Around 3 million people in the U.S. have dental implants. Choosing an implant dentist is not always easy, especially because there are so many of them available. It's worth figuring out the right dentist for you to make sure you get the best dental implant experience.
Dental implants are important for those who have lost teeth, as they enable that person to chew full again. Tooth loss may be the result of old age or poor oral hygiene. Regardless, by choosing an implant dentist, you've taken the first step to restore your mouth to proper working condition.
To find out everything you need to know about your options for dentists, keep reading.
Denture Implants Cost
As a dental implant patient, you likely have a budget on your mind. As any kind of dental work can be expensive, creating a dental implant budget is a great idea for anyone considering getting them.
The general cost of a dental implant procedure is between $1000 and $3000. However, this price will vary depending on the amount of work needed and the type of dentist you go to.
Many practices will offer payment plans to help you get the treatment you need. Discuss this with your dental implant team when making an appointment.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants are essentially used to replace the roots of any teeth you may be missing. During surgery, they are placed in your jawbone so that they can offer support to artificial teeth.
Once placed in your jawbone, your dental implant will be secure and won't move. They function just like a tooth root in that you won't notice that they're part of your mouth.
Dental implants have been used for over forty years to help restore tooth loss. They can aid in chewing for those who have lost teeth due to old age, poor oral hygiene, or injury.
However, if you have lost teeth for any other reason, you can still get dental implants. The expert team at Montclair Dental Spa will be happy to discuss your implant queries and needs.
Dental Implant Recovery
Getting dental implants does involve a procedure, so you will need some time to recover. For about 48 hours following the procedure, you will likely experience swelling in your face and some discomfort.
To ease recovery, it's important to get a lot of rest. You can also take painkillers to help you work through any discomfort.
You may also struggle to eat normally during your recovery. This is simply because the mouth must adjust to the new implants. Some patients may be advised to stay on a liquid diet for a few days following treatment; however, this will be discussed with you by your dental team.
How Do I Choose the Best Implant Dentist for My Needs?
Choosing an implant dentist is important to make sure you get the right treatment. Dental implants are a common dental procedure, so you want to choose a dentist who can offer you the best level of care and the most up-to-date treatment.
Research Your Dentist Before Making an Appointment
Simply Googling dental implant dentists helps when deciding what dentist to choose. You'll be able to read reviews online, which will help you determine if they're the right dentist for you.
Paying attention to these reviews will let you know everything you need about the dental implant dentist you're considering. This is true even if the reviews aren't specific to dental implants. Learn about what other patients have said about the dental team, the treatments available, and what follow-up care was like.
Find Out What Services They Offer
When choosing a dental implant dentist, it is important to learn about the services they offer. Of course, your top priority is dental implants. But finding out what the follow-up care is like and if they are well versed in all areas of dentistry is reassuring for you.
If the practice you are considering offers many different kinds of services, then it is likely they know what they're doing. They'll have assembled an excellent team of highly skilled dentists to make sure you get the best treatment for your needs.
Make Sure You Learn What Experience Your Dentist Has
Before confirming your dental implant appointment, you must know how experienced your dentist is. Consider asking them how many dental implant procedures they have done before to get a sense of their experience.
You should also ask them about their training and how long they have worked at the practice. Don't feel shy about asking these questions. Your dentist will be happy to let you know everything you need to in order to quell your worries.
As dental implants are such a common procedure, most dentists are well versed in them, even if they are new in the field. But it may make you feel more comfortable to know that your dentist has a lot of implant experience, so asking them for this information will make the process smoother.
Consider Your Own Oral Health
Your oral health is a major factor in deciding if you can receive dental implants or not. While dentists know they will be dealing with patients who have more than likely lost teeth, they will also want to consider other oral factors such as gum health.
Your dental implant team will want your gums to be as healthy as possible before going ahead with the procedure. This allows them to judge how well your dental implants will fit and how smoothly your recovery will go.
You will not be able to get dental implants if you currently suffer from gum disease. This is because your gums will be too weak to recover properly from the procedures.
If you have gum disease and want to get dental implants, find a dentist who will help you get rid of your gum disease first. Once your gums are back to being healthy, you can start to consider dental implants.
