For many years now, the most preferred and recommended way to replace missing teeth has been dental implants. Why? This innovative method goes beyond the surface of the gums to address the root as well as the crown, which is crucial for long-term oral health. Dr. Craig R. Harder collaborates with trusted oral surgeons in the area to make sure that you receive the same quality of care from beginning to end. To get on the path toward a fully restored smile, call our office today to schedule your consultation for dental implants in Moses Lake.
Dental implants are the only form of tooth replacement that you can’t actually see. The implant itself is a small titanium post that is surgically fixed into the jaw in place of the lost tooth’s root. Because titanium is biocompatible, the implant actually fuses with the existing jawbone in a process called osseointegration. Once the implant is in place, a metal abutment is put on top, allowing it to support your restoration, whether that be a dental crown, a bridge, or even a full denture.
Thanks to osseointegration, dental implants essentially become a part of your anatomy. The strong foundation they form with your jawbone gives them unparalleled reliability, durability, and longevity. With the right aftercare, they can last for decades or even a lifetime!
Receiving dental implants requires multiple appointments over a months-long period, but their ability to last a lifetime makes them worth the wait. At Moses Lake Family Dentistry, we are committed to excellence in treating our patients, and we expect the same level of dedication and quality in the oral surgeons that we collaborate with. When we recommend a specialist, you can rest assured that your experience will be just as smooth and positive with them as it is in our practice. While the dental implant process looks different for everyone, here are the four basic steps you can expect.
You’ll first visit our team for your initial consultation. This appointment is meant for us to evaluate your smile and facial structure, discuss your smile goals, and determine if dental implants are the ideal solution for rebuilding your pearly whites. We’ll also walk you through the entire process, and review the timeline and overall costs, before moving forward with your treatment.
If you have any underlying issues, such as cavities or gingivitis, then we’ll need to perform preliminary procedures to address them. This may even include tooth extractions or a bone graft if there isn’t sufficient jawbone density. Once you’re prepared for the procedure, we can begin your treatment plan.
Our team will refer you to one of our trusted local specialists for your implant surgery. On the day of your appointment, your oral surgeon will ensure that your mouth is completely numbed with a local anesthetic. They may even provide you with sedation dentistry to further reduce your ability to register pain as well as keep you in a relaxed and euphoric state. Once they’ve confirmed that you’re comfortable and pain-free, they’ll begin your treatment.
A small incision will be made in your gum tissue to reach your jawbone. Your implants will be placed exactly as planned before your surgeon sutures the gum tissue around them. They’ll also place a protective cap over the metal posts to protect them while you heal over the next few months.
For your implants to work, you’ll need to wait for the osseointegration process to be completed. This is when the jawbone bonds with the metal posts, allowing for a stable foundation for your restoration(s). After you’ve sufficiently healed, you’ll return to our office to receive your abutments—small metal connectors that will link your new teeth to your implants. You’ll then be sent home so your gums can heal.
Once you’ve recovered from getting your abutments placed, you’ll be ready to get your new set of pearly whites. Our team will provide you with your dental crown, bridge, or denture, depending on the number of teeth that you were missing. We’ll verify that your results are correct and to your liking before sending you on your way to enjoy your newly rebuilt smile!
Because dental implants also replace the root of the missing teeth, they provide certain benefits that dentures and bridges simply can’t on their own. These benefits include the following:
Conventional methods of tooth replacement, like bridges and dentures, only replace the crown of the tooth, or the section that’s visible above your gums. Dental implants, on the other hand, replicate the entire structure of a lost tooth, including the root. They form a powerful bond with your jawbone that enables them to feel as natural as the pearly whites you were born with.
Additionally, your restoration is custom-made to blend in with the rest of your smile. Onlookers shouldn’t even be able to tell the difference!
While traditional dentures only restore about 30% of your original biting force, dental implants can replenish 70% or more. This allows you to enjoy a varied diet of healthy, crunchy foods like apples. Because dental implants are more stable than other solutions, you won’t have to worry about them slipping out of place while you’re chewing.
After tooth loss, your tooth’s roots no longer stimulate your jawbone through biting and chewing. As a result, the bone starts to shrink. It loses the ability to support your facial structures, contributing to premature wrinkling and dropping that ages you.
Dental implants are the only tooth replacement that promotes new jawbone growth to keep you looking young for years to come.
