Dental Implants — Phoenix, AZ
The Best Tooth Replacement Choice Available
Are missing teeth standing between you and a healthier, happier, and more confident smile? At Smile Fitness Dental Center, we offer a strong and beautiful alternative to traditional restorative options like bridges, partials, or full dentures called dental implants. Dental implants in Phoenix are the best tooth replacement choice available because they’re the only option that is designed to replace the entire structure of a missing tooth, not just the part you see when you smile!
With dental implants, our patients will see improvements in their smiles, health, well-being, and their quality of life. A complete dental implant procedure will restore the look, feel, and function of one or more missing teeth as if they were never lost in the first place! Keep reading to learn more, and give us a call today to schedule your dental implant consultation.
Why Choose Smile Fitness Dental Centers For Dental Implants?
- Replace Any Number of Missing Teeth for Life
- Entire Dental Implant Treatment Completed Under One Roof
- Multiple Options Available for Making Dental Implants Affordable
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are composed of several parts that recreate the entire structure of a missing tooth. First, there is the implant itself, which is a small, screw-shaped post made of titanium. Surgically placed into your jawbone, it mimics the natural tooth root, helping to stimulate the bone and prevent weakening or deterioration. Next is the abutment, which is the small piece that works to connect the implant to the custom restoration. Finally, the visible portion of the dental implant is the dental crown, implant bridge, or implant denture. Each restoration is custom-made to match the size, color, and shape of your natural teeth, so you have a seamlessly blended smile.
By imitating an entire natural tooth from the root up, dental implants offer a prosthetic that is virtually indistinguishable from home-grown pearly whites.
The 4 Step Dental Implant Process
Every patient interested in dental implants should first come in for an evaluation appointment. Your exam will include a traditional exam and preliminary X-rays. Then, our dentists can tell you whether you’re a candidate for dental implants or if you first need to complete preliminary procedures like a bone graft or gum disease treatment.
Here’s what you can expect if dental implants are right for you. In the first stage of your procedure, a titanium post will be placed in your jawbone. How many posts you receive will depend on how many teeth you’re replacing. A single tooth gets a single post, while a partial or full denture will require multiple posts.
After this stage, nature will take its course. Over a period of time, your bone will fuse with your titanium post and create a solid, natural foundation for your new smile. When the bond is strong enough, you’ll return to our office to have your new tooth (or teeth) attached. Your entire implant procedure, from the examination phase to the implant placement and restoration, will all be done right here in our office with the dental team you know and trust.
Once the dental implants are secured and your mouth has healed, we will attach a handcrafted, permanent crown, bridge, or denture to your dental implant or implants. The restoration will match your natural teeth and blend seamlessly with your smile.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants can be used to replace any number of missing teeth anywhere in the mouth. What’s more, practically any healthy adult can be considered a good candidate for them! When meeting with one of our dentists for your initial consultation, they will take the time to fully examine your smile to see if dental implants are a good choice for you. During this process, they will evaluate:
- Your oral and overall health – Things such as tooth decay, gum disease, autoimmune disorders, or health-related conditions or diseases can hinder or prevent dental implant placement.
- The strength of your jawbone – Without a strong, durable jawbone, dental implants will have nothing to hold them up.
- Lifestyle habits – If you smoke or enjoy using tobacco products, it’s likely you will be unable to receive dental implants.
If for any reason they find a reason you are not eligible for dental implants, it’s possible they could still be in your future; however, you will need to make some changes. If your jawbone is weak, you can opt to have a bone grafting procedure performed to add extra bone to the weakened area. If you smoke, you will need to quit immediately. If you have gum disease or tooth decay, you will need to take care of these problems before moving forward with dental implants. From there, we can plan your dental implant treatment depending on how many teeth you’re missing.
Missing 1 Tooth
Replacing a single missing tooth requires one dental implant that’s placed into the jawbone where the roots of the tooth once were. Then, the implant is covered with a beautiful, custom-made dental crown for a seamless and fully self-supported tooth replacement.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Several missing teeth in a row can be replaced with an implant bridge. One dental implant is placed on either side of the gap in your smile. Then, the two implants are used to support an implant bridge, effectively closing the gap without altering the remaining teeth, as a traditional bridge would require.
Missing All Teeth
Patients with more advanced tooth loss may want to consider an implant denture. Just like removable prosthetics, the implant varieties use a gum-colored base to support numerous replacement teeth. However, instead of resting on the gums, an implant denture is anchored via four to six dental implants throughout the jaw.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
You’ll naturally want to know how much dental implants cost before you decide for sure that they’re the tooth replacement option for you. We’ll be happy to give you an estimate and discuss strategies for fitting the procedure into your budget more easily. During your first consultation, we’ll examine your mouth and carefully consider both your oral health needs and your financial situation; we will then outline what would need to happen during the implant process and make sure that you understand the costs involved with each step.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Before you can even begin getting the implants themselves, you might have to pay for a preparatory procedure. This could include tooth extractions for when the tooth being replaced hasn’t actually been lost yet or bone grafts for patients that have already experienced bone loss. Each of these treatments will be paid for separately. The actual implant surgery will have its own cost to consider as well.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
A single dental implant comes in three parts: implant post, abutment, and restoration. We will need to consider the costs of these different parts along with a variety of factors like the material they’re made of and the number of implants needed for your specific case. When it comes to selecting implant material, you can rest assured that we will make sure you get your money’s worth by only selecting reliable materials from trustworthy manufacturers.
Your Final Dental Implant Restoration
You’ll receive your final restoration once your mouth has fully healed from the previous procedures. The price attached to your restoration depends on what kind you need. You may only get a crown for a single implant, but if you’ve lost three or more teeth in a row, a bridge might be used with a pair of implants instead. Partial dentures and full dentures can both be supported by a strategic number of implants to replace multiple teeth throughout the entire mouth. Naturally, each of these restorations come at their own price points.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
You can call your insurance carrier to confirm whether or not implant placement is included in your benefits. More often than not, dental implants are considered elective and won’t be covered. However, parts of the restoration or certain preliminary treatments might still fall under the scope of your plan. Whatever the details of your own insurance policy are, you’ll have our team to review the finer details and help you file the necessary claims to maximize your benefits.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
If you sign up for our Membership Plan, you can get a 20% discount off of various procedures completed at our practice. Third-party financing through CareCredit is available for those who might struggle paying the entire cost of care all at once.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
Depending on how well you take care of your implants, they can last decades or even a lifetime. One of the greatest benefits of this type of tooth replacement is its longevity. Patients do not have to worry about frequent replacements over the years because of its strength, durability, and permanence.
What’s more, dental implants can be cared for just like your natural teeth. Some of the ways you can care for your dental implants include:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes
- Using a soft-bristled toothbrush
- Flossing after every meal
- Rinsing with an antimicrobial mouthwash
- Maintaining your regular six-month dental appointments
- Limiting your intake of hard, crunchy foods