Dental Implants – Granger, IN

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Boosted confidence – Dental implant posts are inserted in your jaw in an extremely precise manner that mimics the way your natural teeth emerge from beneath your gums. Additionally, the restoration (crown, bridge, or denture) that we place on top of your implants is made from lifelike materials designed to resemble your home-grown pearly whites. As a result, no one besides our dental team even has to know that you had teeth replaced!
• Easy maintenance – Traditional dentures are notorious for requiring you to learn a whole new cleaning routine. Dental implants, on the other hand, are remarkably easy to care for. In most cases, you can brush and floss them like real teeth! This makes your day-to-day oral hygiene routine much simpler and less time-consuming.
• Ability to enjoy your favorite foods – One of the most well-known benefits of dental implants in Granger is their power to let you eat practically anything you want. Rather than sitting on top of the gums or remaining teeth, your new teeth are firmly embedded in your jaw. You can count on them not only staying in place, but also restoring more of the biting and chewing force you had before your teeth were lost. You’ll be free to enjoy a wide variety of delicious foods – from nutritious vegetables to chewy steak!

Health Benefits

• Strong jawbone – Whenever you bite or chew, your jawbone is stimulated by the force that travels through the roots of your teeth. Without these roots, the bone begins to weaken, which can increase the risk for oral health problems like additional tooth loss. Luckily, dental implants fulfill this function of natural teeth perfectly! They’re able to prevent jawbone loss as well as the sunken, aged facial appearance that usually accompanies it.
• Protection for your natural teeth – To place a dental bridge, we’d need to file down the natural teeth on either side of the gap so that they could provide enough support. Over time, those teeth would become more susceptible to breakage, decay, and sensitivity. Dental implants don’t rely on neighboring teeth for support, letting you retain more of your natural tooth structure.
• Longer lifespan – Research points to a link between severe tooth loss and a higher risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and many other medical conditions. Since dental implants function like real teeth, it’s reasonable to assume that they do NOT increase these risks.

Long-Term Benefits

• High success rate – When placed by a skilled implant dentist in Granger like Dr. Hickey, dental implants are successful in more than 95% of cases.
• Long-lasting tooth replacement – By practicing good oral hygiene and visiting our dental office regularly for checkups, your implants could easily last for 30 years or longer!
• Saved money – While dental implants cost more at first than other options, they’re actually the most cost-effective choice in the long run. Why? Implants don’t require you to buy specialized cleaning products or adhesives on a regular basis. Also, dentures and bridges need to be adjusted or replaced every five to ten years, which can rack up costs over the years that exceed their initial lower price tag. If you take good care of your investment, dental implants can pay for themselves many times over!

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

As with any treatment, the dental implant process kicks off with a consultation. When you meet with us, we’ll ask you about your medical history, examine your mouth, and take images with our 3D cone beam scanner. All this information helps us determine if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. It also helps us plan your implant placement so precisely that your risk of complications is significantly reduced. At this time, we’ll talk through the cost and timeline of your treatment as well, so you have a clearer idea of what’s coming.

Dental Implant Surgery

At this stage, we surgically insert the posts into the jawbone by making a small incision in the gum tissue. Although this may seem intimidating, you’ll be completely comfortable and numb for this procedure; however, it is minor surgery, which means you’ll need at least a day to rest afterward. We’ll give you specific recovery instructions so that you heal properly in weeks following the procedure.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

After implants have been placed, the longest part of the process begins. Although your gum tissue will likely heal rather quickly, we cannot attach restorations to the implants until they become fully integrated with the jawbone. In this process, which typically takes three to six months, the bone tissue grows and surrounds the posts, just like real tooth roots.

When we see full integration, we’ll reopen the gum tissue to put in a connection piece called an abutment, which adjoins the post and the restoration.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

With the abutment in place, we will then take impressions of your upper and lower arches and send them to our dental lab. There, they fabricate your custom restorations. A few weeks later, you will come back, and your restorations will be bonded to the implants, making your prosthetic teeth secure and strong.

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Nearly any healthy adult can get dental implants, but the posts do have certain requirements. You should have three qualities to be a good candidate, including:

• Good Overall Health – Since dental implant placement is a surgery, your body must be healthy enough to bear it.
• Great Oral Health – Unaddressed cavities and gum disease can cause implant failure, so you should treat such issues before implant surgery.
• High Jaw Density – A patient’s jawbone needs high density to support dental implants well. If it lacks that density, it won’t be able to hold the metal posts securely.