Taking care of your dental implants doesn’t involve anything that you weren’t already doing for your natural teeth. Brush and floss your restoration twice a day, protect your smile from injury, and see your dentist in Moses Lake for a checkup every six months.
Traditional solutions to tooth loss must be repaired or replaced every few years. This can quickly rack up costs as well as time spent in the dental chair. By contrast, dental implants have the remarkable ability to last for three decades or even longer. If you take proper care of your new smile, it could even last for the rest of your life!
One amazing feature about dental implants is that they are extremely versatile and can handle any tooth-loss situation. Whether you need to replace one tooth or an entire arch, dental implants can help you regain your smile’s full function, health, and beauty.
After the post is surgically placed into the jawbone, an abutment piece is attached. Finally, a single dental crown is bonded on top. This solution looks and feel so natural, you may even forget which tooth is artificial.
If you have a consecutive row of missing teeth, you can use an implant bridge, which anchors to two dental implants instead of your existing teeth. For gaps spread out along an arch, we can attach a partial denture to dental implants for added stability.
Even total tooth loss can be treated with dental implants, but you don’t need one implant for every missing tooth. In fact, using only four to six implants, we can restore a whole arch of teeth. By either bolting or snapping your dentures in place with dental implants, you ensure that they remain firmly in the optimal position.
There are basically limitless treatment options for dental implants, making a general estimate difficult. The number and location of the implants, as well as the type of restoration that will be placed on top, impact the price. Also, keep in mind that paying for dental implants may still be more cost effective than getting dentures or bridges alone because these restorations have to be replaced every five to ten years, but dental implants can last for much longer.
We can provide you with an accurate estimate for the cost of dental implants in Moses Lake during your consultation with Dr. Harder. After he evaluates your mouth, he can review your treatment options, helping us formulate a personalized estimate. Read on to learn more about the factors that determine the price of your implant treatment.
Before beginning your implant procedure, any preexisting issues like gum disease or necessary tooth extractions must be treated, which will add to the total cost of your implants. Then, you’ll have your surgery, which will cost more depending on the type of anesthesia used. We refer our patients to specialized oral surgeons for dental implant placement, so you’ll have separate fees from the implant dentist in Moses Lake and our office.
The number of dental implants you need will affect your cost, but the material used for this treatment will also play a role. Implants can be made of titanium, zirconia, and more. As with cars or clothes, certain materials work better/last longer than others. We are always transparent about the materials that we use, so you know exactly what you’re committing to. We partner with local specialists to ensure that our patients have access to the highest of quality.
The final implant restoration will also impact the total cost of your treatment. For a single missing tooth, we will recommend an implant-retained crown that seamlessly blends into the rest of your smile. If you’re missing multiple teeth consecutively, an implant-retained bridge can literally “bridge” the gap with an average of 2 dental implants. And, for those missing all or most of their teeth, we can use an implant denture for the most stable full smile replacement.
Usually, dental insurance will not cover dental implants in Moses Lake. However, there are some exceptions. Our team is always happy to communicate with your insurance provider directly to maximize your dental benefits in any way possible. In some cases, certain aspects of the process like the initial consultation and part of your restorations may be covered, but this will vary from plan to plan. We are committed to making your dental implants as cost-effective as possible.
At Moses Lake Family Dentistry, we want to make it as easy as possible for our patients to save on high quality dental care. That’s why we accept alternative financing through CareCredit. With this solution, patients can choose the monthly payment plans that work best for them. The best part is that these monthly fees come with low-to-no interest. In some cases, we are even able to make in-house financing arrangements – it’s as easy as speaking with one of our friendly and knowledgeable team members.
One of the main reasons why hundreds of thousands of Americans get dental implants every year is their longevity – with the right maintenance, they can last for 30+ years! However, you’ll only enjoy this impressive lifespan if you take good care of your new teeth. Fortunately, dental implants are as easy to take care of as your natural teeth. Here are the five basics steps you should follow to help your dental implants last a lifetime.
Like your natural teeth, dental implants have to be cleaned daily. If leftover food debris and plaque are not cleared away, they can thrive in your mouth and contribute to infections that spell disaster for your smile. Brushing your teeth twice a day – and flossing and rinsing with mouthwash on a daily basis – can keep your new pearly whites healthy and strong for years to come.
Dental implants in Moses Lake replenish the chewing power you had with your original teeth, making it easy to eat a balanced diet. Be sure to incorporate plenty of leafy greens, dairy products, and lean proteins into your meals in order to promote healthy gums. It’s fine to eat sugary and starchy products in moderation, but don’t have them too often.
