Dental Implants – Jacksonville, FL

The Initial Consultation

The first step of the process is to schedule a consultation at our office so that we can confirm that you’re a candidate for dental implants. Our team will capture detailed diagnostic images of your mouth using our state-of-the-art cone beam CT scanner, and Dr. Altenbach will go over your medical and oral health history with you. After this in-depth evaluation, our team will create a customized treatment plan, which may include preliminary procedures, like bone grafting, in addition to your implant surgery, healing, and restoration attachment.

Dental Implant Placement

Dr. Altenbach is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and has completed extensive training and continuing education in dental implant placement, including the Implant Educators Comprehensive Interdisciplinary Implant Continuum. As a result, he is specially qualified to place dental implants in-house, eliminating the need for you to have to travel to a different specialist’s office for this part of the procedure.

This part of the process will involve creating a small window in the gums to secure the implants into the jawbone. It’s completed under dental sedation to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.

Healing & Abutment Placement

After the surgical placement of your dental implants, they will fuse with your jawbone over the next three to six months. This process, called osseointegration, is critical for the long-term and overall success of your treatment. Once the implants have joined with the bone, we will call you back into the office to attach small, metal connector pieces to the tops of the implants, called abutments. After this short procedure, we will allow a couple of weeks for your gums to heal.

Securing the Final Restoration

Once our team receives your final, permanent dental restorations from our laboratory, we’ll call you back in to finish the process. Before attaching them to your abutments and implants, we’ll make sure they’re a perfect fit and the shade of the gums and teeth flawlessly integrate with the rest of your smile.

Finally, before you leave, our team will schedule your next checkup and cleaning with us, as well as any necessary check-ins. We’ll show you how to care for your new smile as well!

Day-to-Day Benefits

Dental implants can deliver significant benefits for your everyday life, including:

• The ability to chew all sorts of foods so you won’t have to miss out on your favorite treats like steak, corn on the cob, and chewy candies
• Giving patients the confidence they need to smile boldly and make great first impressions at work and friendly gatherings
• Dental implants can be easily cleaned with conventional oral hygiene methods including brushing, flossing, and antibacterial mouthwash
• Since they are anchored by titanium posts surgically placed in the jaw, you should never have to worry about your dental implants slipping out of place

Health Benefits

Tooth loss can lead to a range of negative outcomes for your oral and overall health. Dental implants address this problem by functioning exactly like real teeth, providing benefits such as:

• Preventing bone loss that occurs in the jaw after tooth loss
• Supporting neighboring teeth so they don’t slide out of alignment or become injured due to uneven pressure during the chewing process
• Making it easier to consume a wide variety of healthy foods to prevent malnutrition and other health problems
• Not causing uncomfortable dental sensitivity or gum sores like dentures often do
• Since they are simple to keep clean, it is easy to prevent problems like implant failure as well as nasty oral infections such as tooth decay and gum disease.

Long-Term Benefits

Dental implants are a reliable treatment that can be considered an investment in one’s future health that pays impressive dividends over time. These appliances can deliver considerable long-term benefits for one’s well-being and finances such as:

• Enjoying an impressive success rate of 95% even ten years after placement
• Not requiring a succession of expensive replacement appliances like dentures or dental bridges do
• Potentially lasting for more than thirty-five years with excellent care
• Making it easier to land a job or win a promotion by giving you the smile you need to be confident and make that excellent first impression.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

The dental implant process is different for everyone. Some patients might need gum disease therapy, bone grafting, and other procedures performed in order to be considered candidates for dental implant placement. As such, you may need to pay for any preliminary treatments that our team deems necessary.

The cost of the actual dental implant surgery is not set in stone. Factors such as the surgical site and the possible use of sedation need to be considered. Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about receiving a bill from a different practice since the surgery can be performed right here at our office.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

How much will you end up paying for the dental implants themselves? The answer depends on:

• • The number of dental implant posts that are needed to fill in all of the empty space in your smile.
• • The type of prosthesis that will be attached to the dental implants. (Said prosthesis could be a crown, a bridge, or a denture.)
• • The material used to make the dental implant posts.
• • The brand of dental implant used.

When you visit our office, we can go into more detail about the factors listed above so that you fully understand the role they play in determining the final cost of your dental implants.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

Even though dental implants cost more than traditional dentures and bridges, they can also help you save money. While that might sound like an odd idea, it makes sense if you consider the longevity of the dental implant posts. A traditional denture or bridge will likely have to be replaced every 5 to 10 years; dental implants, meanwhile, are known to be able to last for decades. In other words, dental implants can be good for your budget in the long term since you won’t have to pay for replacements as often.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

There are many dental insurance plans that will not pay for dental implants but can still provide coverage for the final restoration as well as a number of preliminary treatments. Talk to your insurance company to confirm your benefits; you should already be familiar with what your plan does and doesn’t cover before you begin the dental implant process.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

When discussing ways to make paying for dental implants easier, we may mention our Altenbach Dentistry Membership Plan, which includes discounts on a variety of services along with various other benefits. We can also help you apply for CareCredit, SunBit, or Wisetack financing if breaking the cost of your care into installments would help simplify things.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

The most important part of the recovery period is not disturbing the blood clot located at the surgical site. This clot is needed for the natural healing process to take place and be successful. Here are some things you should avoid to keep this blood clot in place:

• Spitting: Swallow your saliva or use a tissue.
• Straw: The suction of the straw can dislodge the blood clot.
• Smoking: You shouldn’t smoke following your procedure.
• Touching: Keep your tongue and fingers away from the surgical site.

