Dental Implants FAQ

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are the most natural way to replace missing teeth. Made of titanium, dental implants are designed to replace the root of a missing tooth, providing support and stability for the replacement teeth. Through a process called osseointegration, the implant fuses with the jawbone, permanently stabilizing the new tooth and allowing it to function naturally.

What are the advantages of dental implants?

• They are fixed in your jaw bone and are not removable
• They feel more natural than removable dentures due to their secure fit
• Single tooth implants are stand-alone units and won’t require the unnecessary treatment of the adjacent teeth.
• They are easier to clean and maintain than bridges and removable dentures
• They can last a lifetime with good oral hygiene

What are the steps involved in having a dental implant placed?

You’ll begin with a consultation appointment with one of our surgeons in which we assess your overall health and the specifics of your jaw, as well as obtain and review a 3D x-ray of your jaw. Once we’ve reviewed the different options that would work best for you, we work together to create a treatment plan, including the form of anesthesia you’d like to use.

After placement of your dental implant, you will come in for a scheduled follow-up appointment. Once the implant has healed, we may perform another short procedure to expose the implant so that your dentist or prosthodontist can begin making a crown. We occasionally place a temporary tooth on the new implant to provide you with the best esthetic results.

How are fees handled for this procedure?

The cost of dental implants depends heavily on a variety of details about each patient’s case. Most insurance plans these days pay for some portion of the treatment fee. Our financial coordinators check with your insurance and are able to give you the cost breakdown during your consultation visit.

At our practice, we bundle our services, which means that the fee that we quote you at the time of consultation for a dental implant will include imaging (preoperative and postoperative), placement of your implant, implant uncovering, and all follow up care.

We inform our patients of all fees upfront so that there are no surprises. Anesthesia services may be billed separately and will add cost to your case if you chose to have sedation with your procedure, but again, we will include this in your cost ahead of time.

My dentist says that my dental implant reconstruction is complex. Will this add additional fees to my case?

Not necessarily, but if bone grafting for the jaws is needed due to a lack bone height and/or width, it can add cost. However, this is all usually covered by dental insurance carriers.

We aim to keep costs down while providing you with the oral care you need, so we disclose all costs before surgery. Affordable surgical care that delivers optimal results is our top priority.

Do dental implants hurt?

No! You will be under your choice of a variety of anesthesia options while in surgery, and you will not feel a thing. We keep the surgical site numb during the procedure, and as the anesthesia wears off later in the day, you’ll be able to control any discomfort with appropriate medications and techniques discussed after your procedure.

How experienced are your doctors with dental implants?

Drs. Conforti, Johnson, Salomon, and Saggese have been placing implants since their residencies in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. They treat hundreds of patients each year who are seeking dental implant reconstruction and participate in rigorous specialty programs and continuing education to keep ahead of the curve in the most recent advances in dental implant surgery.