As durable as dental implants are, they’re not invincible. Just like real teeth, they’re simply not meant to withstand forces stronger than those required to eat food. Biting or chewing on inedible objects (such as pens, pencils, fingernails, and ice cubes), as well as using your teeth to open packaging or bottles, can severely damage your implants or restorations.
You should also avoid smoking, chewing, or vaping tobacco. Tobacco use doubles your risk of gum disease, which can lead to dental implant failure.
Sports-related injuries and bruxism (chronic teeth grinding) are common reasons why dental implants (and natural teeth) become damaged. To protect your smile from harm, ask your implant dentist in Moses Lake about a custom mouthguard. Dr. Harder can create a personalized oral appliance that fits comfortably over your teeth while you’re playing sports or sleeping (since most teeth grinding occurs at night), shielding them from damage.
In addition to taking certain precautions at home, you should also visit our dental office at least twice per year for routine checkups and cleanings. At these appointments, Dr. Harder will closely examine your implants and remaining teeth to ensure your smile is functioning as it should. If our team detects any issues, we’ll be able to treat them as early as possible, potentially saving you from more invasive and costly procedures down the road. Plus, you’ll have the chance to ask any questions you may have about dental implant care in Moses Lake.
When getting dental implants at Moses Lake, you can count on Dr. Harder to make sure you stay comfortable throughout the process. In part, this means answering any questions you have about the procedure so that you know what needs to happen and can feel confident about scheduling your treatment. We’ve listed some of the most commonly asked dental implant questions below, but if you have other concerns, don’t hesitate to let us know during your consultation!
The timeline for getting dental implants is usually several months, although the exact length varies from patient to patient. If bone grafting is needed to add density to your jaw, it might be three to six months before we can schedule the implant surgery. Once your implants are in place, it will take another three to six months for them to fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. The final stage is the placement of the restoration, and it usually requires two visits about two weeks apart: one to take impressions so that the restoration can be made and one to attach said restoration to your implants.
You might think dental implants require some type of special maintenance, but taking care of them is actually a lot like taking care of your natural teeth. You should brush at least twice a day using a soft-bristle toothbrush and low-abrasive toothpaste that won’t scratch the restoration. Remember that plaque can build up under and around an implant crown, so don’t forget to clean these areas. To get rid of plaque and food particles in hard-to-reach areas, use dental floss that’s designed to help clean implants; an oral irrigator or an interdental brush coated with nylon can also help you reach these spots.
While dental implants are often an excellent long-term solution for missing teeth, it’s not usually recommended for younger patients. If the jaw grows after dental implants are placed, or if the bite shifts at some point, it could cause complications. That’s why it’s generally recommended to wait until a patient is at least 18 to get dental implants. There is no upper age limit for dental implants, although the possibility of bone loss in the jaw needs to be considered. Dr. Harder will need to examine your oral health before making any sort of recommendation.
Dental implants are a safe, reliable way to fill the gaps in your smile. Research over the last 30 years shows that implant surgery has a 95% success rate. However, implant failure is still possible, especially if your gums become infected or if there isn’t enough bone in your jaw. Call us right away if you notice loose implant posts or worrisome symptoms such as inflamed gums and severe pain; we can point you in the right direction for treatment. In many cases, it might be possible to try and place the implants again after the underlying problem has been addressed.
With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. However, on average, while the implant post itself can last indefinitely, the crown or other restoration attached to it may need replacement every 10-15 years due to normal wear and tear. Regular dental checkups, good oral hygiene, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking can help extend the longevity of your dental implants and keep them functioning properly for many years!
While some implant-supported dentures are removable, they’re not the norm. The vast majority of dental implants are made to be permanent fixtures that cannot be removed except by a dental professional like Dr. Harder. Unlike dentures, which can be taken out daily, dental implants stay securely in place to provide stability and functionality. So, if you’d rather have a removable prosthetic, you may consider another option like a partial denture instead.
The process of getting dental implants is generally less painful than many patients expect! Local anesthesia is used during the procedure to numb the area, so you shouldn’t feel any pain while the implant is being placed. After the surgery, some mild discomfort, swelling, or soreness is normal, similar to other dental procedures.
This can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. Most patients say that their discomfort usually subsides after a few days, and the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term healing process. However, if you still feel pain after three days, give us a call so we can schedule a follow-up appointment.