Dental Implants – Granby, CT
Permanent Tooth Replacement You Can Trust
Many who have suffered tooth loss know that missing teeth can make eating and speaking more challenging. But did you know that when a tooth root is lost, the jawbone no longer receives nutrients? As a result, it eventually loses density and its shape, leading to a sunken facial appearance that can make you look much older than you really are. While traditional dentures and bridges allow you to eat and smile again, they do not address this problem that lies beneath the surface. Only dental implants can recreate the entire missing tooth structure and deliver replacement teeth that look and feel natural.
At Salmon Brook Dental Associates, we’re happy to provide every step of dental implant treatment right here in our own office. Our experienced dentists have completed advanced training to be able to surgically place dental implants, resulting in a treatment process that is much more convenient for you! Contact us today to schedule your consultation for dental implants in Granby, CT!
Why Choose Salmon Brook Dental Associates for Dental Implants?
- Implants Placed & Restored In-House
- Skilled Dentists with 30+ Years of Experience
- Fair Fees with No Unpleasant Surprises
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant consists of three basic parts:
- Implant post – A screw-shaped titanium cylinder that is surgically placed in the jaw to mimic the root structure of a lost tooth.
- Abutment – A metal connector piece that goes on top of the implant.
- Restoration – A custom-made dental crown, bridge, or denture that is secured atop the abutment to recreate the appearance of your smile.
Once the implant has been inserted into your jawbone, it merges with the surrounding tissue via the natural process of osseointegration. Essentially, it becomes a part of your own body! For this reason, dental implants are able to look, feel, and function virtually the same as natural teeth. Plus, they can last for 30+ years, provided you take good care of them. It’s no wonder dental implants are often considered the gold standard of tooth replacement!
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Many other dental offices in Granby need to refer patients to specialists for the dental implant surgery. With us, that’s not a problem! You don’t have to travel to another dental office for this complex part. Our team can handle every step of the process right here in our dental office. Our dentists have been highly trained and have years of experience, allowing them to perform dental implant placement confidently and competently. Every patient’s treatment will look a bit different from the rest, but four basic steps remain: the initial consultation, dental implant surgery, osseointegration, and the delivery of your restorations.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants mimic a natural tooth in many ways, giving them benefits that you just can’t get with dentures or bridges alone. These benefits include:
- Traditional bridges require removing tooth structure to make room for the restoration, but dental implants stand completely independent of the surrounding teeth, allowing you to enjoy these teeth for as long as possible.
- Dental implants can last 30 or more years, which is significantly longer than dentures and bridges. These need to be replaced about every five to ten years.
- Because the jawbone retains its shape with dental implants, you can keep your youthful appearance.
- With the implants firmly embedded in the jaw, you can have a nutritious diet of fibrous fruits and vegetables without worrying about your replacements slipping out of place.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Truly customized to your unique needs, dental implants in Granby can be used in basically every tooth loss situation, regardless of how many teeth you’re missing or where they’re located in your mouth. However, you do need to have enough jawbone density to support dental implants and be in good oral health before the placement procedure. That’s why meeting with our dentists is so important! They can evaluate your oral cavity and get you ready for implant treatment. From there, they can develop a specific plan based on your unique needs.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Practically any adult who is in generally good health can receive dental implants, but you’ll need to meet with us for a consultation first just to be sure. Certain health conditions can make dental implants more likely to fail, which is why we’ll need to examine your mouth and review your medical history. In most cases, you’ll need to have three key qualities to be considered a dental implant candidate:
- Good general health – You should be in good enough overall health that you’re able to undergo a minor surgical procedure.
- Great oral health – Gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health issues could compromise the success of your new teeth, so they must be addressed beforehand.
- A strong jawbone – Without enough jawbone density, the implant posts won’t have a sturdy foundation to merge with. If you’ve suffered from jawbone loss, we can recommend a bone graft, which adds bone material to the area to strengthen it.
Once your dental implant dentist in Granby has deemed you fit to move forward with the treatment, you can collaborate on a tooth replacement plan based on the number of pearly whites you’re missing.
Missing One Tooth
For just one lost tooth, a single dental implant post is positioned vertically in the socket, and a prosthetic dental crown is placed on top, completely replacing the missing tooth from root to crown. This treatment eliminates the need to reduce the teeth that are located on either side of the gap, making it the healthier option when compared to a traditional dental bridge.
Missing Multiple Teeth
If you are missing multiple teeth throughout the upper or lower arch, or you’re missing several teeth in a row, we can place just a few dental implants to secure a partial denture or bridge. Instead of clasping or being bonded onto healthy teeth, these restorations directly attach to the implants, giving them far more security and longevity. They also don’t wear down the structure of your remaining teeth like conventional solutions do.
