Whether you are just missing one tooth or are tired of dealing with a denture that is constantly moving out of place, dental implants can provide the solution you’ve been looking for. With them, Dr. Aten and Dr. Cone can bring back an entire tooth from root to crown, fully restoring a patient’s oral health and confidence at the same time. Here at St. Albans Dental, implants are the ultimate answer to tooth loss, and they could be just what you need to enjoy a full and healthy smile again. To learn more and schedule a consultation to discuss dental implants in St. Albans, contact us today .
Dental implants are small titanium posts that are specially designed to replace the root structure of missing teeth. Once surgically placed below the gumline and into the jawbone, they’re able to fuse with the bone through a natural process called osseointegration. This creates a strong and stable foundation for any type of restoration, like a bridge, free-standing crown, or denture, to be attached to.
When you choose St. Albans Dental for tooth replacement, you can feel confident knowing that every step of your treatment is completed in-house by skilled implant dentists. From the first consultation to the final restoration, Dr. Aten and Dr. Cone use advanced training and technology to deliver brilliant results. If you’re considering dental implants in St. Albans, knowing what to expect for your dental implant treatment can dispel fears and uncertainty. Read more below to see what happens at every step in the process so you can continue with confidence.
Your journey begins with a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Aten or Dr. Cone, our trusted implant dentists in St. Albans. During this appointment, we’ll take X-rays, examine your mouth, and discuss your medical history to ensure you’re a good candidate. We’ll also review your tooth replacement goals, answer any questions, and design a personalized treatment plan.
Whether you’re missing one tooth or several, our team will walk you through the entire process, so you’ll know exactly what to expect before we move forward with surgery.
At St. Albans Dental, we place all dental implants in-house, so there’s no need to visit an outside specialist. Dr. Aten, who has completed advanced training through the Engel Institute and SPEAR Education, will perform your implant surgery right here in our office.
Using precise technique an incision is made in your gum to access the bone underneath. Then, the implant post is placed into a pilot hole made with special instruments. This fixture will act as a new tooth root that will eventually hold your final restoration. After placement, a healing cap is placed over the fixture, and your gums are sutured.
After your surgery, healing and integration begin. Over the course of three to six months, the implant post naturally fuses with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration, which will create the foundation for your new tooth.
Once this step is complete, another minor surgery will need to be performed to replace the healing cap with a small connector piece called an abutment. This is what will hold your custom restoration securely in place once it’s ready. After a few more weeks of healing to ensure your abutment is secure, you can move to the final step.
Now that all the hard work is done, it’s time to celebrate by placing your custom-crafted restoration. Depending on your needs, this may be a crown, bridge, or denture designed to match the size, color, and shape of your natural teeth.
Once the prosthetic is placed, your smile will look and function just like it did before tooth loss. You’ll be able to eat, speak, and smile with complete confidence. With good oral care and regular maintenance visits, your results can last for decades.
Dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth that offer greater benefits than dentures and dental bridges. Because they are attached to your jaw, they provide greater biteforce than other prosthetics, and they’re easier to care for and maintain, too. To learn more about how dental implants can improve your oral health, contact the team at St. Albans Dental for more information.
While your dental implants have many overarching, long-term benefits, they also have plenty of features that you will appreciate on a daily basis!
Dental implants aren’t just great looking, they also have many important health benefits, including:
In addition to the superb benefits that your dental implants will provide each day, they also have many longer-term benefits, too!
Patients with any degree of tooth loss can potentially be good candidates for dental implants. So, if you are missing one tooth, several teeth throughout your mouth, or an entire arch, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation at our dental office in St. Albans! In the meantime, you can read on to learn more, including a few of the qualities that we look for in a good candidate.
At your consultation with our dental implant dentist in St. Albans, they will complete a comprehensive oral exam to get an in-depth understanding of your dental history, needs, and goals. Then, they can determine if you’re a good candidate! Since all that’s needed is a mouth and jawbone healthy enough to support the new roots, many patients are. Plus, those who aren’t can often get the preliminary care they need right here at our office, including gum disease treatment.
Important note: Tobacco use increases your risk of dental implant failure. So, if you smoke, it’s important that you quit or, at the very least, avoid cigarettes, cigars, and the like in the weeks leading up to and following the procedure.
If you are only missing one tooth, we will likely recommend a single dental implant. The first step is placing the implant root in your jawbone. Then, we will secure a custom porcelain crown in place using a small connector called an abutment. There are several benefits that come with this approach, including the fact that the two teeth surrounding the gap don’t need to be altered in the process.
Good news: bridges and partial dentures can also be attached to dental implants. As a result, we can replace several missing teeth in a row or multiple spread throughout an arch. In addition to being incredibly lifelike, implant prosthetics tend to be more stable than traditional removable ones. Plus, they can be trusted to last longer!
If you don’t have any of your natural teeth left, you might assume that traditional dentures are your only option. That’s not the case! A full denture can also be firmly attached to the jawbone using only four to six implants. In addition to making the new teeth extremely secure, a patient will recover much more of their bite strength compared to a regular denture, allowing them to enjoy more foods with ease.
No two dental implant procedures are the same, and because of this, the price is always different as well. The number of teeth missing, the health of the jawbone, and the type of restoration needed can all affect the overall cost. At a one-on-one consultation, we can give you an accurate estimate of what you’ll be expected to pay for implants. While they tend to be more expensive than other treatments upfront, they are an investment that is intended to last for decades, and they often help patients save money in the long run because they don’t have to be replaced every few years (like with traditional bridges and dentures).
