Dental Implants — Hoover, AL

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are created from durable, biocompatible materials designed to integrate with your body, ensuring longevity and functionality for decades. Once placed, you can expect your tooth replacement to simulate the same functions of your natural tooth, giving you the confidence to smile, eat food, and speak with clarity. While other options are available for replacing teeth, dentists often recommend dental implants first if patients are eligible to receive them. This is because they have quickly become the gold standard for replacing teeth and give patients more confidence to smile.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option out there that replaces the roots of the missing teeth, providing a wide range of unique benefits that you can’t get elsewhere! That being said, dental implants require a multi-step process that spans over the course of several months. Here are the four main steps that you can expect.

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Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The very first step when getting dental implants is your consultation. You will come to our practice so we can examine your smile in person and determine whether or not dental implants are ideal for you. This is also when we determine how many implants you need and whether you require preliminary procedures, like bone grafting or gum disease treatment. Once your gums and jawbone appear to be in good shape, we can move forward to plan the rest of the treatment process.

Dental Implant Surgery

Getting dental implants requires a surgical procedure so that they can be placed firmly in the jawbone. At Moulton Dentistry of Hoover, we work with local dental implant specialists for this part of the process to ensure that you are getting the best possible quality of care. After numbing the area with a local anesthetic, an incision is made in the gum tissue. Then, the dental implants are carefully and precisely placed in the jawbone. The gums are closed, and protective caps are placed over the implants to keep them protected as they heal.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Over the next three to six months, your dental implants and jawbone will fuse together in a process called “osseointegration.” Then, you will require another minor procedure where the abutments are placed on the end of the implants. Impressions are also taken at this time so your restoration can be custom crafted just for you.

Benefits of Dental Implants

In recent years, dental implants have become the most popular solution for missing teeth. Because of their unique placement inside the jawbone, they’re able to provide a wide range of benefits that you simply can’t get with more traditional options like dentures and dental bridges. To learn more about the benefits of dental implants in Hoover, contact our office and schedule a consultation today. We’ll gladly review your treatment options and help you find the tooth-replacement choice that will best suit your needs.

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Day-to-Day Benefits

We use our teeth every day to speak, eat, and smile. For that reason, it only makes sense that you’d want a tooth-replacement solution that’ll allow you to live your day-to-day life with ease. Fortunately, dental implants can help you do just that by giving the following benefits:

• More biting strength. Since dental implants replace the entire structure of a missing tooth, they’re able to withstand the chewing of virtually any food.
• Easier oral hygiene. With dental implants, you don’t have to worry about incorporating complex steps into your oral hygiene routine or purchasing special cleaning products. All you need to do is care for them as you would care for natural teeth!
• Increased confidence. Unlike dentures, your implants will stay firmly in place once they’ve successfully fused with the surrounding bone tissue. They’ll allow you to eat, speak, and smile with much more confidence.

Health Benefits

Aside from appearance, dental implants in Hoover offer multiple health advantages as well. Some of those include:

• Jawbone preservation. Because dental implants stimulate the jawbone, they can keep it strong, healthy, and functional for a lifetime.
• Protection for natural teeth. It’s common for teeth to shift after tooth loss. Fortunately, dental implants can prevent that from happening by serving as a placeholder to ensure every tooth stays exactly where it belongs.
• Better overall health. Studies show there’s a correlation between tooth loss and an increased risk of multiple diseases. Because implants are so similar to natural teeth, it’s reasonable to believe they can help lower such risks.

Long-Term Benefits

By choosing to get dental implants now, they can help you for years to come with the following benefits:

• High success rate. Dental implants have an impressive success rate of about 95 percent, even 20 years after they’ve been placed.
• Youthful appearance. Since implants stimulate blood flow in the jaw, they help prevent its deterioration and the sunken, aged look that often happens with tooth loss.
• Long-lasting results. Unlike dentures and dental bridges, your implants can last decades without needing replacement. Speaking of dentures, your implant dentist in Hoover offers implant-retained dentures!

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Dental implants are highly versatile, with the ability to replace individual teeth as well as all the teeth in a given arch with ease. Dr. Moulton will work with you to determine the best implant restoration for your specific needs. Whether you need to replace a single missing tooth, several missing teeth, or your entire smile, we offer this incredible method of tooth replacement to meet your needs.

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Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

More people can receive dental implants than ever before, but there are a few prerequisites for treatment. Good candidates for dental implants must have good oral health. If there is tooth decay or gum disease, preparatory treatments are required before placing the implants.

Additionally, dental implants need sufficient bone volume to integrate properly. This is crucial for the long-term health of your implant. Therefore, our office may recommend bone grafting if necessary.

Missing 1 Tooth

A single titanium post is placed inside of your jaw, then an abutment is attached. Once gum tissue has healed around the tooth, a custom-made porcelain crown is placed on top. This new tooth will mimic the two-part structure of the surrounding teeth, ensuring it looks, acts, and feels like a natural tooth. You’ll be able to smile confidently, maintain oral hygiene effortlessly, and enjoy all your favorite foods without worry.

