Dental Implants – Baldwin, PA

What Is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is effectively an artificial “root” for a prosthetic tooth. It’s a small post typically made of titanium that connects to the jawbone. (Zirconia is sometimes used for patients with allergies or sensitivity to metal.) When the prosthetic is connected to it, the result is new teeth that stay firmly in place and stimulate the jaw whenever you chew. Unlike other restorations, implants are permanent and may stay in your mouth for the rest of your life.

Benefits of Dental Implants

When dental implants are successfully placed, you can enjoy the following advantages:

• No Slipping: Dentures anchored to implants will not move, letting you avoid embarrassing moments while eating and talking.
• Varied Diet: The chewing strength provided by implants will let you eat virtually anything again; you can enjoy all the foods you love and maintain good nutrition.
• Healthy Jawbone: The jaw tends to lose its bone density once teeth are gone, but implants will help keep it strong.
• Protect Other Teeth: You won’t have to make alterations to your other teeth as you would for a traditional bridge. Additionally, filling the empty space with an implant will prevent your other teeth from drifting out of place.
• Easy Cleaning: You can brush and floss your implant-retained prosthetic normally instead of removing it to clean it.
• Long-Lasting: Well-cared for dental implants can potentially last the rest of your life without needing to be replaced.

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

Dr. Verner will check the health of your gums and jawbone before recommending dental implants. The good news is that implants can be considered no matter how many teeth you’re missing; it’s mainly a question of the number of implant posts and the kind of prosthetic you need.

Missing One Tooth

One dental implant takes the place of a single tooth. We’ll attach a ceramic crown to the post; said crown will have been colored and shaped to blend in with the rest of your smile. Keep in mind that in most circumstances, you’ll have to wait for your gums to heal before the implant is ready to bear the load of a false tooth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Dental bridges are often used to replace a few teeth in a row. Normally, the crowns that support prosthetic teeth between them rest on natural teeth. However, if dental implants are used instead, you can preserve the enamel of your teeth. Implant-retained bridges can fill in for about 3 to 5 teeth at a time.

Missing All of Your Teeth

Even an entire arch of teeth can be fixed with implants. Implant-retained dentures are different compared to traditional ones. You don’t need to take them out of your mouth to clean them, and there’s no risk that they’ll start slipping. Around four to six implants are usually enough to support a full denture.

All-on-4/Teeth-in-a-Day

Waiting for months on end for your mouth to heal can be nerve-wracking, and with traditional procedures you’d have to go without teeth in the meantime. However, with the All-on-4 procedure, we may be able to give you dentures immediately after implant placement, letting you smile with confidence that much sooner!

Mini Dental Implants

If there’s not enough bone in your jaw for regular implants (and you don’t want to undergo bone graft surgery), Dr. Verner may be able to offer mini dental implants instead. Like the name suggests, they’re much smaller than normal implants, and they can often be placed in the mouth without the need for additional procedures beforehand.

Start to Finish Convenience

To give the implant process the best odds for success, it’s important for the surgery to be handled by an expert. For some practices, that might mean referring you to another office – but at the Dental House of Pittsburgh, we can provide everything you need at one location! Instead of leaving implant placement to someone you hardly know, we can personally provide you with your new implant posts and even top them with quality prosthetics afterwards.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

One of your biggest concerns about dental implants will probably be the overall price. It’s important to realize that every patient will have a different cost to worry about depending on:

• The exact number of implants used.
• Whether you’ll be receiving a crown, several crowns, a dental bridge, or dentures.
• Additional procedures such as tooth extraction, periodontal therapy, and bone grafting.

One of our goals for your first consultation will be to give you an estimate of the final cost. We can also discuss ways to make the process affordable. Dental insurance may help pay for certain steps, although many companies won’t pay for the implants themselves.

It may help to remember that when you get dental implants, you’re investing in a healthier, fully complete smile that will enhance your quality of life. Also, dental implants are more cost-effective than other restorations over the long term since they can last for the rest of your life without being replaced.