While natural teeth are certainly the best for function and cosmetics, dental implants have come a long way in the past 20 years or so. As our human population lives longer, at times and for many reasons, a natural tooth may need to be extracted. A dental implant is a surgically placed post into the bone where a tooth was lost. After sufficient healing, an abutment and a crown are placed into the post. After the crown is placed, it feels like a real tooth and you can brush and floss it just like you would with your natural teeth.
Sufficient quality bone is needed to place an implant. Every person has unique bone quality and an exam would be performed with a CBCT image at the office to determine if your bone is suitable for the procedure. Sometimes, a bone graft would be needed to prepare the area before the implant is placed.
The cost of an implant is based on many factors including the quality of your bone and type of implant that is necessary. Most implants are made of titanium which is a material that has been used for years in the prosthetic medical industry to replace hips and knees.
Placing the implant is a special procedure that is done by oral surgeons, periodontists and dentists who have gone through extensive training. Dr. Sheahan has had this type of training and has over 10 years of experience in placing dental implants.
Before the procedure, your dentist may require you to have all other restorations done and hygiene performed. The best candidate is a nonsmoker with no sign of periodontal disease.
Let us answer any questions you may have to see if dental implants are right for you!