Dental Implants – Laguna Niguel, CA
State of the Art Tooth Replacements
Dental implants are considered top of the line compared to other tooth replacements. The treatment is only growing in popularity, with more than 5 million implants being placed each year in the United States. Dr. Anderson highly recommends them to any patient that’s looking for the next best thing to getting their real teeth back. Do you think you could use dental implants from our Laguna Niguel, CA dentist to rebuild your smile? Call us today to schedule your first consultation.
Why Choose Orange County Center for Sedation Dentistry for Dental Implants?
- In-House Dental Implant Surgery
- Sedation for Relaxing, Stress-Free Procedures
- Experienced Dentist with Eye for Detail
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are, to put it simply, replacement tooth roots. They are made to be placed in the jawbone to act as support for a dental prosthetic, thus giving you highly lifelike new teeth. Unlike other tooth replacements that rest on the gums or natural teeth, dental implants can actually become part of your body after a process called osseointegration, which is when the biocompatible implant and the bone tissue in your jaw fuse together.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Unlike getting a traditional denture or dental bridge, getting dental implants requires a multi-step process that can take several months to complete. This may seem like a while, but the long-term benefits are definitely worth the effort. To make things easier for our patients, we are proud to complete the entire treatment process at our office instead of referring you to a specialist. Here are the four main steps that you can expect to experience when you get your dental implants.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
The first step of getting dental implants is attending a consultation. During this time, we will look at your smile and surrounding facial structures. This will help Dr. Anderson determine whether dental implants are a good option for you and how they should be placed in your mouth.
In some cases, patients end up needing preliminary procedures completed before they can proceed in the implant placement process. This could include bone grafting, gum disease therapy, and tooth extractions. After this, we can move forward to planning the rest of your implant treatment. During your consultation, we are also happy to walk you through the entire process, including the timeline and cost.
Dental Implant Surgery
When it’s time for your dental implant surgery, your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic. Next, a small incision is made into the gum tissue to access your jawbone. The implants will be placed at very precise angles. Lastly, your gums will be closed, and protective caps are placed over the implant posts to keep them safe throughout the duration of the healing process.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement
For the next 3 to 6 months, the infusion process will take place between the implant and your jawbone. This fusion process is called “osseointegration.” This allows for implants to have a sturdier foundation so that your replacement teeth stay firmly in place when you speak and chew. When this process is completed, the metal abutment will be placed on the end of your implant.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
A few weeks after your abutment has been placed, your restoration should be ready. You can return to the practice where you will receive your new crown, bridge, or denture, depending on the number of teeth you are replacing. At this time, we will check to make sure that your bite is comfortable, and you will be sent on your way to reap the benefits of your complete smile.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants truly stand out from other tooth replacement solutions because they don’t just offer aesthetic advantages—they also look and feel natural, providing patients with a smile they can truly feel proud to let show. With a wide range of benefits to offer, this cutting-edge treatment can be a life-changing investment for patients facing simple or complex tooth loss. We encourage you to read below to learn just a handful of the benefits that you’ll get when you choose dental implants.
Day-to-Day Benefits
- Easier Speaking Abilities. It can be difficult to adjust to speaking with dentures in your mouth, especially if you’ve never had replacement teeth before. With dental implants in Laguna Niguel, you won’t have to worry about shifting or slipping prosthetics that cause you to trip over your words because they’ll be safe and secure in your mouth.
- Variety in Diet. Dental implants can restore your bite power by up to 80%, meaning you won’t have to avoid foods that are chewy or hard. This allows you to maintain more variety in your diet and receive all of your food groups.
- Easy Oral Hygiene Maintenance. Your implant-retained prosthetic function like your natural teeth, allowing you to take care of them in the same way. Simply brush twice a day, floss daily, and visit your implant dentist in Laguna Niguel for bi-annual checkups and cleanings.
- Boosted Confidence. Damon Anderson has high standards, and each of the prosthetics he delivers look and feel completely natural, so you can smile with confidence.
Health Benefits
- Jawbone & Facial Shape Preservation. The dental implants that are surgically placed below the gumline and into the jawbone replace the missing root structure of your teeth, preserving the bone’s density by providing it with necessary blood flow and stimulation. This also allows you to maintain your natural facial shape.
