures or bridges, we believe they are well worth the investment. In addition to offering far superior aesthetics and oral health benefits, they also last significantly longer. While conventional options tend to break down after 10 years or so, dental implants can last a lifetime, potentially saving you thousands in retreatment costs over the years.

Dental Implant FAQs

Understanding the cost, process, and benefits of dental implants in Michigan City is a great place to start, but chances are you still have a few questions on your mind. Fortunately, our team members at Edgewood Dental are here to make the research process easier by answering a few frequently asked questions about dental implants in the following section. Of course, if you can’t find the information you’re looking for, feel free to call us and ask!