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Dental Implants — St. Augustine, FL

Planting the Roots for a Better Smile

When it comes to replacing your missing teeth, you have a lot of options to choose from. Dental bridges and dentures replace the parts of your missing teeth that are directly responsible for biting and chewing food. However, they don’t replace the roots of the missing teeth, meaning the underlying jawbone will start to break down as the body decides it’s not needed anymore. If you want to avoid bone loss and give your new teeth additional stability, call Salt Run Family Dentistry today to ask about dental implants in St. Augustine, FL – the modern gold standard when it comes to filling in empty space in a smile.

 

Why Choose Salt Run Family Dentistry For Dental Implants?

  • Start-to-Finish Dental Implant Treatment Under 1 Roof
  • Replace Any Number of Missing Teeth for Life
  • Dental Implants Starting at $166/Month

What Are Dental Implants?

Dentist and patient looking at dental implant model

By itself, a dental implant doesn’t look like it could replace a tooth. It’s made of titanium and has a long, thin shape. However, once it has been placed in the jaw and has merged with the surrounding bone tissue, we can attach a crown, a bridge, or dentures on top of it in order to replace any number of teeth. The implant will secure your new teeth in place so that they don’t move when you chew or speak. They also encourage the jaw to continue producing bone tissue. Rebuilding the tooth from the roots up makes the results look, feel, and function just like natural.

The Dental Implant Process

Animated parts of dental implant tooth replacement process

You’ll need to undergo minor oral surgery to have the implants placed in your jaw. The restoration phase won’t begin until the mouth has fully recovered, which can take up to six months. Fortunately, you won’t need to see a specialist for the different phases of the process; we can handle both stages right here at our St. Augustine location. The same skilled dentist and friendly staff will be here for you from the beginning to the end of the process.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Woman smiling after dental implant tooth replacement

Your smile deserves the best, and in many situations that means getting dental implants. While all dental restorations have their pros and cons, implants have many benefits that more traditional options can’t match. Here are some of the advantages of implant-retained prosthetics:

  • The implant posts can last for decades at a time, and many patients end up keeping them for the rest of their lives.
  • Implant-retained teeth both look and feel natural; the implant post is hidden under the gums and effectively becomes part of the jawbone instead.
  • Thanks to the added stability of implants, you can eat whatever you want, including tougher foods.
  • The stimulation of implants will prevent bone loss, which will help keep your remaining teeth firmly in place.
  • Attaching a bridge to implants instead of natural teeth will let you preserve more of your enamel.
  • The prosthetics attached to your implant will be designed to blend in with the rest of your mouth.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Dentist discussing dental implants with patient

Are you healthy overall? Does your jaw still have plenty of bone tissue? If the answers to both questions are “yes”, you should strongly consider getting implants. Dental implants can be used to replace any number of missing teeth anywhere in the mouth. Once we’ve ensured you’re a good candidate for them, we’ll design your treatment plan around how many missing teeth you have.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Man admiring his new dental implants in St. Augustine

Many patients who have lost permanent teeth qualify for this treatment. The basic requirements are that you have a healthy (i.e., infection-free) mouth and enough supportive bone tissue in your jaw. It’s also important that you don’t have any overall health issues that could lead to complications during or after oral surgery, such as unmanaged cardiovascular disease or diabetes. We will recommend that tobacco users start to cut down as well, as smoking or chewing drastically increases the chance of implant failure. During your consultation, we’ll evaluate you to determine whether implants are a good fit. Fortunately, even if you don’t initially qualify for this treatment, you can undergo procedures, like a bone graft or gum disease therapy, which can enable you to get implants later on.

Missing 1 Tooth

Animated dental implant supported dental crown

Just a single lost tooth can throw off the balance of your bite and lead to further oral health problems. We can fill in a gap with an implant that has a dental crown attached. It will take a few months for the implant to fuse with the jaw; the crown is placed after healing is complete. It will be specially shaped and shaded so that it blends in seamlessly with the rest of the teeth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Animated dental implant supported fixed bridge

Instead of individual implants for every tooth that you’ve lost, a row of three or more teeth can be replaced by a dental bridge that rests on two implants. Unlike traditional bridges, this process won’t require any permanent changes to the healthy teeth that remain in your mouth. Plus, the bridge can be fixed, meaning you won’t have to take it out to clean.