Missing Multiple Teeth

For patients with consecutive missing teeth, implants can be paired with dental bridges. It allows you to retain as much of your existing tooth structure as possible. Crowns are placed on either side of the gap in the patient’s smile, supporting additional prosthetic teeth to close it. Unlike traditional bridges, implant bridges can hold a restoration independently, eliminating the need to alter existing tooth enamel to replace missing teeth.

Missing All Teeth

Dentures, whether they be full or partial, can be designed to attach to dental implants to provide them with additional stability. We can create a brand-new prosthetic for you or upgrade your current denture to fit over implants, ensuring it stays firmly in place. Additionally, implant dentures can be customized to be either fixed or removable, based on your personal preference.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

If you’re considering replacing your missing teeth, you’re probably wondering about the cost of dental implants in Hoover. This amazing dental treatment is life changing, which is why it should be treated as an investment. That’s why Dr. Moulton wants all his patients to have the information they need to make a confident choice in implant treatment. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the cost of dental implants!

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Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

The entire dental implant process has multiple stages that may vary from patient to patient, so it’s a good idea to keep this information in mind when considering the final price of your treatment plan. Each stage of dental implant treatment incurs a unique cost. For example, you’ll first need to come into our office for a consultation. Any preexisting dental issues will also need to be treated before getting your dental implants, such as gum disease and/or tooth decay. We may also need to perform extractions of teeth, which maintains its own cost.

The Parts & Type of Your Dental Implant

One of the many factors that can influence the cost of your treatment is the types of dental implants that you’ll need. We offer implant crowns to replace a single missing tooth, and we can restore multiple consecutive lost teeth with an implant bridge. If you’re missing all or most of your smile, we may recommend an implant denture. This is a denture held in place with anywhere between 4 and 6 dental implants.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

While dental implants do come with a higher cost compared to standalone bridges and dentures, they are well worth the investment. Dental implants provide you with a variety of unique benefits, and they’re made to last for a lifetime. This could actually save you money down the road from fewer replacements and the dental visits that go with them. Additionally, they prevent issues like jawbone deterioration, saving you from problems like additional tooth loss and aged facial appearance. Plus, you simply can’t put a price on the way that implants can mimic the look, feel, and function of your natural smile.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Typically, dental insurance does not see dental implants as a necessary treatment, which is why they’re usually not covered. However, some plans will cover certain aspects of your treatment, including the consultation or gum disease treatment. This will all depend on your plan. Our front desk staff is ready to help you maximize your benefits while minimizing out of pocket costs. We are happy to answer any questions you may have, and we also have financing options available to make our quality care affordable for any budget.

Maintaining & Caring For Your Dental Implants

Dental implants can last decades or even a lifetime as long as you commit to taking proper care of them once they’re in place. With this type of investment, you’ll want to make sure that you do all you can to avoid problems or complications along the way. This is why our team is pleased to provide you with essential dental implant care in Hoover to make living with and maintaining your new smile easier than you might think.

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Making Oral Hygiene a Priority

Dental implants may not develop cavities, but existing natural teeth and soft oral tissues can still be susceptible to dental decay and gum disease. Since peri-implantitis is a possibility while living with these permanent prosthetics, you must commit to brushing your teeth at least twice a day using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. You’ll also need to floss before bed or preferably after every meal. Giving your mouth a thorough rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash is also helpful.

Eating a Healthy Diet

Too much sugar and starch in your diet will not only expand your waistline but also take a toll on your oral and overall health as well. When bad bacteria accumulate because of foods you’re consuming, it can lead to peri-implantitis and tooth decay. However, if you instead incorporate healthier food options into your diet, such as leafy greens, calcium-enriched foods, fruits and vegetables, and lean meats, you’ll find that your smile remains in better shape for longer.

Breaking Bad Habits

Unhealthy habits can be detrimental to your smile. These include smoking (which prevents healing after implant placement), eating ice or chewing on inanimate pens and pencils (which can damage your implants), and attempting to open items with your teeth. Although your dental implants may be durable, they’re not indestructible, which means that damage can occur, resulting in a trip to the emergency dentist’s office.

Protecting Your Dental Implants

If you enjoy engaging in contact or non-contact sports, you’ll need to make sure that you’re wearing a custom-made mouthguard to protect your dental implants. Any sudden impact can cause your posts to become damaged and loose. If you grind your teeth at night, you’ll want to wear a custom nightguard to minimize grinding and clenching throughout the night and thus harm to your implants and natural teeth. Wearing these will offer optimal protection day in and day out.

Scheduling Regular Dental Checkups

Seeing our dental team every six months for a general checkup and cleaning will ensure that your dental implants are in tip-top shape. Apart from checking your natural teeth for signs of decay and disease, we’ll also look at your implants to make sure there are no small (or large) flaws that might lead to problems down the road.

Dental Implant FAQs

While dental implants in Hoover are considered the gold standard when it comes to tooth replacement, you probably have some curiosities about how the procedure works and what you should expect. Thus, we’ve highlighted some of the more frequently asked questions, so you can have a better understanding of what the dental implant process entails. To get even more information and to undergo an initial evaluation, don’t hesitate to contact us at Moulton Dentistry of Hoover to schedule a visit with Dr. Moulton.