Missing All Teeth
Even those who have no natural teeth left can benefit from dental implants. In fact, with four to six strategically positioned dental implants, a full denture can restore significantly more biting power than dentures alone and enable you to have a high quality of life again. Many of our patients with implant dentures claim that their new teeth look and feel exactly the same as their natural ones!
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
It’s true that traditional dentures and bridges are generally less expensive than dental implants. However, these restorations have to be replaced much more frequently, adding to the overall cost. In fact, most of the time, dental implants turn out to be the more cost-effective solution in the end. When you come in for your consultation, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan to meet your needs based on the number and location of implants and the type of restoration. Then, we can provide details about the treatment cost that you’ll be responsible for paying. Our team is happy to work with you to make your restored smile more affordable.
Types of Dental Implants
When preparing to undergo dental implant placement, the type of restoration you need will determine how many implants you will receive.
- Single Tooth– A dental crown will be created and placed on top of a single dental implant that will be surgically placed into your jawbone to replicate the original tooth structure.
- Multiple Teeth– We will place what is known as a fixed bridge on top of two dental implants, which will be inserted into the outer sockets to create a stable foundation for your restoration.
- All Teeth– The most expensive dental implant is an implant denture. This custom creation looks just like a traditional denture, but instead of sitting on your gums and using your natural suction to remain in place, it will be secured onto an average of four to six implants.
What are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?
Each phase of treatment will incur its own costs. The first step is to schedule an initial consultation with us to determine if you are a qualified candidate. During this appointment, we will take digital images of your oral and facial structure and determine if your jawbone is dense enough to support your implants and restoration. If so, you will be given the green light to move forward with the procedure. If not, you will likely need to undergo a bone graft or sinus lift to strengthen the weakened areas of your bone.
The actual surgery will occur in-house by our team of professionals and will require anesthesia and/or sedation to ensure you are comfortable throughout the process. We will make small incisions in your gums before placing each implant into its designated area. You will then return home to heal for three to six months to allow the osseointegration process to occur.
Once you are fully healed, you will return to receive your metal abutment, which is the attachment that connects the implant to your restoration. Finally, your custom-made prosthetic will be secured into place, allowing you to see a full, complete smile that is beautifully blended and healthy.
Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?
If you were to review the testimonials of previous patients, you would quickly understand why dental implants are worth the investment. Yes, they do require substantial upfront costs; however, when you consider the various benefits (i.e., functionality, permanence, longevity, easy to maintain, and improved oral health), it is hard to consider any other option.
Ultimately, the decision is yours, but if you want a restoration that is designed to last decades or longer and will give you better oral health and a beautiful, fully restored smile, you can’t go wrong with dental implants.
Will Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Depending on your plan, your insurance may or may not cover the cost of treatment. While it is possible that they will agree to pay for certain aspects of treatment (i.e. consultation, anesthesia, custom restoration), they may not cover the cost of the actual surgery. This is why it’s necessary to speak with a representative from your insurance company before agreeing to move forward with treatment. Our team will be happy to work on your behalf if you prefer, getting the answers you need to make the right decision about your dental health.
We will also be happy to go over financing options to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses and help you stay within your budget.
Dental Implant FAQs
Are dental implants safe?
For the vast majority of adults who are in generally good health, dental implants are quite safe and successful when placed by a trained professional. Your dental implant procedure will be safe here at Salmon Brook Dental Associates – as a Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics, you can trust that Dr. Chawla is qualified to deliver safe, comfortable, and successful dental implant care.
Certain medical conditions, such as cancer or uncontrolled diabetes, can make dental implant surgery and/or recovery risky, but we can discuss ways to minimize your risk and make your procedure as safe as possible.
Am I too old to get dental implants?
After you’ve reached adulthood and your jaw has finished developing, age is no longer a direct factor in your eligibility for dental implants. It’s worth noting that patients of advanced age are more likely to have other health conditions, such as jawbone loss, that could complicate dental implant treatment. Our team will take your medical history and current health into account when developing your treatment plan.
Do dental implants make you look younger?
Yes, dental implants actually can make you appear younger! They’re the only tooth replacement that recreates the structure of your tooth roots. As a result, they stimulate your jawbone through biting and chewing, which prevents the bone deterioration that normally occurs after teeth are lost. A weakened jawbone has trouble supporting your facial features, leading to sunken cheeks and fine wrinkles around the mouth. Dental implants prevent all of this from occurring, helping you enjoy a youthful glow for years to come!
Will people be able to tell that I have dental implants?
The dental crowns, bridges, or dentures that we place on top of your implants should resemble your natural teeth in size, shape, and color. We accomplish this by capturing impressions of your mouth and sending them to a dental lab. After your restorations have been placed, they should be indistinguishable from your real teeth. Additionally, you won’t have to hold your jaw in a strange way to keep them in place like you would with dentures – the posts are embedded in the jaw just like real tooth roots.