Consider Asking Other Patients for Reviews
If you're considering a particular dental practice, then you should ask former patients how they found their experience with that practice. This is one of the best ways to determine if a particular practice is right for you.
Ask former patients how professional the services offered were. Also, ask them if they felt safe and secure during their own procedures. Whatever queries or concerns you have, consulting former patients is one of the best ways to calm your nerves.
Getting in touch with former patients is easy, especially if the practice you're considering is local to you. By asking the people you know in your neighborhood, someone will be able to put you in contact with the practice you're considering.
Get a Detailed Run-Down of Your Treatment Plan
After you schedule your dental implant appointment, your implant team will provide you with a detailed treatment plan for your specific needs. They will need to assess your individual dental implant needs before they can do this.
However, a dental team can send you a more general plan for how your treatment could look. This can inform you about things such as recovery time and what will happen during the procedure.
It's important to bear in mind that treatment plans change depending on your individual needs. But having an idea of what your plan could look like depending on the dentist you choose.
Make Sure You Take Location Into Account
If you're receiving a dental implant, you want to have the procedure somewhere close to home. There are several reasons a conveniently located dental practice is the right call.
Firstly, following the procedure, you may start to experience some discomfort. It's best to be close to home so that the person driving you from the procedure can get you back to rest as soon as possible.
Secondly, being near your dental practice is convenient. If you need to pop in for any reason, the practice is easy to get to.
Finally, you want to choose a practice that is located in a safe area. This will add to the overall sense of security of your experience.
Ask About Implant Payment Plans
Because dental implants are expensive, you may wonder what payment plan options are available. Always make sure you ask your dental implant dentist about this before you agree to have your procedure.
Many dental practices are happy to offer payment plans. Some will already have a set list of payment options available. Others will work around your needs to create a unique plan for you.
Schedule a consultation with Montclair Dental Spa today to learn about the payment options available to you. The team is experts in the dental implant field, and you can ask any questions you have during the consultation session.
What to Know About the Procedure
Dental implant procedures are very straightforward. Because they are so common, your dental team will be well trained in providing these procedures, so there's no need to be apprehensive about receiving one.
Will It Be Painful?
Your dental implant dentist will give you a local anesthetic before beginning the procedure so that you don't feel anything. The length of time a procedure takes will depend on the amount of work that needs to be done. But rest assured your mouth will be numb before any work begins.
At Montclair Dental Spa, our team wants to make sure you are as comfortable as possible. Let them know about any pain concerns you might have before beginning the procedure so that they can discuss your worries with you.
Are There Any Side Effects?
While most people don't experience too many side effects following treatment, there are a few you should be aware of. The implant site can occasionally get infected as the body works to heal it after the procedure.
If this happens, your dentist can prescribe you antibiotics to kill the infection and continue the healing process.
You may also experience some nerve damage following a dental implant procedure. You might experience numbness, especially in the cheek above the part of your mouth in which you received the implant. Your dentist should ask you if you're feeling any numbness following the procedure and during recovery.
During recovery, you will have swelling in your face. This swelling may be painful. Rest assured, it will subside as the dental implant settles in your mouth. You can take painkillers to help relieve the discomfort.
What Should I Do If My Implants Are Causing Problems Even After Recovery?
If you're still in a lot of pain or discomfort following recovery, reach out to your dental implant team. While the recovery process does vary for different people, once you've been given the all-clear by your dentist, you shouldn't experience too many dental implant problems.
Simply explain to your dentist what's going on, and they will be able to advise you on the best thing to do. It may be a matter of clearing up a small infection, so don't worry too much. Your dentist will be able to clear up any additional problems you're facing.
Choosing an Implant Dentist Is Easy When You Follow the Steps Above
Choosing an implant dentist is one of the most important steps in the dental implant process. Getting the right dentist means you will feel better about the surgery. You can rest assured knowing that you are being treated by professionals.
At Montclair Dental Spa, we want to make sure your dental implant experience is as relaxed as possible. Our highly skilled dentists will be happy to walk you through the dental implant process.
If you'd like to learn more, consider contacting our team here. If you have any questions you'd like to ask, they'll be happy to answer them.