Dental Implants – Owings Mills, MD

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step of your dental implant treatment is the consultation with Dr. Mattson. Not only do you get a chance to set expectations for treatment and discuss your goals for tooth replacement, but it gives our team a chance to confirm your eligibility for treatment in the first place. The last thing we want is for a dental implant to fail, and making sure that your bone tissue is sufficient and that your oral health is in good condition are both crucial steps to achieving successful implantation.

If we believe that you need preparatory treatments prior to receiving dental implants, such as bone grafts, periodontal therapy, or sinus lifts, we’ll make sure to let you know prior to scheduling your implant surgery.

Dental Implant Surgery

On the day of your implant surgery, we’ll have a highly detailed plan of where your implants will be placed and the angles at which we’ll be placing them. This will allow us to be as efficient as possible with your existing bone tissue. It will also prevent us from accidentally placing the implants in areas that could damage the nerves or other sensitive oral structures.

After opening your gum tissue and placing the implant, we’ll seal the gum tissue and give it time for it to integrate. This process can take anywhere from four to six months. During this time, you’ll be given a temporary restoration to hide the implant while it heals.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

One of the main reasons why dental implants are so effective at remaining in the jaw for so long is because of the osseointegration process. The implant posts are titanium, which also means they are biocompatible with your existing bone and gum tissue. Biocompatible materials are necessary to avoid the risk of the body rejecting the implant, while also allowing the post to become one with your bone tissue.

In some cases, the abutment may be placed at the same time as the implant. However, other cases involve placing the abutment after the implant has fully integrated. This connector is designed to keep the restoration stable and even within your bite. After the abutment is placed, we will allow another two weeks of healing to take place.

Day-to-Day Benefits

What does it feel like to have dental implants? They feel completely natural, just like real teeth, and they are maintained like the real thing too. Instead of taking out your teeth to soak and clean them every night as you do with dentures, you simply brush and floss your dental implants every day to keep them in pristine condition.

In addition, with dental implants, you don’t have to worry about your dentures slipping or coming out while you eat or talk, which happens all too frequently with dentures. Dental implants can spare you from an embarrassing moment and help you have more confidence in front of others.

Health Benefits

If you wear dentures already, you’ve likely had to adjust to talking and eating with these prosthetic teeth in your mouth. Not only can they be cumbersome and uncomfortable, but they also make it more challenging to grind up the nutritious foods your body needs to function optimally. As a result, your overall health can decline; in fact, research shows that tooth loss can shorten life expectancy by about 10 years! Fortunately, dental implants resolve this issue, allowing you to choose a healthier diet and possibly extending your lifespan.

Long-Term Benefits

Along with their short-term benefits, dental implants are also considered to be the most durable and long-lasting solution for tooth loss. With a success rate as high as 98 percent over a 10-year period and an average lifespan of 25 years to a lifetime, there’s plenty to be excited about with dental implants! Even when it comes to cost, dental implants often turn out to be the smarter choice because you don’t have to pay for replacements nearly as often as you would with traditional dentures and bridges. Although dental implants involve a higher price tag in the beginning, you should actually save money over time because of their longevity.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

The first important factor to consider is whether or not you’ll need any preliminary treatments before getting dental implants. If you need to have a bone graft or gum disease therapy beforehand, then the cost of these treatments will naturally add to the end price of your dental implant treatment. However, since issues like inadequate jawbone density and gum disease can threaten the success of your treatment, these preparatory procedures are well worth the cost.

Another factor to consider will be the dental implant placement surgery itself, the cost of which can be influenced by where in the mouth the implants are being placed and what type of sedation is used to keep you comfortable. We’re happy to help our patients save a significant amount of time, money, and stress by offering start-to-finish dental implant treatment right here in our office.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

When creating your personalized estimate during your consultation, we’ll also need to consider several factors about your dental implants themselves, such as:

• Number of dental implants: The more dental implants you need, the more expensive your treatment will be.
• Type of restoration: Crowns, bridges, and dentures each come at their own price points. While crowns are the least expensive, larger restorations like bridges and dentures are often a far more cost-effective way to replace a large number of missing teeth.
• Size or material: Dental implants can be made from a variety of different materials, such as titanium, zirconia, porcelain, and ceramic, which will influence their cost.
• Brand of dental implant: We only use dental implants from trustworthy companies that have a reputation for providing reliable, high-quality results.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

Many patients are tempted to choose other tooth replacement options like dentures and dental bridges simply because they are initially less expensive than dental implants. However, it’s important to keep in mind that dental implants can save you a tremendous amount of money, and even become the more cost-effective solution in the long run!

