Dental Implants – Collinsville, VA
Bring Back Missing Teeth for Life
If you’re missing one or more teeth, a traditional dental bridge or denture can do a great job of replacing them, but they don’t even come close to how natural dental implants look and feel. That’s because dental implants in Collinsville, VA actually bring back an entire tooth from root to crown, allowing patients to smile, speak, and eat with 100% confidence. If you’re ready to not just replace your missing teeth, but practically get your real teeth back, then be sure to contact Collinsville Dental Associates today to schedule a dental implant consultation.
Why Choose Collinsville Dental Associates for Dental Implants?
- Entire Procedure Provided Under 1 Roof
- Team Led by 2 Dental Implant Experts
- Friendly Service, State-of-the-Art Technology
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is actually an artificial tooth root. A small titanium post is placed into the jawbone where a tooth used to be, and there, it actually bonds with the surrounding bone through a process called osseointegration. This makes the implant extremely stable, and this serves as the foundation of a patient’s new teeth. In addition to the root and the restoration placed on top, the two are usually connected with a tiny screw called an abutment, which helps provide even more strength.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
The dental implant procedure can typically be broken down into four main steps: the consultation, implant placement, healing period, and placement of the final restorations. While every procedure is different, our team will guide you through what your unique process will look like during your consultation, once we’ve had a chance to complete a thorough oral examination. One great benefit of choosing our team at Collinsville Dental Associates is that our experienced dentists are able to complete the entire process in-house, allowing us to make sure your care is 100 percent personalized and perfectly executed.
The Initial Consultation
Every dental implant process begins with an in-depth consultation with one of our skilled implant dentists in Collinsville. Our team will capture diagnostic images of your mouth like X-rays, as well as thoroughly examine your teeth and gums. We’ll also ask about your oral health and medical health histories and any goals or expectations you have from the process. If we determine that you’re a good candidate for dental implants, our team will create a personalized treatment plan that we’ll walk you through and answer any questions you may have before scheduling your surgery.
Dental Implant Placement
The next step of your treatment is the surgical placement of your implants themselves. Before we begin, we’ll numb the area we’ll be operating with local anesthesia. This will help you feel comfortable throughout your procedure. The surgery is then completed in-house by our dental implant experts, meaning you won’t need to worry about going to an office you’ve never visited and being seen by a team you’ve just met. To secure the implants within the jawbone, our team will create a window in the gumline, where we’ll insert the implants.
Healing & Osseointegration
For the following six months, your gums will heal around your dental implants, and they will fuse with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This occurs when the titanium posts naturally become one with your jawbone, providing it with necessary blood flow and stimulation to keep it from eroding over time. Osseointegration is also a critical part of the process because it ensures the long-term success of your restorations, providing your prosthetic with a strong, unwavering foundation.
Placing the Final Restorations
Throughout this process, a dental laboratory will be crafting your final restoration that will be attached to your implants. However, before we can do that, we will secure small metal connector pieces called abutments to the implant posts. Then, we can permanently attach the restorations, allowing you to leave our office with a complete and healthy smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
So why do Dr. Lavinder, Dr. Payne, Dr. Payne, and Dr. Hessler recommend dental implants more often than any other tooth replacement? That’s because dental implants…
- …are just as secure as real teeth. Instead of sitting on top of the gums like regular bridges and dentures, they are anchored to the jawbone like your natural teeth.
- …look extremely lifelike. Implanted teeth don’t have any metal or acrylic attachments that instantly stick out. If you were to look at an implant right next to a real tooth in someone’s smile, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
- …are easy to take care of. All a patient has to do is brush and floss like normal to keep an implant looking and feeling like new.
- …can last a lifetime. With just basic care, an implant can be expected to stay firmly in place for 30 years or more, making it a onetime investment for most patients.
Reasons for Dental Implants
If you are looking to close that lone gap in your smile, replace multiple missing teeth, or you simply want a denture you can trust to stay in place, then dental implants can provide an answer. The treatment is extremely versatile, and our team can help you decide which of the following restorations would best meet your needs:
Missing 1 Tooth
A single dental implant can be attached to a crown that fits into the smile like the last piece of a puzzle. The nearby teeth won’t need to be altered to make room or provide support, leading to a more natural appearance as well as a comfortable fit.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Partial dentures and bridges have been used to replace multiple missing teeth for decades, and now, these prosthetics can be attached directly to the jawbone using dental implants, making them much more stable and durable.
Missing All Teeth
Four to six implants placed along the jaw are all that’s needed to provide a strong foundation for a full denture. Compared to regular dentures, implant dentures are smaller, allow for a stronger bite, and are easier to take care of. We can upgrade a patient’s current denture to fit over implants or provide a completely new prosthetic as well.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Your dental implant procedure will be completely unique based on your particular situation, needs, and concerns. This means the cost will be unique as well, and in order to give you an accurate estimate, we need to see you for a consultation first. Typically, dental implants tend to cost more upfront compared to traditional bridges and dentures, but thanks to their longevity, implant patients end up saving a ton of money in the long run. That’s because traditional prosthetics usually have to be replaced multiple times over the course of someone’s life, compounding their initial lower price, while implants can easily last for decades.
Types of Dental Implants
We offer different types of dental implants based on your pattern of tooth loss. Usually, the more teeth you’re missing, the higher your cost will be. For a single missing tooth, we will recommend an implant-supported dental crown. If you’re missing multiple teeth consecutively, we can use an implant-retained bridge to fill the gap in your smile with a stable prosthetic. Lastly, for those missing all or most of their teeth, we have implant dentures to provide a lifelike full smile replacement.
What are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?
Dental implant treatment is a process with multiple stages. Each stage comes with a unique cost that will add up to the total price of your implants. First, any preexisting problems like gum disease must be treated. After your consultation, we will ensure that you have a healthy mouth before scheduling your surgery. Once our implant dentist in Collinsville has placed your dental implants, you will begin a healing process that will last at least 3 to 4 months. The last part of the procedure is where we create your restorations, ensuring you’re happy with the results before permanently mounting them on your implants. Keep in mind that any additional treatment like bone grafting will add cost to your procedure.
Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?
While dental implants come with a higher price tag compared to other replacement options, their unique benefits make them well worth the investment. In fact, dental implants can last for the rest of your lifetime with proper care, potentially saving you money from avoided replacements in the future. Additionally, dental implants are the only solution that restores your teeth from the roots up, providing you with a replacement that looks and feels just like your natural teeth. This lifelike replacement enhances your appearance, confidence, and oral health.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Typically, dental insurance does not cover dental implants, as the procedure is seen as elective. However, every insurance policy is different and some are beginning to offer some coverage! Our friendly team will always do what they can to maximize your insurance benefits. In many cases, your insurance provider may be able to cover certain aspects of the treatment like necessary periodontal therapy, your initial consultation, and part of your restoration. Just remember that no two cases are the same and coverage will vary based on your specific plan.
Dental insurance isn’t the only way to minimize the cost of dental implants! For our patients without insurance coverage, we’re proud to offer our own in-office membership program that can save you money. One flat fee a year will get you significant discounts on nearly all our services, including dental implants! Additionally, we accept CareCredit, which can break down the cost of your dental implants into smaller, more manageable monthly payments with little to no interest!