Dental Implants Hanover
Smiling with Confidence Thanks to Permanent Prosthetics
At Dental Designs of Maryland, we are pleased to have an in-house periodontist, Dr. Metzger, who offers personalized solutions that are intended to restore incomplete smiles so that they function well and appear completely natural. With dental implants, we can replace any number of missing teeth and offer more reliable, stable, and longer-lasting results because of their root-to-crown replacement. If you are considering dental implants in Hanover but want additional information, don’t hesitate to contact us for an appointment.
Why Choose Dental Designs of Maryland for Dental Implants?
- Board-Certified Periodontist on Staff
- Capable of Restoring Full Arch Smiles
- CT/Cone Beam Scanner for Dental Implant Treatment Planning
What Are Dental Implants?
Made of titanium and placed within the jawbone, dental implants look similar to small screws. Their material and positioning allow them to effectively fuse with the bone and tissues, generating a solid foundation of support for your new crown, bridge, or denture. Their versatility makes them a suitable option for anyone with missing teeth, but they do require a consultation with a member of our team to ensure no additional pre-treatments are required.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
You’re not alone if you’re feeling a little nervous about getting dental implants. After all, these are the only restorations that are placed directly into your jaw, and you might be anxious if you’re unsure what to expect from the procedure. Rest assured, our compassionate team is happy to provide as much information as you need to feel confident moving forward.
Continue reading to learn more about what to expect from the process of getting dental implants, so you can make a well-informed decision to rebuild your smile!
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
Many experts consider these replacements the ideal way to rebuild smiles after tooth loss because of their unique advantages, but that doesn’t mean they’re automatically the best way to meet everyone’s unique needs.
Before proceeding, you must schedule a consultation with one of our providers so our team can examine your mouth and measure your jawbone density to help determine whether you’re a good candidate. We’ll also update your medical history to ensure you’re healthy enough to undergo the procedure successfully.
Dental Implant Surgery
Some patients may require preliminary treatments, such as gum disease therapy or an additional bone graft to bulk up their jaw before continuing forward. Once you’re approved to proceed, you’ll be scheduled for your dental implant surgery. Our team has completed specialized dental implant training, but depending on your circumstances, we might refer you to a specialist for placement.
This procedure involves numbing your mouth with a local anesthetic and/or sedating you to help you feel comfortable throughout the procedure. Then, a small incision is made in your gums to place the support post of your implant directly into your jawbone.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
It can take anywhere from 3 to 6+ months to recover from your oral surgery because that’s usually how long it takes the mouth to produce enough new bone growth to completely envelop the rod placed there, making it a more permanent part of your jaw.
Once you’ve healed sufficiently, we can schedule another appointment to make impressions and begin designing your one-of-a-kind restoration, such as a lifelike, color-matched dental crown, bridge, or dentures, specially designed to anchor to your new implants. We’ll also attach the abutment, or connector piece, that will eventually hold your new tooth.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
Once the dental laboratory delivers your finished prosthetic, we’ll contact you to cement it in place. This typically doesn’t require additional numbing or discomfort, though you might feel tenderness or sensitivity from holding your mouth open during placement.
Once your restoration is attached, we’ll check that it fits and functions as intended before polishing it to a shine and sending you home with a beautifully rebuilt smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Our patients tend to experience the benefits of dental implants almost immediately.
Some of the benefits of dental implant services include:
- Enhanced dental health
- Restored self-confidence
- Improved eating, speaking, and smiling
- Avoiding potential dental issues, such as bone loss, tooth movement, and occlusal imbalance
An additional benefit of dental implant services is that they can often be installed in one day. This helps our patients ease dental pain almost immediately. Our board-certified periodontist is often able to extract the broken front tooth, place the implant, and install a lifelike temporary tooth in its place.
Complete Dental Implant Solutions
At Dental Designs of Maryland, dental implants are placed in the mouth under the expert supervision of our board-certified periodontist, Dr. Joshua Metzger. Our team uses the latest in dental technology, so we offer a range of options to replace your missing teeth using dental implants that are nearly indistinguishable from your natural teeth. We pride ourselves on providing all of our dental implant treatments under one roof, so you don’t have to drive around town for various dental appointments.
Implant Dentures
If you are looking to replace all of your missing teeth, there is an alternative solution to traditional dentures – implant dentures. These are similar; however, they only require 4-6 dental implant posts and fully support a customized denture that snaps into place. While you will be required to remove your new teeth each night, you can expect them to fit comfortably throughout the day, allowing for greater stability and function. These prosthetics are also shaped like a horseshoe, so you don’t have to worry about one covering the roof of your mouth.
