Dental Implants – Hamden, CT
The New Pinnacle of Long-Term
Tooth Replacement
Tooth loss can have severe consequences for much more than just your self-confidence – it also impairs your oral health and even your overall quality of life. That’s why our dentists are committed to helping patients regain strong, capable smiles after teeth are lost. Out of all the tooth replacement options available today, none are more effective or revitalizing than dental implants from our Hamden, CT dentist. This solution delivers stability, longevity, reliability, and confidence in your smile that others simply cannot.
Why Choose D'Andrea and Pantera, DMD, PC
for Dental Implants?
- Partnered with Hamden-Area Dental Implant Specialists
-
Calm, Relaxing Dental
Office Environment -
Fair Fees Without Any
Unpleasant Surprises
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a replacement for the roots of missing teeth, which are normally located beneath the gumline. A dental implant is a tiny post, usually made from titanium, that is surgically embedded into the space where the tooth’s supportive root structure once was. Over the next several months, the implant post fuses with the jawbone to provide stability for the custom-made dental crown, bridge, or denture that can be affixed on top. In the end, you’ll have a replacement tooth that looks and feels almost exactly like the one that was lost. Eventually, you might even forget that you lost any teeth at all!
The 4 Step Dental Implant Process
Since dental implants have a rather unique design, there are multiple steps involved in the treatment process. Don’t worry, though – we’ll do most of the work, and will be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have along the way. In the meantime, you can read through the information below to get a better sense of how we replace missing teeth with dental implants in Hamden.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
Every patient’s dental situation is different, and we want to make sure we thoroughly understand the state of your oral health, your needs, and your expectations. That’s where the initial consultation comes in!
After you contact our office and schedule a visit, we’ll meet to discuss the details of your treatment plan. We’ll also conduct an oral exam so we can recommend any necessary preliminary procedures that would promote the success of your restoration.
Dental Implant Surgery
This is when the titanium implant posts will be surgically attached to your jawbone. Since this is a fairly delicate process, we’ll refer you to a local specialist. Rest assured, these experts are well-equipped to safely and successfully place your implant posts. They’ll be sure to review any post-op instructions with you before you leave, but don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for clarification or further advice.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement
With the implant posts firmly in place, the next step is to wait for your jawbone to do its thing. Over the next three to six months, it will be busy with osseointegration – a natural process where bone matter fuses with biocompatible materials. It’s crucial not to disturb your implant posts during this time, so we recommend sticking to a soft food diet and getting plenty of rest.
When osseointegration is complete, we’ll connect the abutment piece to your implant posts. Basically, the abutment will allow us to attach your customized crown, bridge, or denture to your implants.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
To ensure your restorations look as lifelike and seamless as possible, we’ll send key information about the size, shape, and color of any of your remaining natural teeth to a dental lab. The skillful technicians there will artfully craft the restoration for your implants and deliver the final product to our office. You’ll return for one final appointment, we’ll place your crown, bridge, or denture, and your treatment will be considered complete!
We may suggest that you plan on scheduling a follow-up appointment so we can make sure you and your dental implants are doing well, but other than that, you’ll be free to enjoy your new smile.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Traditional bridges and dentures will replace your missing teeth just fine, but dental implants in Hamden provide many benefits that other restorations simply can’t. The way the titanium post integrates with your jawbone will enable you to enjoy superior comfort, chewing power, stability, and so much more. With dental implants supporting your smile, you’ll notice a huge difference in your overall quality of life! For a more in-depth look at how dental implants in Hamden can benefit you, please contact our friendly team.
Day-to-Day Benefits
Some of the advantages of smiling with dental implants are immediately felt. Here are some improvements you can expect in your day-to-day routine:
- After you get used to your new teeth, they’ll feel just like the “real thing.” Dental implants also won’t slip and slide in your mouth or cause oral irritation.
- Increased chewing power. Unlike other restorations, dental implants are strong enough to cut through most foods. Enjoy your favorites without restriction!
- Smooth speech. Because they won’t be moving in your mouth, dental implants will enable you to talk smoothly and easily.
Health Benefits
As a restorative dental treatment, implants naturally benefit your overall health and wellness, too. For example:
- No dental drift. Tooth replacements prevent your remaining teeth from shifting out of alignment.
