Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

About Me

Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Hi! My name is Addy Reed. I’m 57 years old and have been neglectful about going to the dentist. Last month was my first dentist visit in six years. I had always been diligent about twice a year cleanings and checkups, but time got away from me until one of my crowns came out. As we age, the dental work from years past tends to do that. When you neglect to visit the dentist on a regular basis, the list of things that need to be done may grow; at least this was my experience. I left the dentist office with an extensive list of things I needed to have done. The office staff was very kind. They are working with me to set up a plan. I’m going to share some ideas on how to tackle a dental treatment plan, keeping it affordable and not too overwhelming.

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Are Dental Implants The Right Tooth-Replacement Option For You?

21 July 2018
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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If you have missing teeth, you've likely been considering replacement options. While partial dentures and traditional dental bridges are popular options, more and more patients are choosing dental implants because of their many benefits. If your smile is missing a tooth or more, dental implants may be the best choice, but first, check out these four facts to determine if they are right for you.

They Are the Most Durable Option

The biggest advantage of dental implants is their durability. Dentures offer the least support because they sit on your gums. Dental bridges rely on anchor teeth to secure them. Dental implants, like real teeth, use the jawbone for support. The titanium implant is inserted into the jawbone where the natural tooth root sat. However, normal teeth are also secured with ligaments. These ligaments cannot be recreated, but they can be mimicked thanks to titanium's ability to fuse to bone. As the implant heals, it fuses to the jawbone to create a strong hold.

They Prevent Shifts in the Jawbone

When you lose teeth, your smile is affected, but so is your jawbone. Even one missing tooth can cause the jawbone to shrink in that area because it is no longer has a tooth to stimulate it. Like an unused muscle, it atrophies. The more teeth you lose, the more severe the shrinkage. Losing all your teeth could actually cause the lower portion of your face to completely change as your cheeks collapse inward with no teeth or jawbone to add volume.

They Are Expensive

Dental implants are the most expensive option for replacing missing teeth. A single implant may cost $2,400 to $3,000 or more. If you have multiple missing teeth, your oral surgeon may recommend an implant-supported bridge or implant-supported dentures, which use fewer implants to reduce the overall cost. However, a two to six implant partial dental bridge may still cost $3,500 to $30,000, depending on many factors. Insurance may cover a small portion of the cost, but most insurance carriers do not cover the actual implant. They may cover tooth extraction or the crown that is placed on top of the implant.

You May Need a Bone Graft

As you know, your jawbone shrinks when there are no teeth to stimulate it. Therefore, if your jawbone has already shrunk because of missing teeth, you may not be ready for an implant. To support the implant, the jawbone needs to be strong. Therefore, the dentist may recommend a bone graft. A bone graft uses bone from another part of your body, a donor, etc. to promote new growth. This helps your jawbone become strong again so that it can support the implant. This procedure will lengthen the treatment time and raise the cost.

Having even one missing tooth can affect your self-esteem, making you want to hide your smile. However, there are many options to replace missing teeth, and dental implants are a great option to consider. If you would like to know more about dental implants, contact a company like Smile Makers Dental today.