Dental Implants

Why an Implant Rather Than a Bridge or Partial

An implant is the only tooth replacement that replaces the root as well as the crown, and that difference drives most of its advantages. The titanium post fuses with the jawbone — a process called osseointegration — which keeps stimulating the bone the way a natural root did. Without a root, the bone in that area gradually resorbs, which is why a long-standing gap changes the shape of the face over time.

• Implant — stands alone, doesn't touch the neighbouring teeth, preserves bone, and is cleaned like a natural tooth. Highest cost, longest timeline.
• Bridge — faster and less expensive, but the healthy teeth either side must be reduced to carry it, and the bone underneath the gap still resorbs.
• Partial denture — removable, replaces several teeth at once, lowest cost, but less stable and needs taking out to clean.

We'll tell you honestly which fits your case. An implant is not automatically the right answer, and there are situations where a bridge or partial is the better call.

Are You a Candidate?

Most healthy adults with enough jawbone are. The factors that need addressing first are uncontrolled diabetes, active gum disease, heavy smoking, and significant bone loss at the site — none of them are automatic disqualifications, but each affects how well the implant integrates and how long it lasts.

Where bone has already been lost, a graft can rebuild the site before the implant is placed. That adds a few months to the timeline. A consultation with X-rays is the only way to answer this properly for your case — it isn't something we can judge from a description over the phone.

The Timeline, Stage by Stage

Implant treatment is a sequence with healing built into it, which is why it takes months rather than weeks. The waiting is what makes it last.

• Consultation and planning — examination, X-rays, and a written plan with costs
• Extraction and grafting, if needed — with healing time before the next stage
• Placement — the post is surgically placed under local anaesthetic; most people describe it as easier than they expected
• Integration — roughly three to six months while the bone fuses to the post
• Abutment and crown — impressions taken, and a custom crown matched to your surrounding teeth is fitted

A temporary is usually available through the middle stages so you aren't left with a visible gap.

Looking After It, and What It Costs

An implant can't decay, but the gum and bone around it can become inflamed and infected — peri-implantitis — and that's what causes implants to fail years later. Brushing, cleaning between the teeth, and keeping your checkups are exactly as important as they are for natural teeth. With that care, the post itself often lasts decades; the crown is the part that wears and may need replacing after ten to fifteen years.

Implant treatment is quoted per case after a consultation, because grafting, the number of teeth, and the type of crown all change it. Dental plan coverage for implants varies widely and is often partial. CareCredit is available to spread the cost. Call (708) 974-1319 and we'll set up a consultation.