What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a replacement root. It's a small titanium post that goes in place of your own root. It's placed in the jawbone, and over time the bone heals around it to create a stable foundation.
Once it's stable enough, we attach something on top of it that looks like a tooth. We would call it a crown. You'd call it a tooth, but it's a couple of pieces. The anchor, or replacement root, is the implant, and the attachment on top is the replacement tooth.
How does an implant work to replace a tooth?
There are two main stages. First, the replacement root is inserted into the jawbone. The body needs some time to heal. Once the bone has healed around that implant and it's stable, the top portion can go on.
That top portion is the replacement for the visible part of the tooth. That's the part above the gums that you can see and chew with. Dental implants are designed to provide long-term support for replacement teeth.
Am I a good candidate for a dental implant?
Many people can be good candidates for dental implants. We also have different techniques available for rebuilding areas where there has been bone loss and replacing teeth after the original tooth has been lost.
Whether you're a candidate depends on factors such as your oral and overall health, the amount of bone available, and the specific area where the implant would be placed. We evaluate those factors before recommending dental implant treatment.
How do I know if a specific area can have a dental implant?
One of the tools we can use to evaluate the area is a 3D scan. That 3D scan allows us to evaluate the height and width of the available bone and look at important surrounding structures. It gives us detailed measurements that help us determine if there's adequate space and bone for a dental implant and how we may be able to position it.
Is getting a dental implant painful?
We numb the area during dental implant placement to help keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. Afterwards, our patients generally report some soreness or aching. You'll probably be aware that you had surgery in the area.
Many of my patients tell us that the implant placement process and recovery were easier than they expected, and some find it easier than having the original tooth removed. Your individual experience can vary depending on the procedure and your healing.
Do I have to take time off for dental implant recovery?
The answer to that depends on you and your ability to heal, but it also depends on how involved the implant process was. For placing one or two implants, some patients choose to take about a day off from work. You might be able to return sooner, but you may prefer to give yourself some time to recover.
If you're having something more extensive done, either a greater number of implants or a larger area of bone being repaired, you may need additional recovery time. If you're having something more extensive, like a full arch of teeth replaced, you may need more time. Talk to your surgeon about what to expect based on your procedure.
How long does a dental implant take to heal?
One thing that we like to say is skin heals fast, but bone heals slow. Even though the gum tissue might join together and look like it's fully healed, that doesn't necessarily mean the bone around the implant has finished healing.
A common healing period is around three to six months, although that timeline varies depending on the implant site, your health, and other factors. We'll evaluate the implant's healing before determining when it's ready for the next stage of treatment.
How long do dental implants last?
The general answer is that dental implants can function for decades, and some can last for the rest of a patient's life. The titanium implant that goes inside the jawbone isn't something we routinely replace on a set schedule, but no dental implant can be guaranteed to last a lifetime.
The portion that's the tooth sitting on top of the implant is subject to more wear and tear and mechanical breakdown. It can chip, crack, break, or have a screw come loose. Over time, that restoration may need maintenance, repair, or replacement depending on how it wears and functions.
What is the difference between a dental implant and a root canal?
That's a really common question we get as well. A root canal is a procedure done to preserve your own natural tooth and root. In that case, the root is still embedded in the jawbone, and our goal is to keep the natural tooth.
A dental implant, on the other hand, replaces the root of a tooth that's already missing or needs to be removed. So, apples and oranges, a dental implant is when we're replacing the natural root. A root canal is when we're keeping the natural tooth but cleaning and treating the inside of it. Depending on the tooth, a restoration such as a filling or crown may then be placed to restore it.
Can I get a dental implant if I have bone loss?
In many cases, having some bone loss doesn't automatically mean you can't get a dental implant. We need to evaluate how much bone is available, where it's located, and whether additional procedures such as bone grafting may be appropriate.
Think of an implant as a tree and the bone as the ground. If too much of the ground has been washed away or is missing, you're not able to securely plant a tree there without addressing the foundation. The amount and quality of the available bone are important factors when we're planning dental implant treatment.
Will insurance cover any part of my dental implant?
We've had patients ask us a lot of different questions about this. Will my insurance pay for my whole implant? Will it pay for any part of the implant? Will my insurance deny implants or require something else?
Each insurance company and each individual plan can handle dental implants differently, so that can be frustrating to answer. The best thing to do is provide the office with your exact policy information so we can review your benefits and give you a better idea of what your plan may cover.
Want to learn more? Call Clackamas Smiles Family Dental at 503-786-3000 or email [email protected]. Our team is happy to answer your questions and help schedule your visit.