- Jawbone preservation. Dental implants are the only restoration that can replace the tooth root as well as the crown. Basically, this encourages blood to flow to the bone and supplies it with essential nutrients. Without a dental root or implant post, your jawbone would be reabsorbed and start to deteriorate.
- Empowered nutrition. It’s hard to get a balanced meal when you have diet restrictions! But since you can eat pretty much anything with dental implants, getting all of the nutrients you need will be a breeze.
Long-Term Benefits
Last but certainly not least, dental implants can support your smile for decades to come. When taken care of properly, it’s not uncommon for them to last for 30 years – or more! This also means you won’t need as many repairs or replacements as you would with more traditional options. Truly, dental implants almost pay for themselves.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
It does not matter if you are missing a single tooth or all the teeth in your mouth; dental implants are capable of replacing all of them quite effectively. Below, you can learn how the process works depending on the severity of your tooth loss.
Missing Single Tooth
Replacing a single tooth is done by making a small incision in the gum tissue, creating a tiny hole to make room for the implant, then placing the implant into the jawbone and closing the gum tissue. Once the bone and gum tissue have healed around the implant, a porcelain crown can be placed on top.
Missing Multiple Teeth
When replacing multiple missing teeth, a pair of dental implants are generally enough to hold a dedicated bridge. This means that we do not have to remove any existing enamel just to replace teeth, a common practice for traditional dental bridges.
Missing All of Your Teeth
Whether you’re missing all teeth in your top arch, bottom arch, or both, a series of implants strategically placed throughout the jaw can provide the long-term stability needed to keep the denture secure. Additionally, choosing a fixed option means you won’t have to remove the denture just to keep it clean!
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
When choosing dental implants, you want to be sure you are making a solid investment. We strive to provide our patients with transparency and insight, so you can feel confident about your treatment plan and its cost. There are many factors that influence the cost of dental implant treatment, as we will discuss in detail below. With that said, you can expect your investment to be worthwhile due to the longevity, esthetics, and functionality dental implants in Hamden provide.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Depending on your unique situation, you may need a preliminary treatment like gum disease therapy or a bone graft before receiving dental implants. These treatments will help ensure the success of your dental implants but will also add to the overall costs.
At D'Andrea and Pantera Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we partner with the top dental implant specialists in the area for the oral surgery stage of implant treatment. This means you can expect to pay separate fees for oral surgery and for your restoration. If anesthesia is used during oral surgery, that will influence the final costs.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
The overall cost of implants in Hamden is also affected by:
- Number of Implants: One implant can replace a single missing tooth, two implants can support an implant bridge, and four or more implants can replace an entire row of teeth.
- Type of Restoration: Crowns, bridges, and dentures all have different costs; naturally, smaller restorations are often less expensive.
- Material: Zirconia and titanium are the two most common implant materials and they have slightly different costs.
- Brand: Just like there are different makes and models of cars, there are also various implant manufacturers. Feel free to ask us about where we’re getting your implant as well as any brand specific benefits.
How Dental Implants Can Save You Money
Choosing traditional dentures or bridges over implants can save you money in the short term. However, over time, dental implants often end up paying for themselves many times over. With proper care, dental implants can easily last for decades. Traditional dentures and bridges, on the other hand, typically have to be replaced every five to 10 years. In addition to fewer replacement costs, dental implants are also easier to clean and maintain. This means you may be less likely to experience gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health issues that would require costly care.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Dental insurance typically doesn’t cover the cost of dental implants in Hamden. However, there are some important exceptions. You may be able to count on your insurance to pay for costs related to preliminary treatments or the restoration that attaches to your implant. Our knowledgeable team will be happy to help you understand the details of your insurance plan. We always strive to maximize insurance benefits for our patients!
Making Dental Implants Affordable
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways beyond insurance to make dental implants affordable. For example, qualified patients can take advantage of flexible financing from CareCredit. With CareCredit, you can break down the cost of implant treatment into convenient monthly payments that fit in your budget.
You can also save money by joining the Bright Smile Club, our in-house membership plan! For one annual fee or low monthly payments, you get access to all the preventive oral care you need for a year. On top of that, Bright Smile Club members can save 15 percent on many additional treatments.
At D'Andrea and Pantera Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we believe every patient deserves a healthy, complete smile. Schedule an initial consultation with one of our implant dentists in Hamden to learn more about how to make implants affordable.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
Dental implants are the only replacement teeth that are placed directly into your jawbone and have the power to rebuild your smile’s appearance and function for many years to come. But despite this procedure’s incredibly high success rate, it’s still possible to experience failure if you don’t take the proper precautions.
