Are Dental Implants Affordable Escanaba, MI
Dental implants are secured on top or inside the jawbone, and sometimes the cheekbone, to hold a pontic tooth or bridge. They are the most complex treatment in dentistry and the most expensive. The price of dental implants includes the cost of several procedures needed, the cost of the implant, the cost of fabricating and fitting the dental crown, and the dentist's service charges. According to the type of implant, the surgical treatment may be more or less invasive. Dental implants are a lasting treatment, and can last a lifetime.
History of Dental Implants
While bridges, crowns, and dental implants seem like innovations of the 20th century, complex dental solutions existed thousands of years ago. Ancient Egypt used gold wires to stabilize periodontally involved teeth in 2500 BC.
Proper dental implants can be found in Mayan populations as early as 600 AD. They successfully used pieces of shells in place of mandibular teeth. These implants had compact bone formations around them, similar to blade impacts. In 800 AD, stone implants were used in Honduran Culture.
Two brothers, Drs. Alvin and Moses Strock performed the first successful endosteal implant, the one that resembles today's modern implants, in the 1930s. Before that, teeth were extracted from the underprivileged or from cadavers for allotransplantation until the work of Dr. John Hunter to successfully implant a cadaver tooth in the comb of a rooster gained attention. Several tooth implantation attempts were made, including Dr. Hunter's own. However, most ended in severe infections.
In 1940, the fathers of modern implantology, Formiggini, and Zeponi, developed a post-type endosseous implant with a spiral or screw-like design. The spiral shape allowed bones to grow into the implant, holding it more securely. From then onward, several additions were made to the spiral design by Dr. Perron Andres and Dr. Raphael Chercheve. Also, in the 1940s, Dahl invented the subperiosteal implant. Several other dentists continued his work into the 1960s.
The 1960s saw many implant designs come and go. It wasn't until the 1970s, when Dr. P. Brånemark proposed using titanium implants, that implantology took its next major leap. He accidentally discovered while studying rabbit femurs that bones fuse with titanium. He applied the idea in dentistry and developed implants that remained for 40 years.
Since then, different materials, coatings, and enhancements have been made until we obtained today's dental implants. As we speak, dental implants are being further improved to provide the best comfort to the patient.
How Implants Prevent Bone Loss
Losing teeth has more consequences than the gap left by the missing tooth. Along with chewing food, teeth also stimulate your jawbone and promote blood flow to it. Once the tooth disappears, the jawbone loses that stimulation and slowly begins to reabsorb into the body naturally.
This is dangerous as bone loss can also reduce adjacent teeth and their structural stability. The loss of your bone mass also means a loss in facial definition over time. That means that you can lose more teeth, and it won't only affect how your smile looks but also your profile.
This is where implants can come in handy. Implants get drilled into the bone like the root of your tooth would be. The crown attached to dental implants takes part in chewing your food along with your other teeth. The pressure exerted when you chew travels down the implant and stimulates your jawbone in the same way. This prevents bone loss which would have happened otherwise. This is one of dental implants' most significant advantages over dentures or bridges.
Sometimes there isn't enough healthy bone for implants to attach securely. In that case, Dr. Hallas is a dental implant surgery expert and can advise what is best for your case. You may use an alternative solution entirely or may want bone grafting to get the required stability.
Types of Dental Implants
There are several types of dental implants:
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Endosteal Implants: Screw-shaped implants inserted into the jawbone
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Subperiosteal Implants: Implants that sit on top of the jawbone inside the gum with posts for a dental crown
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Zygomatic Implants: Dental implants that are secured in the cheekbone instead of the jawbone
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Mini Dental Implants: 3mm thin implants placed into the jawbone from over the gum surface instead of under it |
Which type of dental implant you should get is a critical decision. No two cases are alike, so there's no general or standard recommendation. Some implants are better than others in particular situations, while some may not be right for everyone. This is when the experience of skilled dentists and surgeons at Bay Lakes Center for Complex Dentistry will be invaluable.
Benefits of Dental Implants
There are many benefits to getting dental implants, including:
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They replace your missing teeth
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They work just like natural teeth
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They prevent the bone loss that would have happened otherwise
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They improve your appearance
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They don't slip out while eating or talking like dentures
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They can last a lifetime
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They keep adjacent teeth stable
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They prevent gum disease caused because of exposed gums due to a missing tooth |
Affording Dental Implants
A full mouth of dental implants may not be affordable for everyone, however Dr. Hallas can provide solutions involving the minimum number of implants to make treatment fit your budget.
Several creative solutions use dental bridges or dentures with the minimum number of implants so you can have a confident smile and enjoy chewing every meal without trouble.
To learn if dental implants are a practical solution to your case and if you are eligible for the treatment, book an appointment at Bay Lakes Center for Complex Dentistry by calling (906) 212-4725.
Everyone deserves to smile. While most insurance companies do not cover dental implants as they are considered cosmetic procedures, we will work with your insurance company to see the best financing possible, according to your case. Dental implants may restore your smile; we can help you get them. |