Hybrid Overdenture
If you prefer a fixed denture instead of one that snaps into place, you and our team can discuss the option of a hybrid overdenture. As a full arch prosthesis, it remains anchored in place with the help of 4-6 dental implants. Only a qualified dental professional can remove your denture, but it is one of the most reliable solutions available, especially when looking to improve the look of your smile.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
With restorative dentistry as with everything else, you can expect to get what you pay for. Dental implants are a long-term investment that can significantly improve your eating habits, oral health, and quality of life, and the price of one patient’s treatment can vary significantly from that of another. During your consultation, our team in Hanover will outline your treatment plan and provide you with a proper overall cost estimate. We’ll also do everything we can to make your dental implant treatment affordable and ensure that you understand your payment and financing options. Here’s a brief guide to the costs associated with dental implants as well as why they can be a fantastic decision for your finances and your health.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Dental implants require healthy gums and jawbones to be successful, so you may need restorative treatments such as periodontal therapy and bone grafts to improve your oral health before you can qualify to receive them. While these procedures will contribute to the overall cost of implants, they are often covered by insurance. The cost of your surgery is largely determined by factors like the number of implants placed and the anesthesia used. Dr. Metzger, our periodontist, performs the procedure at our office, so you won’t have to worry about dealing with a third-party provider’s payment structure.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
The parts of your dental implant treatment determine a large portion of the overall cost in ways such as:
- The number of dental implants placed: Each individual appliance will be noted on your bill.
- Type of restoration used: Smaller restorations like crowns are less expensive than larger ones like bridges and dentures.
- Size and material: Some implant posts are longer than others, which means that they cost more to produce. If your implant is made from zirconia instead of titanium, the price may be different.
- Brand of implant: Some dental implant manufacturers charge more for their products than others.
We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about the dental implants we place online or during your consultation.
How Dental Implants Pay for Themselves
While traditional restorations like dentures and dental bridges may seem less expensive at first, they are still not cheap and will need to be replaced every few years. Dental implants, on the other hand, can last for decades or a lifetime if they receive proper care, which negates the need for expensive replacements. Since dental implants are easy to care for and can prevent oral health issues like jawbone erosion, they can also save you tons of money on dental care over the years.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
While dental insurance doesn’t usually cover dental implants, there are some exceptions. In some cases, a plan may cover the restorative treatments needed to prepare a patient for implants. We’ll be sure to help you understand how to maximize your benefits during your consultation.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
We’ll be happy to help you navigate your payment and financing options during your consultation. We offer several ways to make dental implants more affordable such as:
- Free implant consultations
- Flexible financing options through CareCredit
- Our Dental Wellness Plan covers two checkups a year, one emergency evaluation, X-rays, and discounts on all non-cosmetic procedures
Dental implants are a long-term investment that can provide significant benefits for decades. Contact us to schedule your implant consultation today.
Dental Implant FAQs
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants can last for 30 years or more. That’s one of the many reasons they are so widely loved! The key to maintaining them is good habits, like brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash consistently. It’s equally as important to avoid doing anything that’s associated with dental implant failure, like smoking or skipping your biannual dental checkups and teeth cleanings.
How Can I Tell If My Dental Implant Is Failing?
Your dental implant should feel completely secure. If it doesn’t or you’re experiencing any other abnormal dental symptoms, like pain around the implant, swollen gums, or changes to your bite, then you should call our Hanover dental team ASAP. Once we know a little more about your situation and have the opportunity to conduct a comprehensive oral exam, we can determine if your dental implant is compromised and, if it is, what to do next.
Am I Too Young to Get Dental Implants?
If your jaw hasn’t fully developed, then you are too young for dental implants. Typically, this doesn’t happen until the mid-20s, so if you are in your late teens or early 20s and you’re struggling with tooth loss, we may recommend a different tooth-replacement option, like a dental bridge. That way, you don’t miss out on a complete, healthy, and strong smile in the meantime.
Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?
Most patients take a day or two off of work following their dental implant procedure so they can focus solely on recovering. If you have a physically demanding job, then taking a little more time off may be necessary (we want to prevent blood from diverting from the implant site and delaying the healing process). Oftentimes, patients schedule their surgery on a Thursday or Friday so they have the weekend to recover and can save more of their PTO.
Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?
Using tobacco products doesn’t just lead to bad breath, it also causes dry mouth, interferes with osseointegration, slows down healing, and is linked to a higher risk of dental implant failure. For all of those reasons, patients who smoke typically aren’t candidates. That said, there are some exceptions, so don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with us if you are interested in dental implants. From there, we can review your medical and dental history, learn more about your lifestyle, and determine which tooth-replacement solution is best for you.
Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Eat with Dental Implants?
In an effort to prevent chips, cracks, and other damage to your restoration, we strongly recommend exercising caution with raw almonds, popcorn, hard pretzels, and other extremely crunchy foods. It’s also important to avoid extremely sticky ones, like taffy, to keep both your dental implant and your teeth in pristine condition. Instead, focus on incorporating foods into your diet that are nutrient-dense and softer in consistency, like bananas.