Continue reading to learn more about how to maintain your restorations so you can continue making the most of their many unique advantages!
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Your new teeth aren’t made of the same natural components of your enamel, so you don’t need to worry that they’ll get cavities. But unfortunately, if bacteria in your mouth penetrate the implant site, you might develop a pervasive form of gum disease called peri-implantitis, which is the leading cause of failure.
This can thankfully be prevented by brushing and flossing twice daily to remove harmful plaque and germs, but take care not to floss so deeply into the pocket of your prosthetic that you damage its protective seal.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Dental implants are the only restorations placed directly into your jawbone so they’re firmly rooted more like natural teeth. As a result, they can potentially return up to 80% or more of your original bite force, resulting in very few dietary restrictions. That means you can enjoy a wide variety of wholesome foods to support your oral and overall health.
For instance, dairy products, like yogurt, cheese, and milk, have plenty of calcium for strong teeth and bones, and many citrus fruits and leafy greens are high in vitamin C to support your connective tissues.
Break Bad Habits
If you anxiously nibble pen caps or fingernails when you feel nervous, now is an ideal time to try to break the habit. Using your teeth to bite or chew inanimate objects or as tools can chip, crack, or break them.
Also, smoking, vaping, and using tobacco products can significantly enhance the likelihood of implant failure because they contain nicotine. This addictive substance suppresses your immune system and reduces blood flow and oxygen levels, rendering your body unable to deliver essential nutrients and infection-fighting cells to your mouth to heal.
Protect Your Dental Implants
Athletes and those who grind their teeth at night may be more likely to experience failure due to physical trauma or because the force of constantly clenching down can potentially destabilize or dislodge their new teeth, especially during recovery.
Our team is happy to help provide a custom-fitted mouthguard or nightguard to shield your smile from harm.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Visiting our team every 6 months for a routine checkup and professional cleaning allows us to monitor your dental condition so we can catch and treat any areas of concern, like a destabilized dental implant, before it becomes more serious.
Dental Implants FAQs
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Dental implants are quite safe, assuming qualified oral surgeons place them. You can trust them to restore your smile without causing harmful or unpleasant side effects.
It’s only when you don’t already qualify for dental implants that they’re risky. If you suffer from low jawbone density or gum disease, the posts’ placement would further upset your ailing smile. Dentists will thus require that you address such issues before implant treatment.
In any case, rest assured that we’ll make your implant procedure safe and effective. Our team will use their consultation findings to adjust the final treatment plan, thus ensuring everything goes smoothly.
What Causes Dental Implants to Fail?
In cases of implant failure, the cause is typically traced to one of two sources. The first is peri-implantitis, while the second is failed osseointegration.
Peri-implantitis (per its name) is a form of gum disease centered around implants. Often a result of poor oral hygiene, it damages the bone and gum tissues supporting a patient’s posts. This process causes an implant to loosen over time, greatly increasing its risk of failing and falling out.
When peri-implantitis isn’t the culprit, implant failure often stems from failed osseointegration. The latter condition refers to when an implant doesn’t integrate with a patient’s jawbone. In that scenario, the placed post won’t become rooted enough to a patient’s smile; it’s then more likely to fall out.
Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?
Smokers can technically get dental implants, but dentists don’t advise that they do so. Implant surgery tends to fail for patients who smoke often and regularly.
You see, tobacco use can interfere with the implant fusion process. It slows down your mouth’s healing, keeps bone tissue from growing around the posts, and so on. A smoking habit can also cause dry sockets, which occur when the blood clot over the treatment site is dislodged.
If a smoker does want a dental implant, they should take certain precautions. The biggest is to quit smoking for at least two weeks before surgery, as well as for two to three months afterward. This move would greatly increase the odds of the success of implant surgery.
Do Dental Implants Feel Natural?
Once they’re placed in your jawbone, dental implants should feel completely natural to you. You may even forget that they aren’t the “real” roots of your original teeth.
In the first place, note that implants themselves have no nerve endings. They won’t “feel” anything directly, as they aren’t natural parts of your body. Instead, any sensations you feel near your implants – heat, cold, pressure, etc. – will come from the surrounding gum tissue.
