Dental Implant FAQs

What are dental implants?
Who are candidates for dental implants?
What are all the components for a dental implant?
How long will it take to get the final crown/bridge/denture attached to the dental implant?
What is the success rates of dental implants?
Will insurance cover any costs for implants?
How long do implants last?

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are titanium posts placed in the jawbone to replace the root structure of missing teeth. Once your bone heals around them, you can place a crown, bridge, partial denture or complete denture to the implants.

Who are candidates for dental implants?

Anyone who is missing a single tooth, several teeth, or even all their teeth.

What are all the components for a dental implant?

There are 3 components to a dental implant. The dental implant itself, which is the part that goes into the bone. Then there is the piece called an abutment that connects to the implant. On top of the abutment an artificial tooth/teeth will be placed.

How long will it take to get the final crown/bridge/denture attached to the dental implant?

The final restoration can be placed on a dental implant once the jawbone heals around it. This can take as little as 3 months or as long as 6 months. This is usually determined by where the implant is placed (upper vs. lower jaw) and the quality of bone in that area. Any additional bone grafts necessary for the dental implant could lengthen healing time. These are average healing times. Each individual’s healing times can vary.

What is the success rates of dental implants?

This varies by individual. Not only by their bone quality and healing capacity, but also by their home care and oral hygiene. Success rates also vary by which jaw the implant is placed and the position of the implant in that jaw. However, that being said, on average, the success rates are approximately 92-95% successful.

Will insurance cover any costs for implants?

This depends on each individual’s insurance policy. However, now that dental implants are becoming the standard of care, more and more insurance companies are starting to cover at least a portion of the implant procedure; whether it is the surgical portion, the restorative portion, or both. With insurance coverage, the cost of dental implants can be very comparable to traditional fixed bridges.

How long do implants last?

Each implant success is determined by several different factors. Also, each patient is different. That being said, dental implants are made of titanium so you don’t have to worry about getting cavities on them. However, you can still get bone loss. Therefore, home care and good oral hygiene are very important after getting the restoration. Typically, dental implants last longer than most traditional restorations on natural teeth. With good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, they can even last a lifetime.