Implants usually last a long time. When patients are missing all of their teeth, long-term studies (more than 30 years) show an 80 to 90 percent success rate.
For patients missing one or several teeth, recent studies show a success rate of greater than 95 percent, which compares favorably with other areas in the
body that receive implant replacement (such as hips or knees). However, if one of your dental implants either doesn’t heal properly or loosens after a period of time,
you may need to have it removed. After the site heals (or on occasion at the time of removal), another implant usually can be placed.
The replacement teeth are usually attached to the implant when adequate healing has occurred and your jawbone is firmly fused to the implant. Depending on a variety
of factors, it may be possible to begin this phase of your treatment immediately or shortly after implant placement. We will review the most appropriate treatment
sequence and timing for your particular situation.
The dental work required to complete your treatment is complex. Most of the work involves actually making the new teeth before they are placed.
Your appointments are considered more comfortable and more pleasant than previous methods of tooth replacement. Frequently, this process
can be performed without local anesthesia.
Your restorative treatment begins with specialized impressions that allow us to produce a replica of your mouth and implants.
We will also make “bite” records so that we see the relationship of your upper and lower jaws. With this information, we will make the abutments (support posts) that
attach your replacement teeth to your implants. Various types of abutments exist. Frequently, we can use “off the shelf” abutments. Other times, custom abutments
must be made of gold or a tooth-colored ceramic material. As you can imagine, these custom made abutments add to the cost and treatment time involved.
Which abutment to use is a decision that often cannot be made until after healing is complete and impressions have been made.
The number of appointments and the amount of time required for each appointment is different for each patient. No two cases are exactly the same and regardless
of the number of teeth replaced, the work must be completed with great precision and attention to detail. If you are having only a few teeth replaced, as few as three
short appointments may be required. Between appointments, we will need time to complete the necessary lab work to make your replacement teeth.
It is most beneficial that you keep all of your scheduled appointments.
If your final restoration is a removable denture, you will need to come to as many as five office appointments (although it may be fewer) over the following several
months. During these appointments, we will perform a series of impressions, bites and adjustments in order to make your new teeth, as well as the custom support
bars, snaps, magnets, or clips that will secure your teeth to the implants. During this period, every effort will be made to ensure you have comfortable,
temporary replacement teeth.
In general, once your implants are placed, you can expect your tooth replacement treatment to be completed anywhere from 1 to 12 months. For these reasons,
it is difficult for us to tell you exactly how much the restorative phase of your treatment will cost, although you should receive a reasonable estimate from our office.
It also is difficult to give you a specific timeframe for completion of your treatment until after the implants are ready for restoration.
As with natural teeth, it is important that you clean implant-supported restorations regularly with toothbrushes, floss and any other recommended aids.
You should also visit your dentist several times each year for hygiene and maintenance. As with regular dentures and other tooth replacements, your implants
and their associated components are subject to wear and tear and eventually will need repair, including clip replacement, relines, screw tightening, and other
adjustments.
Usually, a dental surgeon places the implant(s) and performs other necessary surgical procedures – your general dentist provides the
temporary and permanent replacement teeth. Both doctors are involved in planning your dental treatment. Also, depending upon a
variety of factors, different dental specialists may help with your dental care.
Before treatment begins, every effort will be made to give you an accurate estimate of all the expenses involved in placing the implants and making your
replacement teeth. In many cases, there is an initial charge for the diagnostic work-up, including study models, x-rays, and the fabrication of a surgical
template to ensure the best possible result. In addition you will be charged for the abutment or support post(s), plus the crown, dentures, or anything else
that will be placed over the implants, including temporary restorations. Periodic maintenance such as hygiene visits, tissue conditioners, denture relines
and other repairs will also incur additional charges.
When different doctors are involved in your treatment, you will be charged separately for their services. We will try to assist you in estimating what your
actual payments will be after we evaluate your insurance coverage or other third party payments. Also, you should
consider your personal financial investment in each treatment option as some insurance companies provide limited or no coverage.
Each patient is unique, and it is not possible for us to discuss every option and every contingency for treatment outcome. This booklet is intended to help
you understand the general treatment options available to you. If your specific treatment options are not clear, please contact us. We will be happy to answer
any questions you have about your dental care.