While dentures and dental bridges need to be replaced every five to seven years, dental implants have the potential to last a lifetime. This can save you thousands of dollars in replacements alone! Plus, you won’t need to buy any extra adhesives, pastes, or cleaning solutions, nor will you need to alter your diet. Studies even show that dental implants can help lower your oral and overall healthcare costs! Most importantly however, patients agree that the quality of life dental implants can restore is simply priceless.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Most dental insurance policies do not cover dental implants themselves. However, it is very likely that you can use your insurance benefits to pay for other parts of your treatment, such as sedation, preliminary treatments, and restoration. Our knowledgeable staff would be happy to review the details of your dental insurance plan and ensure that your coverage is being maximized.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Dental insurance isn’t your only option for making dental implants affordable in Owings Mills. We’re proud to offer several other ways to make your new smile more cost effective, such as:

• Free implant consultation: We invite you to come see us for a free, complimentary dental implant consultation to discover if dental implants are right for you.
• Our in-house Dental Savings Plan: For one flat fee, patients can enjoy our in-house dental savings plan, which offers complimentary preventive services as well as discounts on all other services, including 10% off dental implants!

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

The top priority is to avoid touching the forming blood clot(s) so your healing progresses smoothly. Be sure to follow these rules:

• Keep your fingers and tongue clear of the surgical site(s).
• Do not smoke for at least the first day after surgery.
• Do not use straws when drinking.
• Instead of spitting, use tissues or swallow your saliva.

Common Side Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement

It’s perfectly normal to experience some mild side effects, especially in the days following the surgery. They might include:

• General discomfort, which you can take pain medication to alleviate.
• Swelling is expected for the first three days and could last a week. Using a cold or warm compress can help.
• Intermittent bleeding might go on for a few days. You can mitigate it with gauze and light pressure.

Again, these issues should be temporary and fade away with time. If any of them linger, however, contact our office.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

In the days following your surgery for dental implants in Owings Mills, it’s best to opt for softer, nonabrasive foods, like:

• Pasta
• Soup (but not too hot)
• Scrambled eggs
• Pudding
• Yogurt
• Ice cream
• Mashed potatoes

While you can go back to a normal diet when you feel ready, it’s prudent to limit exposure to foods that are crunchy or tough and not chew food on the implant site(s).

Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene

• Don’t use mouthwash that contains a high level of alcohol, like Listerine or Scope.
• Rinse your mouth 2-3 times daily, especially after meals, with salt water. Use a prescription mouth rinse if you have it.
• It is okay to brush your teeth the day after surgery; just be very careful near the surgical site(s).

What to Do Once Your New Teeth Are Attached

The good news is you’ve already made it past the hard part since you diligently followed your dental implant post-op instructions Owings Mills. You may experience some temporary, minor sensitivity when your new crown, bridge, or denture is attached to the implant(s), but it is easily managed with pain medication. You shouldn’t deal with bleeding, swelling, or a long recovery. In fact, you’ll be ready to smile the first day your new smile is in place!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Most people already know what a good oral hygiene routine looks like: brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and possibly rinsing with mouthwash. Make sure that you don’t neglect your dental implants while you’re cleaning your natural teeth. The bad bacteria in your mouth could cause gum disease to develop in the tissues around your dental implant posts. You need to keep these tissues clean and healthy if you don’t want your new teeth to fail – hence why maintaining great oral hygiene is so important.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Do you eat a balanced diet, or do you tend to indulge in sugary foods a little too often? If the latter is the case, you could be at a higher risk for gum disease, and that’s not good for the longevity of your dental implants. Make sure that you eat cake, candy, and other sugary treats only every once in a while. For the most part, your diet should involve more nutritious foods that improve the health of your gums and the rest of your mouth.

Break Bad Habits

How many times have you found yourself chewing on a block of ice? Or biting your fingernails whenever you get nervous? Or using your teeth as a substitute for scissors when trying to open something? Plenty of people have these habits, but what you might not realize is that they can damage your dental implants. Try to be aware of what kind of habits you’ve picked up, and take action if you notice any behaviors that could be harmful to your new teeth.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Not every accident can be predicted, but there are ways you can be proactive about keeping your dental implants (and the rest of your smile) safe from injury. For example, if you play sports, you can wear a mouthguard to avoid serious damage if you ever get hit in the mouth. A nightguard – which is like a mouthguard but is made to be worn when you go to bed – may also be a good investment if there are signs that you’re grinding and clenching your teeth while you’re asleep.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

At each of your dental checkups, we can take the time to check on the condition of your dental implants. If we find anything to be concerned about – such as early signs of gum disease around the implant posts – we will let you know immediately and start putting together a plan for treatment.