Even if you lack the qualities above, you can still become an implant candidate later. You’ll simply need some preliminary dental work first – services like gum disease treatment, tooth extractions, etc. As needed, our office can even help you schedule these procedures. You’ll then become a good candidate, and we can implement your implant treatment around how many teeth you’re missing.

Missing One Tooth

If you’re only missing one tooth, you could get by with a single implant post and crown. These prosthetics can be placed between two healthy teeth without upsetting your mouth tissues. Even better, they’d be less invasive than a normal dental bridge; dentists wouldn’t have to shave nearby teeth for placement. You could also trust your results to be sturdier, last longer, and blend seamlessly with the rest of your smile.

Missing Multiple Teeth

When a patient lacks multiple adjacent teeth, our team often suggests an implant bridge. This treatment secures an oral appliance with implant posts, so it doesn’t use “abutments” (i.e., nearby natural teeth). In other words, we don’t need to remove any enamel during the placement process. The device should also last longer than a standard dental bridge!

If the missing teeth aren’t adjacent, we can place a partial implant denture as an alternative. This device only uses a few dental implants to anchor itself.

Missing All Teeth

For patients who’ve lost all (or nearly all) of their natural teeth, the ideal option is an implant denture. This appliance secures a full arch of replacement teeth with 4-6 dental implants. Given that fact, it won’t slip around, fall, or lose its fit as a regular denture could. The device will instead remain stable and steady for many years, assuming the patient cares for it with daily maintenance.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Your treatment plan will consist of various steps, each with separate fees. Although every case differs, you can expect your estimate to include:

• Preliminary Treatments: Many patients need additional procedures before getting their dental implants, like periodontal therapy, tooth extractions, or bone grafting.
• Implant Surgery: Besides the anesthesia, you’ll need to pay for your implant surgery. We perform the entire process in-house, so you won’t have to worry about specialist fees.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

The price tag for your new smile also depends on the number of teeth you’re replacing and the materials you choose. There are plenty of discounted materials to save money, but you can end up paying more in the long run. They have an increased failure rate and can cause permanent damage to your smile. We’ll review your options to help you choose a high-quality material that accommodates your budget. You can expect to pay for:

• Implant Posts: An implant post made of titanium or ceramic is surgically placed into the jawbone to serve as a root.
• Abutments: Each post needs an abutment to connect the restoration.
• Restorations: Your prosthetic teeth are made of durable materials that look natural.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

You’ll initially pay more for dental implants than other treatments; however, you’ll save money down the road. Unlike traditional prosthetics, dental implants are proven to last for decades with the right aftercare. By committing to your oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly, you’ll never need to worry about needing new dental implants in Granger.

Dental implants are also the only treatment to replicate the root of a tooth. They can stop bone loss that’s associated with missing teeth. You’ll avoid common complications and additional tooth loss to reduce your overall oral health expenses.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Many dental insurances can offset the cost of your new smile to keep your dental implants within your budget. After paying your annual deductible, you can use your yearly allowance to lower the amount you will pay for certain steps in your treatment, like the consultation or restorations. We’ll help you maximize your annual benefits, so you have one less thing to worry about.

Making Dental Implants Affordable  

Our office offers various payment options to cover any out-of-pocket expenses, including:

• Traditional Payment: We accept cash, checks, and major credit cards.
• Third-Party Financing: You can pay for your smile using monthly installments.
• In-House Savings Plan: Enjoy reduced rates for common services after paying a low annual fee.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

Blood clots should form at your surgical sites. They play a key role in your body’s healing process, so you must do all you can to protect them. Here are a few guidelines to that end:

• Do not spit. Swallow excess saliva or use tissues to absorb it instead.
• Do not smoke or use drinking straws. The suction action could dislodge the blood clots. Smoking might even prevent the blood clots from forming in the first place.
• Do not touch your surgical sites. It can be tempting to feel your surgical sites with your tongue or fingers, but you should avoid doing so.

Common Side Effects

The following side effects are normal after dental implant surgery:

• This can occur intermittently for several days. Gauze and light pressure can help to manage it.
• This may continue over the first 72 hours and last for over a week. Cold compresses can help.
• General discomfort. Taking pain medication and getting plenty of rest are important.