Common Side Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement

Side effects are common after dental implant placement surgery. Here are some that you may experience:

• Bleeding: Minor bleeding during the recovery period is common. This can be reduced with clean gauze and light pressure.
• Inflammation: For the first 72 hours after your procedure, you might have some swelling. You can lessen this with a cold compress.
• Discomfort: Soreness is normal and common after dental implants are placed. This can be managed with over-the-counter and/or prescribed pain relievers.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

After your procedure, stick to softer foods to give the surgical site a chance to heal. Here are some suggestions:

• Scrambled eggs
• Mashed potatoes
• Pasta
• Soup
• Oatmeal
• Yogurt
• Applesauce
• Pudding
• Ice cream

Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene

The day following your surgery, brush your teeth and floss like you would normally. Just be careful to avoid the dental implant site. To clean this area, gently rinse your mouth with salt water and meals. When you choose a mouthwash, pick one that doesn’t contain alcohol. Alcohol can irritate the surgical site and cause discomfort.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

After your replacement teeth are attached to your dental implants, the hard part is over. You might experience some minor sensitivity as you adjust to your new restoration, but this should be easy to manage at home. At this point, you shouldn’t encounter any swelling, bleeding, or extensive recovery. If you have concerns or questions regarding your post-op care, give us a call so we can help!

Can I Take Dental Implants Out?

A dental implant is unlike any other tooth replacement method because it replicates both the root and the crown. A titanium post is surgically placed into your jawbone to mimic a root. Your bone will fuse to the implant through a process called osseointegration, allowing it to potentially stay in place forever. Therefore, only a trained dental professional can remove it, but some implant dentures can be taken out for easy cleaning.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Dental implants have over a 95% success rate and are proven to last for 30 years or longer, but many factors affect their cost. The quality of materials you choose can influence their lifespan, as well as the location of the implant. Back teeth undergo more wear and tear naturally, so those used to replace molars may have a slightly shorter lifespan. You can get the most from your investment with good oral hygiene habits at home and visiting your dentist regularly for a cleaning and checkup.

Does It Hurt to Get Dental Implants?

You will require oral surgery to implant your post, but you don't have to worry about a painful day in the dentist's chair. Your implant dentist in Jacksonville will use medications to block any pain, so you won't feel anything. However, after the effects of any numbing agents or sedatives dissipate, it is normal for your mouth to be tender for a few days. You can manage it by taking an over-the-counter pain reliever and applying a cold compress. Your dentist will give you additional aftercare instructions, like eating soft foods.

What Are the Signs of Dental Implant Failure?

The risk of dental implant failure is less than 5%, but it's important to remain vigilant for any signs of complications, like inflammation, redness, or bleeding of the gums. If you experience pain near the implant or it feels loose, don't wait to contact our office. The sooner you receive treatment, the more likely we can save your investment from failure.

What Should I Do If My Implant Feels Loose?

After your jawbone has integrated with the post, it should never feel loose. If your dental implant wiggles, contact our office immediately. It can be a sign of peri-implantitis, an infection like gum disease. It can also indicate other issues, like bone loss or rejection of the implant. Do not wait to see a dentist.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Infection around dental implants is a leading cause of implant failure. Often, such infections are caused by poor oral hygiene. To prevent that from happening to you, you should:

• Thoroughly brush your teeth at least twice a day. Use a soft brush and apply gentle pressure.
• Floss once a day or use an oral irrigator to clean along your gumline.
• Regularly rinse with antibacterial mouthwash.
• Drink lots of water.

Eat a Healthy Diet

You should feel free to eat all of your favorite foods with dental implants. However, just like natural teeth, some foods are better for implants than others. Here are some basic dietary guidelines to protect your prosthetic teeth:

• Enjoy sugary, starchy, and acidic foods only in moderation.
• Do not bite down on extremely hard foods. For example, you should be careful with bone-in meats.
• Eat lots of nutrients that support oral health, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, and calcium.

Break Bad Habits

A couple of bad habits that could put your implants at risk include:

• Smoking is a major contributor to dental implant failure because it increases the risk of infection and can weaken your immune system.
• Using your teeth as tools. You should not use your teeth to open packages, trim your fingernails, or carry out other tasks for which they are not designed.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Dental implants are very strong, but they still need to be protected from damage. For example, you should be sure to wear a mouthguard whenever you play sports. Custom mouthguards tend to be more effective and comfortable than OTC options. If you tend to grind your teeth at night, you should wear a different kind of mouthguard — one that is specifically designed to prevent your upper and lower teeth from harming one another.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Even if you do not have any remaining natural teeth, you should still attend a dental appointment every six months. During these visits, we can thoroughly clean your mouth. We may even remove your restorations so we can clean your implant abutments (this is important because some types of implant restorations cannot be removed by a patient at home). We will also look for signs of any developing problems. If we notice any issues, we can provide prompt treatment.