Dental Implant

Many factors determine whether dental implants might be suitable for you. Bone density in the jaw must be adequate to support the implant. Bone grafting might be necessary in some cases. If appearance is a priority, implants are a good option for replacement of one or a series of teeth.

Post-procedure, good oral hygiene and regular dental visits are necessary to ensure the longevity and success of implants. 

Dental implants look like your natural teeth and are as durable and easy to take care of as natural teeth. Dental implants do not need to be removed for cleaning or maintenance; however, good oral hygiene and regular dental visits are essential to ensure the longevity and success of implants.  

After meeting with a dental implant dentist to develop your treatment plan, the placement of a dental implant usually involves several steps:

1. The dental implant, is placed surgically into the jawbone.
2. As you heal, your implant will osseointegrate, or fuse with, your natural jawbone.. This healing process can take weeks to months while you proceed with your everyday life in between appointments.
3. Once the implant bonds with the jawbone, a small connector called an abutment is placed on top of the dental implant to connect the implant to the replacement tooth or teeth.
4. An individual tooth, an implant-supported bridge or dentures containing multiple teeth are then attached to the abutment.

We use many different brands of dental implants at expatdental®. This allows us to fit each patient with the appropriate type, size and brand for their mouth. All the dental implants used at expatdental® are made of titanium and are sourced from trusted suppliers around the world.

The maxillary sinuses are air-filled cavities above the upper molar and premolar teeth. If these teeth need replacement with dental implants, sometimes there is inadequate bone to place the implant due to the wall of the sinus. A sinus lift procedure can be performed to pack bone between the sinus floor and existing bone. After several months of healing, an implant can then be placed.

Expense is always relative. For example, dental implants will likely be a larger upfront financial investment, but since they a definitive restoration, the lifetime financial, time & energy spend should be significantly less than restoring the same tooth multiple times.

Most major insurance carriers cover dental implants. However, you should check your individual plan. We offer payment plans options to ensure you get the best treatment available to replace missing teeth, regardless of whether or not you have insurance coverage.

The entire process usually takes about two to nine months, depending on your treatment plan. There are two main phases: First the implants have to heal by fusing to the bone, and then the tooth replacement restorations have to be fabricated and attached.

Once a dental implant has fused to the bone successfully and it is functional, it should last many years if cared for properly. Many implants have now been in place for more than 40 years.

It depends on the number and location of the implants, but simple, uncomplicated dental implant placement usually takes less than an hour.

No, it is usually done under local anesthesia in your dentist’s office, in just the same way as a filling. Once the anesthesia takes effect, you shouldn’t feel anything.

Generally there are no open wounds with implant surgery so healing is quite quick and un-eventful. You can expect some minor discomfort, but that can generally be managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or similar medication in prescription strength.

It’s generally important to avoid exposing any recent surgical site in the mouth to food if possible. A good rule of thumb is to eat soft, nutritious foods and keep well hydrated. Your dentist will recommend a diet and instructions on how to care for your new implants during healing.

Nicotine causes constriction of the blood vessels in the gums and jaw bones. This decreases healing capacity and may lead to failure of the implant.