DENTAL IMPLANT
FAQs

A dental implant is a small titanium post that’s surgically placed in the jawbone. The implant fuses with the jawbone, creating a strong foundation that acts as a tooth root. Once the fusion is complete, a prosthetic tooth is attached.

Dental implants are the preferred method of tooth replacement for a number of reasons:

• They are a durable, long-term solution with a very high success rate
• They can look, feel, and function just like natural teeth
• Implants are fixed, as opposed to removable dentures
• They affect only the missing tooth, as opposed to bridges, which can damage involve surrounding teeth
• Patients are generally highly satisfied and enjoy improved oral health

It’s pretty simple! First, the implant is surgically placed and given time to fuse with the jawbone. Once the fusion is complete, the prosthetic tooth is attached. 

While the process is straightforward, it does take time. This is because the patient needs ample recovery time after the placement surgery, and most importantly, the implant needs to properly fuse with the jawbone to ensure long-term success. It usually takes approximately 4 months from the time of implant placement to the attachment of the prosthetic tooth, although some (rare) cases may take up to a year.

Most patients report minimal pain or discomfort immediately following the surgery, and any pain that does occur can be easily managed with medications.

Assuming a successful procedure, there is no pain or discomfort in the long term. This is because dental implants essentially become part of your jawbone, and they can feel virtually identical to your natural teeth!

Absolutely! The titanium implant, as well as the prosthetic tooth itself, are 100% safe.

Because there’s considerable variation from patient to patient, the range of costs for dental implants is wide. 

We understand this is quite a large expense. That’s why we offer a number of payment and financing options, and we’ll work with you to determine the best plan for your financial situation. Dentalopolis is committed to giving you a beautiful, healthy smile without breaking the bank.

Some insurance plans cover dental implants. This will all depend on your provider and the plan you have. Make sure to bring up the issue when you’re scheduling your appointment, or during your initial consultation visit.

If you’re in generally good health and have sufficient bone density and gum tissue, you’ll likely be a good candidate for dental implants. The only way to know for sure is to be thoroughly evaluated by Dr. Kim, so schedule your appointment today!

There are a few reasons you may not immediately be a candidate for implants:

• You lack sufficient bone and/or gum tissue to support implants
• You’re too young (jawbone is not fully developed yet)
• You have a medical condition that makes surgery too risky
• Pre-existing dental infections that can impact implant treatment

Even if you’re not a candidate right now, there are treatments available that may enable you to get implants in the future. These options include bone grafting (which takes bone from another part of the body and uses it to build up jawbone density) and gum augmentation, which is a similar process for building up gum tissue.

Some patients may not be able to undergo these procedures. In such cases, we offer other treatment options including bridges and removable treatments.