Dental Implants Greenwood Village

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The dental implant process always begins with a consultation. During this visit, your medical history, oral health, and bone density will all be evaluated. Our team will examine your mouth, take necessary scans, and determine if you are a good candidate for implants.

If needed, additional procedures such as bone grafting will be discussed. The treatment plan will then be explained in detail, so you know how to prepare. You will also receive an estimate of the total cost and expected timeline. This appointment allows both you and your dentist to prepare for surgery with accurate information.

Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implant surgery is performed under local anesthesia to eliminate any discomfort. During the procedure, the implant fixture is placed directly into your jawbone. First, a small incision is made in your gums to expose the bone. The fixture is then positioned using precise surgical techniques. Once it is placed, a healing cap is applied, and your gums are stitched closed.

After surgery, you will be given detailed instructions for recovery. In general, the surgical area must remain clean and undisturbed. Healing begins at once and continues over the next several months.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

Osseointegration is the process in which your implant post fuses with your jawbone. This step typically takes three to six months, but it is necessary so that your implant functions properly and stays secure.

After successful osseointegration, you will return to our Greenwood Village office so that the abutment can be placed. This is a small connector that attaches the implant post to the final restoration.

For the procedure, your gums are reopened briefly to place the cap and sutured closed again. Once healing is completed, typically in one or two weeks, our team will ensure the area is stable before continuing to the final step.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

Once we are confident your implant is secure, we will attach your customized crown, bridge, or denture to the abutment(s). The restoration is designed to match the shape and color of the surrounding teeth so that it looks natural.

When your prosthetic is in place, our team will check to ensure it fits properly and does not obstruct your bite. Then you will receive instructions for care and maintenance going forward. With regular dental visits and good oral care at home, your implant will last for decades, if not for a lifetime.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Your candidacy for dental implants will be influenced by the following factors:

• Jawbone Density: A certain amount of bone must be present in your jaw in order to properly support your implant posts. Note that it’s often possible to correct a lack of jawbone density with bone grafting.
• Oral Health: Gum disease and other oral health issues could put you at risk for dental implant failure. As such, our team will need to confirm that your mouth is in good health overall before we move forward with the dental implant process.
• Overall Health: A review of your overall health will be performed to see if there are any conditions that could affect your candidacy for dental implant surgery. For example, uncontrolled diabetes can make it more difficult for your mouth to heal after the implant posts have been placed.

Even if you don’t meet the criteria listed above, certain preliminary treatments could still make it possible for you to have dental implants placed.

Missing One Tooth

When one tooth is missing, it’s often possible to replace it with a single dental implant and a crown. The implant post will be carefully inserted into the jaw. The crown will be placed later after the post has successfully integrated with the surrounding bone. In many cases, a single dental implant and crown can be a great alternative to a traditional dental bridge, since placing the implant post won’t require us to remove enamel from any of your remaining teeth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

It’s possible to replace three or more consecutive teeth with just a pair of dental implants. A well-made bridge can be attached to the posts in order to completely fill in the gap. In cases where teeth are missing in different parts of the jaw, it may be possible to replace them all at once with dental implants and a partial denture; the exact number of implants used could vary depending on the situation.

Missing All Teeth

By combining dentures with dental implants, we can replace an entire row of missing teeth in a way that looks and feels natural. Oftentimes, about 4 to 6 implant posts will be needed to anchor the prosthesis in place. With the implant posts acting as artificial tooth roots, you’ll be free to eat virtually anything you want. On top of that, you won’t have to worry about your dentures slipping while you’re trying to talk.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

During your consultation, we will discuss whether you require additional services before undergoing oral surgery. These treatment options are designed to better prepare your oral and facial structures to adequately support your new implants. If you need gum disease treatment, tooth extraction, bone grafting, a sinus lift, or any other method of care, we will incorporate the cost into your overall estimate.

We’ll also create a line for the dental implant surgery you will need. Since we perform the procedure in-house, the price will be integrated into your existing estimate, so you won’t need to worry about outside fees.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

You can expect that we will explain how the parts of your dental implant(s) also figure into the overall cost:

• Number of Implants: The more implants you need, the higher your cost will be. Placing only a single titanium post is much less expensive than the 4-6 that are needed for an implant denture.
• Type of Restoration: The cost to make a dental crown is significantly less than a denture or bridge.
• Material: Titanium and zirconia are the two most common materials used to craft dental implants, so their cost is different.
• Manufacturer: There are different dental implant brands available, so going with the cheapest is not always best. We will discuss why we use certain manufacturers – those that create higher-quality products – as they often last much longer.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

When preparing for this kind of tooth replacement, you’ll see the cost add up quickly. As a result, you may begin to inquire about cheaper materials; however, this approach can lead to less-than-ideal results. By investing in quality dental implants in Greenwood Village, you can expect to save money over time. Yes, it is a larger financial commitment initially, but you will avoid spending countless dollars on adhesive products to hold your teeth in place. You also won’t need to pay for relines or replacements over the years. Dental implants are known for their long lifespan of 30+ years, so while your restoration will need to be replaced, your sturdy and reliable posts will not.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Some dental insurance companies are now beginning to view dental implants as eligible restorative services that can receive coverage; however, most still believe they are “elective” and will not cover the cost of surgery. There are other aspects of treatment, though, that are included and available for coverage, such as your custom restoration, any preliminary care, and your consultation. Since each plan is different, a member of our team will be happy to review your policy and determine ways you can save. We’ll identify opportunities to maximize your benefits and complete all the necessary paperwork to ensure proper claims filing.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Paying for dental implants may seem out of reach for some patients, but fortunately, Landmark Dental Studio offers alternative payment options to help lower out-of-pocket costs.

Our Kleer Plan is an in-house dental savings plan that requires a low monthly payment in return for preventive services and 20% off all other available procedures. Instead of navigating the complexities of dental insurance, this alternative option makes it easy to pay for what you want/need and avoid the need for deductibles, annual maximums, waiting periods, and more.

We also partner with third-party companies like Sunbit, Affirm, and Cherry to make accessing low- and no-interest payment plans easy and affordable. By paying off your treatment over time through monthly installments, you avoid the headache of upfront costs and going over your budget.