Getting Past Your Dental Fears And Learning About Technology

Several years ago I decided to take a trip to the dentist after skipping multiple appointments for over 15 years. I truly had a dental anxiety and had a hard time getting over my fears. Thankfully, my dental visit went smoothly with only four cavities identified. What I did find from this dental visit was that there was a great deal of new information and technology that I had been missing out on. Laser-based technology and digital imaging are just a few examples. With this blog, I want you to understand that you can get over your fears and learn about this new technology like I did, so enjoy the information.

3 Questions To Ask When Getting Dental Implants

Dentist Blog

Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth. They sit in the jawbone like natural teeth, which makes them durable. If you are considering getting dental implants, check out these three questions you should ask your dentist first. 

1. Do You Need a Bone Graft?

Your jawbones do a lot of work, but one job is to support the teeth. As a result, when you lose teeth, the jawbone may atrophy. The more teeth you're missing and the longer the teeth have been missing, the more severe the atrophy.

Unfortunately, you need a strong healthy jawbone to support dental implants. Luckily, you can get a bone graft to add volume to the bone. In addition, since the jawbone fuses with the titanium implant, the implant continues to stimulate the jawbone, keeping it strong and healthy.

2. Are There Better Alternatives?

Single implants consist of an implant, abutment, and dental crown, making it great if you have one missing tooth. However, if you have multiple teeth missing in a row, you may want to ask about alternatives.

Instead of a traditional dental bridge, the dentist can use an implant-supported bridge to replace more teeth. For example, the dentist can use two titanium implants to support a bridge that replaces three to four teeth. Similarly, ask about implant dentures if you're missing an entire row of teeth.

Of course, you can also choose traditional dental bridges and dentures, but they are not as durable. Plus, traditional dental bridges put a strain on healthy teeth, and the dentist must permanently alter those same healthy teeth by removing enamel so the dental bridge fits properly.

3. How Much Will It Cost?

On average, a single dental implant costs about $2,400 to $3,000, and that doesn't include the abutment and crown, which can add $500 to $3,000. Additional costs may come from needing bone grafts, sinus lifts, and extractions.

Naturally, much of the cost depends on the number of titanium implants. For this reason, it's financially wiser to choose an implant dental bridge or an implant denture plate instead of multiple single implants.

Typically, your insurance won't cover any part of the dental implant, but they may pay for other necessary services, such as extraction. If a sinus lift or bone graft is also medically necessary, dental insurance may cover some of the cost.

Dental implants are almost like natural teeth, making them a great tooth-replacement option. Whether you're missing one tooth or all your teeth, there is a solution for you. If you would like to know more about dental implants, contact a dentist today.

Share

22 February 2023