- Improved Overall Health. Oral health has been linked to cardiovascular, respiratory, and cognitive wellness, which means a smile that’s in great shape can lend to your overall wellbeing.
Long-Term Benefits
Dental implants in Laguna Niguel may have a higher up-front cost, but they also have the ability to last up to four times longer than traditional restorations, making them the best long-term investment. With a lifespan of 35 or more years with the proper maintenance, you can continue enjoying your natural-looking and feeling grin for countless years to come without having to worry about frequent trips to your dentist along the way.
Who Dental Implants Can Help?
Dental implants are an option for many different tooth replacement situations, and most adults with healthy mouths are considered viable candidates. We do need to confirm that you do not have gum disease, bone loss, or other oral health issues that could interfere with implant placement, but even if you do, there are often ways to address such problems so that implant surgery can eventually be performed. The following are examples of cases where dental implants can be used.
Missing Single Tooth
After losing a single tooth in an accident (or having it extracted due to severe infection or damage), you can have the gap filled with a dental implant post and a crown. Our EMAX and zirconia crowns mimic the color and light-reflecting properties of real teeth so well, most people won’t be able to tell the implant restoration apart from your real teeth.
Missing Multiple Teeth
When placing dental implants, we prefer to use as few as possible to replace as many teeth as possible. A single dental bridge, for example, can be combined with just two dental implants to replace 3 to 5 teeth at once. A conservative number of implants can also be used to support partial dentures.
Missing All Teeth
Are you tired of constantly worrying about your dentures moving when you’re trying to talk or when you laugh too hard? Four to six implants can be used to permanently anchor your dentures in place. Some implant dentures can be designed to snap on and off the posts so that you can clean underneath them.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
When you visit our dental office for a dental implant consultation, we’ll discuss how different factors like the number of posts needed and the type of preparatory procedures required can change the price. We’ll make sure that you fully understand how much you can expect to end up paying before we schedule any follow-up appointments. Dental implants can be highly cost-effective despite their generally higher price point thanks to their long lifespan; you don’t need to replace them nearly as often as other restorations. Continue reading to learn more about the cost of dental implants.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Preliminary treatments, like gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, and bone grafting, are sometimes needed to ensure the success of your treatment, and this will impact the overall cost. Fortunately, many of these treatments are partially covered by dental insurance. We conveniently provide the entire dental implant treatment process at our practice, so you don’t need to worry about working with an outside specialist or needing to pay separately for the procedure.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
Here are some of the factors that play a role in the cost of your dental implant:
- Number of Implants: Depending on the number of teeth you are missing and where they are located in the mouth, you will need more or fewer dental implants. The more implants you need, the higher the cost.
- Type of Restoration: Crowns, bridges, and dentures are all at different price points. In most cases the smaller the restoration, the more affordable it is.
- Material Used: Implants are usually made from titanium, but they can also be crafted from zirconia. These materials have different costs.
- Brand of Implants: Dental implants come from a variety of manufacturers. This will influence how much they cost.
How Dental Implants Can Save You Money
It can be tempting to try to save by choosing a cheaper tooth replacement option. Dental bridges and dentures are great for some people, but dental implants provide benefits that you can’t find anywhere else. They can even help you save money in the long run as you won’t need to worry about paying for replacements every 5 to 7 years like you do for dentures, and you don’t have to stock up on adhesives or cleansing solutions. Dental implants also help to prevent additional dental issues, so you may be able to avoid costly treatments later on.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Dental insurance plans often don’t cover the cost of dental implants, but there are a few exceptions. Parts of the final restoration and preliminary treatments are often partially covered. Our team is more than happy to assist you when it comes to understanding what is and isn’t covered before beginning your treatment. This way, we can work to fully maximize your coverage.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
If you don’t have dental insurance, this doesn’t mean that you are completely out of luck. We accept payments through CareCredit, Lending Club, and Proceed Finance. These third-party financing companies can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. Dr. Anderson also offers a written warranty for restorative procedures. Dental implants are covered for 5 years! To learn more about your financial options, don’t hesitate to talk to one of our friendly team members!