How many implants do you need to get, and what sort of prosthetic teeth will they support? If you’ve only lost one tooth to decay or an accident, a single implant and a crown is all you’ll need. On the other hand, if a few teeth in a row are missing, you might have a couple of different options; two teeth can sometimes be replaced by two crowns that share a single implant, but you’ll need at least two implants and a dental bridge if you want to restore three or more teeth. For patients with extensive tooth loss, at least four implant posts are needed to support a full set of dentures. All these restorations will come with a different cost.
It takes several visits to receive a dental implant. After the consultation, the implants will be placed in your mouth via surgery. Once your mouth has healed, an abutment can be installed, and finally your prosthetic teeth will be designed and placed in your mouth. Every stage of the process comes with its own cost, and that’s not even accounting for bone grafts, periodontal therapy, and other treatments that may or may not be necessary before receiving implants. Dr. Aten and Dr. Cone will create a timeline for you so that you can plan ahead for these treatments.
It’s important to make sure that your dental implants are affordable, of course, but don’t forget why you’re having the procedure done in the first place. Implants provide a stronger, more stable base for your replacement teeth, giving them better chewing power and keeping them anchored in place. Also, since they last for decades (and possibly a lifetime, depending on the care they receive), they could ultimately end up costing less than traditional dentures or bridges that need to be replaced every five to 10 years.
While insurance companies might not cover the implants themselves, oftentimes, they can help pay for related procedures, such as a crown or periodontal therapy. Check your plan to see what benefits are offered; we’re proud to accept Delta Dental, United Concordia, and many other dental insurance plans. We can also offer our in-house savings plan or financing through CareCredit if you don’t have any kind of insurance coverage.
Getting dental implants is certainly a reason to celebrate, but if you want to keep your new smile stable and looking its best, proper care is a must. With the right habits and a little guidance from your implant dentist in St. Albans, your implants can last for decades and prevent the consequences of missing teeth. Read more below to learn the simple steps that can keep your restorations strong, protect your gums, and let you enjoy long-term success with your new smile.
While dental implants can’t get cavities, the tissues around them can still suffer from poor oral care. Plaque buildup can lead to gum inflammation or infection, which can put your implants at risk.
To keep everything healthy, brush twice a day and floss around your implant restoration with traditional floss or specialized tools, like a water flosser, before bed. You could also consider using an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash.
Your diet affects more than your waistline—it also influences how your body heals and how well your implants hold up over time. Foods rich in calcium, vitamin D, and phosphorus help strengthen the bone that supports your implants. Similarly, protein helps with tissue repair, and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables help your gums stay healthy.
On the other hand, you should try to limit hard, sticky, or sugary foods that can stress your implant or irritate surrounding tissues. This doesn’t mean you need to give up your favorite snacks—it just means you should try to be more thoughtful when consuming them.
Certain habits can drastically and negatively affect the long-term success of your dental implants. For example, smoking and vaping can slow healing and increase inflammation around your gumline, while excessive alcohol can dry the tissues and make them more susceptible to irritation.
Also, avoid using your teeth to bite your nails, crunch on ice, chew on pens, or open packages. These behaviors can chip, crack, or, in some rare cases, even dislodge your implants.
Dental implants need protection just like natural teeth. If you play sports or lead an active lifestyle where slips, falls, or contact are possible, wearing a mouthguard is important. Generic mouthguards are better than nothing, though professional ones typically offer the best fit and comfort.
If you struggle with bruxism (teeth grinding), we offer nightguards that can protect both your implants and your natural teeth from damage. A little protection goes a long way in preserving your investment.
Routine checkups are the cornerstone of supporting the health of your dental implants. During these visits, our St. Albans team will look at your gums, check your bite, and make sure your restoration is stable and functioning properly.
We’ll also perform a professional cleaning to remove plaque and tartar from areas that are difficult to reach at home. By staying consistent with your visits, you’ll keep small issues from becoming bigger problems and enjoy a healthy, confident smile for decades.
Although gum disease is preventable, it’s a leading cause of tooth loss in the U.S. because it destroys the supporting structures of the teeth. If your smile is incomplete as a result of the infection, you cannot get dental implants without first having periodontal therapy. After treating the infection, you may need additional procedures to repair the damaged it has caused, like tooth extractions or bone grafting. While this will add more steps to your treatment plan, it is time well spent to ensure your new smile has the foundation it needs to thrive.
You’re never too old for dental implants. Your candidacy for the treatment isn’t based on your age as long as you’ve finished growing. Instead, it is determined by several other factors, like your oral and general health. Your dentist in St. Albans performs the thorough assessment you need to ensure dental implants are the right choice for you.
Unfortunately, most insurance carriers will not cover the entire cost of the treatment, but your policy may lower the amount you need to pay. Although every policy differs, you may be able to use your annual allowance after paying your yearly deductible to cover a portion of the expense for certain steps in your treatment, like the anesthesia or restoration.
A member of our office will work on your behalf with your insurance carrier to reduce the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket. We’ll find the solutions you need to replace your missing teeth without breaking the bank.
Although dental implants are more expensive than other treatments initially, they are the most cost-effective long-term because they have the potential to last for a lifetime. You’ll never need to worry about paying to replace them with the right aftercare.
Dental implants are the most predictable and reliable option to treat tooth loss; however, they can fail. Don’t worry, the risk of implant failure is less than 5%. Most often, it results from a preventable infection called peri-implantitis. There are several things you can do to reduce your risk of infection to ensure your new smile lasts, such as maintaining your oral hygiene and visiting your dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup.
If you’re ready to learn more about dental implants, it’s time to take the first step toward a complete smile. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.