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DENTAL IMPLANTS
From gum disease and decay to backyard football accidents, there are myriad reasons why a person can be missing a tooth. An estimated 69% of Americans age 35-44 are missing at least one tooth. While it may be tempting to leave the gap and not replace the missing tooth, this can lead to a variety of dental problems.
The best solution is to have Boise Dentist Jon Koeltl and the team at Centennial Dental replace your missing tooth with a dental implant. Dental implants provide a long-term solution, often lasting the remainder of the patient’s life.
They also function exactly like a natural tooth, allowing you to eat anything you want without worry. To learn more about Dental Implants, contact our Boise Office at 208-322-1112.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
For a patient to be able to have dental implants in Boise, ID, he or she must have sufficient jawbone mass to support the titanium implant. If the person has been missing the tooth or teeth for some time, there is a good chance that there has been some deterioration of the jawbone. There may not be enough structural jawbone to adequately support the implant. In these cases, jawbone grafts will be necessary to grow new bone mass before an implant can be placed.
Otherwise, just about any adult of any age can have an implant. The patient’s jawbone must be fully developed when placing an implant, hence the “adult” requirement.
People can think that replacing a missing tooth is simply a cosmetic issue, and if the missing tooth is relatively inconspicuous they may opt to leave the gap and not replace the missing tooth or teeth. However, this can lead to dental problems:
The permanence of a dental implant depends on the jawbone mass. If there is sufficient jawbone mass, the implant is screwed down into the hole left from the former tooth root, and the jawbone then grows around the implant, fully integrating it into the jaw.
Dr. Koeltl will make sure you have sufficient jawbone mass prior to placing the implant. If necessary, you may need some bone grafting to create sufficient jawbone mass.
There are basically two options for replacing a missing tooth, a dental implant or a bridge. People sometimes opt for a bridge due to the lower initial cost and a shorter procedure length. But Dr. Wright thinks implants are the superior option for his Boise patients.
Once placed, a dental implant behaves exactly like a natural tooth. The patient can eat any foods without worrying about the bite strength. Bite force transfers down into the jawbone, as it does with a natural tooth. This doesn’t happen with a bridge. Plus, when placing a bridge the teeth on both sides of the missing tooth or teeth need to have crowns placed atop them to anchor the bridge. This involves shaving down some of the healthy top portion of the teeth to make room for the crowns. In contrast, implants don’t affect the adjacent teeth at all. And while a bridge may initially be cheaper, it will probably need to be replaced every 10 years or so, where an implant can last for decades.
Dental implants are not inexpensive, but patients looking to replace a tooth need to consider the alternatives. Bridges can be used, but they generally last from 5-15 years and then will need to be replaced. Patients can opt to not replace a missing tooth, but then the adjacent teeth will slide into the gap creating problems with bite alignment and other issues.
Dental implants are an involved procedure, as you’ve read about above. But once in place, a dental implant functions exactly like a natural tooth. You can eat whatever you want (including sticky, chewy foods), bite into hard foods — in other words, you will soon forget that you have an implant! Plus, most implants will last the remainder of the patient’s life, so one procedure is likely all you’ll need.
The cost of an implant depends on the condition of your jawbone and gums. If Dr. Koeltl finds your jawbone, which may have deteriorated over time due to missing teeth, isn’t sufficient to anchor an implant, jawbone grafting may be necessary. There are variables involved, but Dr. Koeltl will discuss your implant options and costs after he gets a clearer picture of your unique situation.
Most dental plans do not cover implants, although this is changing. Some companies are beginning to see the long-term advantages and are covering at least part of the cost. If your insurance company does not cover implants, you should ask if they will at least cover the cost of an alternative, such as a bridge, and apply that toward your implant procedure.
Most dental plans do not cover implants, although this is changing. Some companies are beginning to see the long-term advantages and are covering at least part of the cost. If your insurance company does not cover implants, you should ask if they will at least cover the cost of an alternative, such as a bridge, and apply that toward your implant procedure.
Most patients find that getting a dental implant is far easier than they assumed beforehand. As mentioned above, there will be some gum recovery and jaw soreness, but this is usually easily managed with non-prescription pain medication. Remember, the jawbone where the implant is placed does not have any pain-sensing nerves. An icepack will reduce any swelling, and you’ll eat soft foods for 10-14 days after each stage.
There are two recovery periods. The first period will involve some slight swelling of the gums where the implant was inserted. This only lasts a couple of days. You may have some soreness in the jaw, cheeks, or chin area where the implant was inserted, but it is easily managed with over-the-counter ibuprofen. You’ll eat soft foods while your gums heal.
The second recovery is when the post is placed onto the implant. This may occur with the first step or it may require a second step. There is a quick recovery with the gums, as they must be allowed to fully heal before placing the artificial tooth. This is not difficult, but takes a few weeks.
Dental implants are made of a titanium screw that is placed down into the jawbone with an artificial tooth attached to the top of the implant base. Titanium is completely biocompatible, meaning your body will not try to reject it. In fact, your jawbone grows around the implant base, making it a part of the jaw. That’s why implants are so strong and function exactly like a natural tooth.
The key to a good outcome with a dental implant procedure is the experience of the dentist. Dr. Koeltl has had a successful practice for over two decades and has placed countless implants over his career.
Dental implants have improved the way we address tooth loss in adults. However, Dr. Koeltl does not recommend this treatment for young children. Successful implants require the integration of a small post into the jawbone. When the jaw is still growing, up until the teen years, there is a chance that an inserted implant will not be in the intended position. Dr. Koeltl believes implant treatment in Boise, ID is best after full jaw development.
Because we use porcelain crowns, your fake tooth will look just like your adjacent natural teeth. Porcelain and natural tooth enamel have similar characteristics in the way light shines off of them. No one will know which tooth is an implant; they will only know that you no longer have the gap in your teeth.
If you are in Meridian, Boise, Eagle, or surrounding areas and are in need of a dental implant, fill out our contact form!
Mon-Wed: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am to 2:00pm
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
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