What are some of the uses of Dental Implants?

Dental Implants placed in the jaw bones become anchors for a variety of uses including:

•Securing a lower/upper denture

•Replacement of full lower/upper dentures with non-removable teeth.

•Replacement of partial dentures with non-removable teeth.

•Replacement of a single tooth.

Do my age and health prevent me from having Dental Implants?

Age is usually not a major factor in determining whether or not you can have Dental Implants. Many people in their 70’s have had Dental Implants placed. In general, if you are healthy enough to have teeth removed in a dental office, you are healthy enough to have Dental Implants placed.

Is it expensive?

Dental Implant treatment involves a significant investment in your oral health. Since each individual’s needs are different, only an examination will tell what it will cost you. The average cost to replace a single missing tooth is $2,350.00. If you call around the Ventura County area, you will see that this is a very low-cost fee.

Does my insurance cover Dental Implants?

We bill two types of insurances to help you receive coverage for Dental Implants: MEDICAL INSURANCE: HMO’S do not cover Dental Implants. Some indemnity carriers do cover a small percentage of the costs on certain types of Dental Implants. DENTAL INSURANCE: Dental insurance companies do not pay for the Implants to be placed into your bone. However, they do on a routine basis pay for a portion of the dentures or crowns that are subsequently placed over the Implants. Our insurance coordinator can review all of your insurances and advise you as to the amount of coverage that might be expected for the type of Implant that you need and the type of replacement teeth that will be placed over them.

Is the procedure painful?

In most cases Dental Implant surgery has no more discomfort than the extraction of teeth. However, for difficult surgeries our office uses Intravenous Sedation which gives complete pain control.

How long do Dental Implants last?

When we place your Implants, we have every intention of them lasting your lifetime. Our success rate over the years has been excellent. The most critical factor to success is how much bone you have. The longer the teeth have been removed, the less the available bone. This is why it’s important for you to consider Dental Implants NOW!

How many visits are needed?

The number of visits will depend on the type of treatment you will need. In the case of Implants being used to secure a lower denture, two surgical appointments are necessary plus five more for the construction of the denture.HWhere is the surgery performed?. All Dental Implant surgery is performed in our office. The office is fully equipped with all the most modern equipment needed to perform implant surgery to the highest national standards.

How long will it take?

The length of your Dental Implant treatment depends on your needs, complexity of treatment, your health, and healing. Treatment time can range from 3 months to a year or more.

What is a Dental Implant?

Implants take many shapes and sizes depending on the patient’s needs. Most are made of titanium, a very hard and durable metal. This metal has been shown, over many decades, numerous scientific studies, and thousands of patients, to be 100% compatible with the human body. Dental Implants are not transplants taken from another human. Therefore there are no problems with the rejection reactions associated with transplants such as lungs, or kidneys. In fact, there has never been a case reported in the scientific literature where the body has rejected the materials that are used in today’s advanced Dental Implants. Since they are made of metal and undergo rigorous sterilization procedures appproved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there is absolutely no possibility of disease transmission.

How are Dental Implants placed?

Dental Implants are surgically placed into the jaw bone and over a period of time, usually 6 months, fuse to the jaw and become firmly attached thereby acting as anchors for a variety of replacement teeth. Many people believe that one Implant must be used for each tooth replaced. While this is true in some cases, in the vast majority of cases this is not true. As an example, only four or five Dental Implants could be used to hold a full lower denture that replaces all sixteen lower teeth.

What has the Federal Government said about Dental Implants?

The National Institute of Health in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration held a four day conference to discuss Dental Implants. Experts from around the world gave testimony. They concluded that Dental Implants have made significant advances in the last 10 years and were safe and effective. Therefore it was recommended that dentists should present Dental Implant treatment plan options along with other treatment planning options that solve their patient’s problems.