If you experience any severe, prolonged, or unusual side effects, contact your implant dentist in Granger right away to request an appointment. We will do all we can to assist you.

Diet

At first, you should adhere to a no-chew diet, which may include things like applesauce, smoothies, and yogurt. Later, you can progress to fork-tender foods, such as scrambled eggs, meatloaf, and soft breads. After you’ve recovered sufficiently, you should be able to enjoy a fairly normal diet. However, it would be wise to limit hard and crunchy foods until after your new teeth are attached to your implants.

Health & Oral Hygiene

Starting the day after your surgery, you should be able to brush your teeth as you normally would, but be extra careful around your surgical sites. Rinsing your mouth with saltwater a few times each day can minimize swelling and fight bacteria. If you have a prescription mouthwash, be sure to use it as directed. Do not use any non-prescription mouthwash with a high alcohol content.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Once your crown, bridge, or denture is attached to your dental implants in Granger, you might experience a bit of gum soreness. However, there should be no bleeding, swelling, or downtime. You’ll be able to start enjoying the benefits of your new smile right away!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Just like with your natural teeth, you’ll need to develop a good oral hygiene routine with dental implants. Be sure to brush twice each day for at least two minutes using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. It’s also important to remove all debris from between your teeth by flossing each day and rinsing with non-alcoholic mouthwash.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Too many carbs and sugars can have a negative impact on your oral health by creating a delicious buffet for harmful oral bacteria to consume. By eating a balanced meal and staying hydrated with water, you can limit the accumulation of gum disease-causing bacteria and keep the foundation that your dental implants are set in healthy.

Break Bad Habits

Using chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes are both known to increase your risk of dental implant failure because they can dry out your mouth and create the ideal environment for harmful oral bacteria to thrive. Before starting the implant process, make sure to work on cutting down and eventually quitting tobacco use to increase the chance of successful dental implant treatment.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Habits like nail-biting and teeth grinding can put additional pressure and force on your dental implants, which could cause their integration process to fail or for them to become loose. If you regularly take part in these habits, be sure to speak with your implant dentist in Granger about any preventive measures that you can take to protect and preserve them.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

One of the most important factors of dental implant care in Granger is to continue scheduling bi-annual dental checkups and cleanings with our team. During these visits, we can examine your restorations and implants and make sure that they’re functioning properly. If we do spot anything to be concerned about, routine visits will allow us to hopefully fix the issue before it leads to implant failure.

How do I know if dental implants are right for me?

The best way to confirm if you are eligible to receive dental implants is by completing a detailed examination with our office. During this consultation, we’ll not only confirm how many teeth are missing, but the current status of your oral health. For example, we can find out if you need to have gum therapy performed or other teeth extracted to make room for an implant-retained restoration. Additionally, if you have suffered bone loss since the tooth was extracted, a bone graft could be needed to ensure the most successful treatment possible. If you use tobacco, you’ll need to discontinue it permanently to avoid implant failure.

Does it hurt to receive dental implants?

During the actual implant procedure, the treatment area and the surrounding gum tissue are fully numbed with local anesthetic to ensure no sensations are felt. This makes the treatment itself relatively easy to complete. With that said, there will be some minor swelling and discomfort following your treatment, which is common regardless of the type of oral surgery you receive. Our team will provide you with aftercare tips to manage your comfort during this healing period.

How long does dental implant treatment take?

All in all, the length of your dental implant surgery will vary based on how complex your needs may be. For example, if you only need to have one tooth replaced, surgery could be completed anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour. However, complex surgeries that involve replacement of multiple teeth could take a few hours. Keep in mind this only refers to the surgical portion of dental implant treatment. The healing phase where the implant integrates with the existing bone and soft tissue takes anywhere between four and six months.

What’s the best way to take care of dental implants?

One of the many benefits of dental implants is that taking care of them is largely the same as caring for natural teeth. It’s true that the ceramic crown that attaches to the implant cannot develop decay like natural enamel can, but the gum tissue that has integrated with the dental implant can easily become irritated and inflamed if you don’t practice routine oral care and maintain professional checkups and cleanings. If you choose to have an implant denture or bridge attached, a water flosser or interdental brush can make cleaning underneath the restoration substantially easier.