Salt Lake City Dental Implants

Dental implant surgery involves filling in a missing tooth with an artificial ceramic tooth that is natural in appearance. A metal root is implanted into the jawbone, and later topped with a ceramic crown.

Even though surgery may take months, the results are worth the time and expense. Dental implant surgery is costly, and even in the event that you are lucky enough to have dental coverage that contributes toward your total cost, such coverage will be minimal. If an accident is the reason for tooth replacement, then medical insurance may cover the cost; in most cases, however, it will not.

As a single implant can cost over $1,000, a complete mouthful of replacements could run you over $30,000 total. Some dentists offer installment financing to make the procedure available to more patients. In the final analysis, dental implant surgery may be more economical than more traditional options, due to the ongoing cost of treatment and appliances.

While implants are not an instant solution, recent innovations have made the process less painstaking. Nowadays, extraction and replacement can take place on the same day. However, it still takes three months or so for the bones to fuse to the implant, at which time the permanent crown is affixed.

Healthy gum tissue and proper bone structure are a prerequisite for dental implant surgery, so not all patients are eligible for this procedure, or may only be able to have it done in certain parts of the mouth.

Most typically, dental implant surgery is executed in phases. Provided that there is adequate bone structure, a titanium implant is attached to the jawbone. Since the human body does not reject titanium, it is an ideal substance for this purpose. Total healing time, including proper bone fusion, takes between three and six months.

At that point, the dentist adds an abutment, which lifts the implant above the gum line; then he makes a casting of the area, and then creates the ceramic crown.

A bone graft may be necessary, if the bone structure is inadequate or not strong enough. Another option may be to stimulate synthetic or natural bone growth, particularly in the upper jaw region, beneath the sinus cavities. Of course, any additional steps add to the total time length of this process.

If you are interested in dental implant surgery, discuss the process with your dentist, who can advise you on the best way to proceed, and give you an estimate of time and cost for your particular case. Then you can be on your way to a more beautiful smile.