Missing All Teeth

Animated dental implant supported denture

Traditional dentures rest on the gums; because of this, they can start to slip or become ill-fitting once the jaw changes shape. This occurs naturally following tooth loss. Fortunately, dental implants can address both problems at once. It normally takes about four to six implant posts to support a full set of dentures in the upper or lower jaw. Implant dentures are not only smaller but more stable than regular ones, and they also maintain their day-one fit for longer thanks to the bone support provided by the posts. While traditional dentures restore about 20% of a person’s biting force, implant dentures have been shown to bring back about 70%. This makes it easier to chew a wider variety of foods as well as sustain a more nutritious diet.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Dental implant in St. Augustine, FL lying on hundred dollar bill

When you come to Salt Run Family Dentistry for dental implants, you need to understand that there isn’t a fixed cost for the procedure. Every patient has different needs, and the treatment will need to be customized accordingly. As such, there are many different factors that can end up changing the amount that you pay. Our team will work with you to create your implant treatment plan, then help you create an estimate of the final cost of dental implants in Lisle. To help make your new smile as affordable as possible, we’ll help maximize your dental insurance and review your financing options. We’re also proud to offer a free dental implant consultation as well as dental implants starting at just $166/month.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Dentists performing surgery to place dental implants in St. Augustine, FL

Obviously, the surgery to place implants in your mouth will have its own cost. (We complete the surgery in-house, so you don’t have to worry about another practice billing you.).

Before the implants can be placed, though, some patients might need gum disease therapy, bone grafts, or some other kind of preliminary treatment meant to help create an environment where dental implants can thrive. Such treatments will have separate costs of their own, but they’ll be well worth it to be able to enjoy your dental implants for decades.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Illustration of different parts of dental implant in St. Augustine, FL

Each component that makes up your dental implants will incur its own cost. When making an estimate, we’ll look at:

  • The number of implants you need to replace all of your teeth (normally one for a single tooth, two for multiple teeth in a row, and four or more for an entire arch)
  • The type of restoration that will be placed on your implant(s) (with small restorations such as crowns carrying a lower cost than larger restorations like dentures)
  • The material used to make the implant posts (which is usually titanium)
  • The brand of implant used (different manufacturers make implants to accommodate for different patients’ needs, and that ends up influencing the cost)

How Dental Implants Can Pay for Themselves

Close-up of woman with dental implants in St. Augustine, FL smiling

Dental implants cost more initially than traditional tooth replacements, but if you take good care of them, they’ll end up paying for themselves. They don’t have to be replaced as often as dentures and bridges; in fact, some patients never need to replace them at all. That means spending less money on new teeth and additional appointments over the years. Also, there’s no need to buy any special solutions for implant maintenance, as you can just brush and floss like you’ve always have. In fact, taking care of implants is so simple, they can actually lower your risk for gum disease and other oral health issues that you might have to pay to treat.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Dental insurance form on clipboard on desk

This is a question that can only be answered by reviewing your insurance policy. Usually, you’ll find that your plan won’t help pay for the implants themselves, but they may still partially cover the restoration or some of the preliminary treatments. Our team will work with you to find ways to get the absolute most out of your policy.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Calculator, pen, notepad, and pile of money

Our office is in-network with Humana, and we can take other plans as well. Patients who don’t have insurance can apply for a CareCredit financing plan to break up the cost of dental implants; there’s little to no interest to worry about, and the plan can be used to help pay for treatments that aren’t covered by insurance.

Dental Implant Failure & Salvage

Concerned woman in need of dental implant salvage in St. Augustine

Did you know that dental implants boast an unmatched success rate of 95%? In fact, that success rate remains the same even 10 years after placement! Nonetheless, dental implant failure is a remote possibility that you should know how to identify. Fortunately, if you begin to experience any signs of a failing dental implant, we will likely be able to save your newly rebuilt smile with dental implant salvage in St. Augustine. If you’re ever concerned about the well-being of your dental implant or any uncomfortable symptoms you’re experiencing, don’t hesitate to call us right away.

Learn More About Dental Implant Failure & Salvage

Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants

man brushing his dental implants in St. Augustine

Although dental implants are among the most complex treatments in dentistry, taking care of them is relatively simple. Just as with natural teeth, you need to brush twice and floss once daily. Although your replacement teeth cannot get cavities, plaque can still accumulate there and lead to gum disease. In addition, regular dental visits (at least every six months) help us catch and treat any infections or other problems that could lead to implant failure. You also should avoid using tobacco products to increase your odds of having long-lasting implants.

Dental Implant FAQs

model with dental implant in St. Augustine

Choosing to replace your missing teeth with dental implants is a big investment. Before you move forward, you may have questions that need answers. We’re here to help you! Take a look at the responses we’ve provided below for some guidance on the most common inquiries. If you would like to talk to us in greater detail about dental implants, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with us. We’ll happily address your concerns and help you find a solution for your missing teeth.

What Is the Success Rate of Dental Implants?

Overall, dental implants are very successful. In fact, about 95 percent of dental implants are still successful even 20 years after they were placed. In the cases where the implants failed, it’s usually because the patients didn’t properly maintain the implants, or there was an unknown pre-existing condition that interfered with success. That’s why we take the time beforehand to make sure this treatment is right for you. We also stress the importance of taking care of your dental implants so that they can last for many, many years.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

It depends. Insurance plans can vary in their specific benefits, but in general most of the cost of dental implants is not covered by insurance. However, the restoration that attaches to the implants may be partially covered, and if you require preliminary procedures, such as gum disease therapy, this work may fall under your plan’s benefits. Our team can double check your insurance and try to find ways of lowering your out-of-pocket costs as much as possible.