Dental Implants – Pea Ridge, AR
A Smile That’s Worth a Thousand Words
Just like the saying, “A picture’s worth a thousand words,” having a smile that’s complete and confidence-boosting says a lot to someone you meet. Dental implants in Pea Ridge are a modern, highly-effective solution to replace missing teeth that restores the entire structure of your tooth, from the roots upward. This allows patients to reap a variety of unique benefits, like a long restoration lifespan of 30+ years with routine maintenance, and preservation of the facial structure. To learn more about dental implants in Pea Ridge, AR, read below.
Why Choose Peak Dental Care for Dental Implants?
- We Restore Dental Implants with Beautiful Restorations
- Small, Friendly Dental Team That’s a Part of Community
- Convenient & Trustworthy Dentistry
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants themselves are small, titanium posts that are surgically placed below your gumline and into your jawbone to replace the missing root structure of a tooth. Due to their biocompatible nature, they’re able to naturally fuse with the jawbone to provide it with necessary blood flow and support to keep it from deteriorating. Once they’ve fused with the bone, small, metal connector pieces called abutments are attached to the top of them. These will hold a customized bridge, crown, or denture in place to restore your smile.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
The dental implant process is a bit complex and involves several steps. In fact, carrying it out usually takes a few months. However, you can rest assured – implants are worth this time and effort. We refer patients to outside specialists for the actual surgery. That way, your treatment results benefit from skilled and experienced work. All you need to do is undergo four key steps. These are the initial consultation, implant surgery, osseointegration, and delivery of the final restoration.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
Your implant treatment will start with a brief consultation. At this session, you’ll talk with Dr. Baioni about what you want from dental implants. Doing so lets us learn about your oral health, medical history, and more. We’ll then use those things to see whether implants suit you. If they do, our dental team will quickly draft a custom treatment plan.
Should you not qualify for dental implants at first, don’t worry. We’ll gladly help you get preliminary services – gum disease therapy, tooth extraction, etc. Through such procedures, your mouth will become strong enough to support implants.
If we approve, the consultation will also review the details of your future treatment. Such facts include your procedure’s timeline, costs, and similar matters.
Dental Implant Surgery
We don't place dental implants in-house. Instead, we’ll refer you to local specialists for your implant surgery. This setup lets your new teeth benefit from the skill and knowledge of expert surgeons. With their help, you can trust that implant placement will go smoothly.
The implant surgery will involve things like:
- Anesthesia – Before doing anything else, the surgeons will numb your treatment site(s). This step keeps you from feeling pain during the surgery. At most, you’ll just sense a slight pressure as the treatment proceeds.
- A Minor Incision – The surgeons will make a small gum incision once the treatment site is numb. Then, they’ll create a space for your future implant(s).
- Implant Placement – With the incision made, the surgeons will place your implant using advanced dental methods and tools.
- Gum Closure – The surgeons will close your gum incision after the placement. They’ll then put a cap over your new implant post to wrap things up.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Following the surgery, your new implant(s) will slowly fuse with your jaw. This fusion – also known as osseointegration – occurs over 4-6 months. Once it’s done, your implant post(s) should be permanent and secure.
You’ll have another surgery when you’ve recovered from implant fusion. For this second one, our team will set an abutment (i.e., a metal connector) on top of your implant. The new part will secure your final restoration, which will be based on earlier dental impressions.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
You’ll get your final restoration at the end of the implant process. As for the specifics of this prosthetic, its nature will depend on how many teeth you’ve lost. It could be a dental crown, bridge, or an implant denture.
We won’t take long to fit this restoration. Really, adding it to your implant only requires some dental cement. Our dental team will then make a few last-minute changes. From there, you should be ready to enjoy your beautiful and fully-restored smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants have a wide array of unique benefits to offer due to their unique structure that sets them apart from traditional restorations. Some of the advantages that you can enjoy with dental implants include:
- A lifespan of 30+ years with routine maintenance
- Preservation of the jawbone and facial structure
- Natural looking and feeling replacement teeth
- Enhanced speaking and eating abilities
- No alteration of surrounding teeth necessary
- Easy maintenance
- Boosted confidence
Who Can Dental Implants Help?
The best candidates for dental implants include patients who are missing any number of teeth, are committed to good oral health, and don’t have any underlying or untreated medical conditions that impact their immune system. Dr. Baioni will break down the pros and cons of this treatment depending on your unique health and situation to help you gain a clear picture of whether dental implants or traditional restorations would be the better option to restore your smile. He’ll also outline a customized treatment plan for you during your initial consultation.
Missing One Tooth
If you’re missing a single tooth, we can restore it by placing one dental implant in the space and attaching a customized dental crown. It will complete your smile without involving the alteration of your surrounding, healthy teeth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
For multiple missing teeth, we can place two dental implants on either end of the gap in your smile to hold a dental bridge. This will keep your surrounding teeth from drifting out of place and ruining the alignment of your arch.
Missing All of Your Teeth
Using anywhere from four to eight dental implants, we can secure an entire denture to your mouth, eliminating any slipping or shifting and allowing you to eat all of your favorite foods with ease. They’ll look and feel completely natural, and you won’t need to worry about taking them out of your mouth each night.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of getting dental implants depends on your unique situation, like whether you require any preparatory procedures or are missing several teeth instead of just one. All of these factors will alter the price of your treatment, which Dr. Baioni will discuss with you during your initial consultation. Our team is happy to file insurance claims on your behalf to help you maximize your benefits, and if necessary, we can discuss other financing options as well. Remember, even though dental implants might seem expensive, they are an investment that can provide decades of benefits!
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Before they can get dental implants, some patients need to undergo a bone graft, tooth extractions, or gum disease therapy. Each of these services comes with its own fee.
The dental implant placement surgery has a separate price, which depends on a number of factors. When you visit a local specialist to talk about your procedure, they will make sure you understand your financial obligation so you do not run into any unpleasant surprises.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
Every dental implant procedure is tailored to a patient’s unique circumstances. The type of implants you receive, as well as how many, will impact your total cost of care. Your restoration, whether it is a crown, bridge, or denture, will have its own price. We strive to use only top-quality materials in our practice so you can be confident that you are getting an excellent value. If you have questions about where the parts of your implants come from, feel free to ask.
How Dental Implants Can Save You Money
Dental implants have a significant upfront cost. However, they could actually help you save money in the long run.
- Dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime . If you calculate their cost per day over a few decades, they may cost less than a daily trip to your local espresso shop! Their longevity may make them more affordable in the long run than traditional dentures, which need to be replaced every 5 – 7 years.
- Dental implants can protect your oral and overall health. Therefore, they can help you save money on various medical and dental procedures.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Some dental insurance policies cover dental implants, whereas others do not. You will need to check the unique details of your plan to find out for sure how it applies. Even if it does not cover the implants themselves, it might cover other parts of your tooth replacement journey, such as preliminary procedures or your final restoration. Our insurance-friendly team will be happy to help you maximize your benefits.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
Whether or not your insurance will pay for part of your dental implant procedure, it is understandable if you do not want to pay your entire financial obligation upfront. That is why we accept CareCredit. CareCredit is a third-party lender that provides low-interest and no-interest payment plans for dental services. The application process is fast, and most patients are deemed to be credit-worthy. You may even be able to choose a monthly payment amount that fits your family’s budget.