At the Sacramento dental office of A. Scott Grivas, III, DDS, we pride ourselves on offering exceptional dental care options that exceed even the highest patient expectations. Dental implants have become the gold-standard in dental care, and we offer these services to replace one tooth, several, or a full row of teeth from the roots up. Before you get started with a complex dental implant tooth replacement plan, we know you’ll have questions. Below, you’ll find answers to some of our dental implant frequently asked questions. If you don’t see your question here or you want to find out more, call our Sacramento dental office to schedule a dental implant tooth replacement consultation today.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small posts inserted below the gum line to mimic lost tooth roots. They are used to provide support for a replacement tooth or teeth, recreating your beautiful smile.
Who Are Good Candidates For Dental Implant Surgery?
Most people qualify for dental implants. Typically, good candidates for dental implants include the following:
- Has missing or damaged teeth
- Is a non-smoker or light smoker
- Regularly practices good oral hygiene
- Has a strong jaw or can undergo bone graft surgery
What Materials are Implants Made From?
Traditionally, dental implants were crafted from titanium as this material has been used for decades to repair broken bones. For those people who have allergies and sensitivities to metal, a zirconia implant may also be used. Research is ongoing into the efficacy of polymer materials in dental implant tooth replacement that may prove important to future dental implant tooth replacement.
How are Dental Implants Placed?
Dental implants are surgically placed below the gum line. We numb the area. Then, a small incision is placed in the gums, and the implant post is placed into the jawbone. Once in place, a protective cap is attached to the implants. Over the course of several months, the implant fused with the jawbone recreating the lost tooth roots and delivering a flawless smile.
What Can I Eat After Dental Implant Surgery?
Make sure your anesthetic has worn off completely before eating again. This helps to ensure that you don’t bite down too hard on your lips, cheeks, tongue or your new restoration. Dr. Grivas will inform you of the best foods and drinks to consume after surgery. The following foods are usually safe to eat after your procedure:
- Yogurt
- Pasta
- Smoothies
- Applesauce
- Scrambled eggs
- Jell-O
- Soup
While your implant is healing, you should avoid foods that are crunchy, chewy, or hard as well as drinks that are hot, alcoholic, and sugary. These items can damage your implant, increase your sensitivity, and impede your healing if they’re reintroduced into your diet too soon. You can usually begin reintroducing foods from your normal diet after about one week.
How Many Implants Will I Need?
The number of implants you need to support your dental restoration will depend on the number and placement of missing teeth. We will typically recommend the following:
- One implant – used to support a dental crown replacing a single missing tooth.
- Two implants – used to support both sides of an implant supported fixed bridge to replace two or more consecutive teeth
- Three to six implants – used to support a partial or full denture restoring the smile following advanced tooth loss
Are There Complications Associated With Dental Implant Surgery?
Dental implant surgery has an average success rate of 98 percent. Since dental implants require a surgical procedure, there are a few complications that may arise, including:
- Wobbly and/or cracked posts
- Infection
- Injury to the surrounding area
- Fever
However, these risks are rare and when they do occur, they’re easily treatable. Having an experienced dentist like Dr. Grivas perform your dental implant procedure also drastically reduces the chance for complications. Be sure to call our office and let us know if you’re having any issues with your dental implants. We’ll do our best to solve the problem as soon as we can.
How Much do Dental Implants Cost?
The cost of dental implant tooth replacement varies dramatically based on the number of missing teeth, materials used, need for preparatory treatments, and a variety of other factors. During your dental implant tooth replacement consultation, we’ll walk you through your restoration plan carefully explaining the costs associated with each phase of treatment. Unfortunately, most dental insurance plans don’t offer coverage for dental implants, but we’ll do our utmost to maximize coverage for other aspects of treatment like your dental crown, bridge, or denture restoration.
How Long do Dental Implants Last?
With proper care in our office and at home, your dental implant supported tooth replacement will last for two decades or longer. In many cases, your dental implant supported tooth replacement will last for the rest of your lifetime. Our team can partner with you to maximize the efficacy of your oral hygiene routine to ensure you keep your smile healthy as long as possible.
