What happens if you lose one of your permanent teeth as an adult? Simply put, you have to fill that gap. If you don’t, your teeth will eventually move, leading to decay and other issues. Luckily, our Minnesota team can give you back a natural-looking, comfortable smile with your own set of dental implants!
What Is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are synthetic substitutes placed in the root area of a missing tooth, built to look and function like natural tooth roots. A dental implant has three parts—a titanium or ceramic post, an abutment, and a restoration. By fastening to your jawbone, implants are sturdy and strong, lasting for the foreseeable future.
Today’s implants are so comfortable you might forget they aren’t your real teeth. If you’re looking for Minnesota dental implants, come to Dakota Dental, where our experienced dentists can bring back your smile!
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Implants provide bone support and a stable foundation for a single dental crown, a dental bridge, dentures, or full arch prosthesis. Here are a few reasons to choose dental implants over traditional dentures and partial dentures:
- Strength and security – implants won’t slide out of place
- Comfort – enjoy a painless smile
- Implants won’t interfere with speaking
- No loss of taste or restricted diet
- Restoration of biting force
- Beautiful, natural look
Dental implants are synthetic substitutes placed in the root area of the missing tooth or teeth. Because they are fastened to the jawbone, they are sturdy and strong. Plus, today’s implants are so beautifully designed that they often look and feel like real teeth. In many cases, dental implants are so comfortable you might forget that they aren’t your actual teeth.
Are Dental Implants Right for Me?
If your dentures or partial dentures are painful, won’t stay in place, or are generally frustrating, dental implants may be right for you! In addition to impeding speech and restricting your diet, traditional dentures can actually damage the bone underneath by a lack of stimulation, resulting in a progressively poorer fit. Dental implants are an excellent solution to avoiding these problems while enjoying the benefits of teeth that look and feel natural.
Installing dental implants is a minimally invasive procedure; most people have them placed only using Novocaine. 90% of all dental implants are done with local anesthetic in the Dakota Dental office for a quick and easy recovery. For those with dental anxiety, sedation is an option.
Every dental implant procedure is unique to the patient because every mouth is different. And because antibiotics or additional care may be necessary, dental implant costs aren’t the same for each patient.
A Healthy, Natural Smile With Minnesota Dental Implants
A permanent option to help restore superior function and aesthetics, dental implants are becoming more popular among patients experiencing tooth loss. But this procedure is complex and requires more detailed planning than other treatments. Get a head start on a new smile by scheduling a consultation with your Apple Valley dentists!
Schedule a Free Dental Implant Consultation.
What to Expect with Dental Implants
With advanced surgical technology, modern dental implant placement is efficient and precise. Often, the procedure is completed in a few hours using patient-fitted surgical guides. The length of your surgery depends on several factors, but you’ll remain comfortable no matter how long it takes.
Is Dental Implant Surgery Painful?
During dental implant surgery while the patient is under sedation. You’ll feel no pain and may even sleep lightly during your procedure. Most patients have no memory of their appointment or the process.
Do You Offer Same Day Dental Implants?
Yes, we offer same day dental implants. Often, our dentists can provide immediate loading of a provisional on the day of your implant surgery. You’ll have aesthetic, functional teeth while you heal instead of waiting months for a new smile!
What Should I Expect After Dental Implant Surgery?
Because dental implant placement is a surgical procedure, we recommend resting for a few days after. Patients generally report minor discomfort that you can alleviate with over-the-counter medication. You can return to normal activities after one week. A soft food diet is required for the next several months as the implants integrate with your jawbone.
How Long Do Dental Implants Take to Set?
Dental implant treatment can range from a few months to over a year. In many cases, implants are surgically placed soon after the consultation and treatment plan are complete. For patients needing bone grafting, this may be a separate procedure requiring several months of healing before dental implant surgery.
Healing can take 3+ months before optimal integration, and a final restoration can be permanently attached. Many patients wear a temporary restoration during this time.
How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?
At Dakota Dental, we pride ourselves on our transparency regarding costs as we seek to provide personalized solutions for your oral health needs. Dental implant costs depend on many factors, including how many teeth are missing and for how long, the types of materials used, and any necessary additional procedures.
Luckily, Dakota Dental is in-network with Delta Dental, MetLife, Cigna, HealthPartners, United Healthcare, United Concordia, and GEHA and offers a savings plan for those without insurance.
We also partner with CareCredit® and Proceed Finance so you can pay for dental treatment over an extended loan period.
Your Dental Implant Questions Answered
We’ve compiled a list of commonly asked questions that we often get asked about this procedure. Don’t see your question listed? Contact us for help!
What Is the Success Rate of Dental Implants?
Dental implants have a consistently high success rate (over 95%). We achieve high success rates at Dakota Dental with surgical technology, high-quality materials, clinical experience, and long-term maintenance.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants last for decades, potentially lasting for the rest of your life. Surgical technology, clinical experience, and your health habits ultimately affect the longevity of your implants. Choosing an experienced implant team like Dakota Dental and Wellness Center provides more precise and accurate surgery that helps guarantee long-term treatment success.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Many patients are candidates for dental implants already or can qualify after receiving initial treatments (i.e., bone grafting and tooth extractions). We’ll understand your candidacy following a comprehensive consultation and evaluation.
Dental implants to retain dentures work by affixing a bar or small posts to the jawbone to serve as an anchor. This stabilizes regular dentures that then fit over the implants. These over-dentures can be cared for like traditional dentures and are removable for cleaning or convenience.
The implants may work for permanent, fixed dentures. Stronger than removable over-dentures, fixed dental implants mimic natural teeth and are consequently cleaned and cared for as such.
In case of bone erosion or atrophy, Mini Dental Implants (MDI) can anchor a lower denture using thin, strong posts. This option has a minimal procedure and recovery time, meaning you do not have to sacrifice time or comfort to restore your smile. Schedule a consultation to see if you’re a good candidate.
What Training Do Your Dentists Have?
Our implant dentists have decades of combined experience in comprehensive dental care. In addition, they have completed hundreds of hours of continuing education and advanced training in dental implant placement, oral surgery, and IV sedation.
They remain at the forefront of emerging technologies and techniques in implant dentistry through active memberships and Fellowships with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and the Great Lakes Implant Institute.
Do You Offer a Warranty?
Our dental implant treatments have a warranty lasting up to five years, covering repairs and replacements if your restoration chips, cracks, fractures, or an infection develops around the implant. However, this warranty is only valid while a patient adheres to its terms and conditions.
Why Are Dental Implants Considered the “Gold” Standard?
Dental implants are the only permanent tooth replacement option. Surgically inserted into the jawbone, they provide health and functional benefits comparable to natural teeth.
How Do I Care for Dental Implants?
Dental implants require no special maintenance, but you must follow your regular oral hygiene routine: brush twice daily and floss once. Depending on your restoration, we recommend a water flosser to remove food debris.
Will I Need Dental Implant Check-Ups?
Yes, you should still maintain your routine dental appointments. Dental implants are resistant to decay but can still develop peri-implantitis. In addition, gum infections around the implants develop because of bacteria from plaque and tartar buildup. Maintain your regular dental hygiene routine and see your dentist every six months.
Get Your Smile Back
If you’re looking for dental implants in Minnesota, look no further! The team at Dakota Dental is here to support you throughout your journey! Request a consultation with our implant team in Apple Valley, Minnesota, today.