Dental Implants – Owings Mills, MD

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

At your consultation, you’ll meet with Dr. Milner to thoroughly discuss the dental implant process. During this appointment, he’ll examine your oral condition and review X-rays to assess any concerns and evaluate the strength of your jawbone for implant support.

If it’s determined that you’re a suitable candidate for dental implant treatment, our team will develop a personalized treatment plan and provide a comprehensive cost estimate. Any necessary pre-implant dental work, such as addressing gum disease or reinforcing a weakened jawbone, will be accounted for in the overall cost.

Dental Implant Surgery

Dolfield Dental takes pride in being able to handle the entire dental implant procedure in-house, from beginning to end. With no need for referrals, the process becomes more comfortable and convenient. Plus, Dr. Milner will be able to oversee every step with precision.

First, he’ll administer anesthesia before making an incision in your gumline. This exposes the bone area, which will serve as the foundation for your dental implants. The implants are then carefully positioned and placed, after which the surgical site is stitched, and you'll be sent home to heal.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

While at home, you'll dedicate 3-6 months to allow the implants to integrate with your jawbone and surrounding tissues via a critical process called osseointegration. This phase is essential for ensuring the functionality and success of your implant placement.

After complete healing, you'll revisit our office to have a small appliance called an abutment attached to the top of your implant. This component serves as the connection point between the implant and the custom restoration.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

Whether you're getting a dental crown, implant bridge, or implant denture, the placement of your custom restoration marks the final stage of the process. Skilled dental lab technicians craft your prosthetic using digital scans provided by our dental team. This ensures precise color, size, and shape matching, resulting in a seamlessly beautiful smile.

Day-to-Day Benefits

Many denture wearers feel that the limitations of their prosthetics get in the way of fully enjoying their day to day lives. In comparison, dental implants – which look and feel like natural teeth – can offer the following advantages and conveniences:

• You’ll be able to eat most foods comfortably. The dental implant posts replace the entire tooth structure from the roots up, which gives them better stability and bite force than standard tooth replacements. They enjoy up to 70% of the chewing power of natural teeth – more than enough to enjoy your favorite foods.
• Your teeth will stay in place at all times and will be designed to look as natural as possible in your mouth. Many patients find that this improves their confidence in their appearance.
• Implant restorations do not slip, so they rarely provide an obstacle for speaking clearly. Traditional denture-wearers might periodically slur their words, but dental implants make it easier to speak.
• Dental implants are generally easier to clean than dentures since they can be brushed and flossed normally. You won’t have to change your oral care routine, and your oral health may improve thanks to being able to give your mouth more thorough care.

Health Benefits

Dental implants improve every day living, but they also tend to have a positive effect on your health as well, with the following advantages being particularly notable:

• They give your jawbone the internal support that previously came from the roots of your teeth. Doing so helps stop the bone loss that usually occurs when teeth are missing.
• Simply filling in the gap left by a missing tooth is an important health benefit. Teeth tend to drift towards any open space in your mouth, and if they shift too much, they can throw off the balance of your bite and lead to permanent damage.
• Dental implants allow for easier maintenance, which makes it easier to avoid the oral health problems that can contribute to systemic problems.

Long-Term Benefits

One of the most easily noticeable benefits of dental implants is how long they last compared to regular dental restorations. A standard denture might have to be replaced after about 10 years. A well-cared for dental implant can last 30 years. Many patients never need to have their implant posts replace and simply keep their new teeth for the rest of their lives – a fact that can end up saving you money in the long run and balancing out the initial cost of dental implants.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Based on your case, you may need other procedures before dental implant treatment. These services could range from gum disease therapy to tooth extractions or even bone grafts. Getting them would add to your expenses, though they’d ensure your implants’ success. The good news is that many are partially covered by dental insurance.

Your dental implant surgery will also incur its own cost, which can be high or low. The final price will depend on anesthesia, implant location, and similar factors. Luckily, our office provides the entire implant treatment under one roof; you won’t need to worry about paying an outside surgeon.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Even the parts of your dental implant(s) will influence the final cost. Major ones include:

• Number of Implants – The more dental implants you need, the higher the treatment price.
• Implant Material – While most dental implants have porcelain surfaces, others use zirconia. The second kind tends to cost more.
• Implant Brand – An implant’s cost partly depends on its brand. Since different providers cater to distinct needs, each one charges its own price.
• Restoration Type – Dental bridges, crowns, and dentures have varying prices. Still, a restoration often costs less when it’s smaller.

How Dental Implants Pay for Themselves

At least at first, dentures and dental bridges can seem less costly than dental implants. Both options have a lower upfront price, so they often look tempting. However, implants are the more cost-effective choice in the long run.

Don’t forget that dental implants often have very long lifespans. These posts can last up to 30 years (with good care), meaning they don’t need replacement or adjustment every few years. You also don’t need to use adhesives or pastes to ensure they last so long. To that extent, they’ll save you money otherwise spent on costly follow-up care.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

While dental insurance won’t usually cover dental implants, there are rare cases. Your own plan may apply toward some of your treatment, like a percentage of your restoration or a preliminary service. Therefore, please check in with your provider before committing to anything. Our team can also review your plan’s details if you need extra help!

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Even without dental insurance, dental implants can still be affordable. Just rely on our office’s other payment options for some help! Here at Dolfield Dental of Owings Mills, we offer services like:

• Membership Plans: You can join one of our practice’s membership plans for a monthly fee. These plans could give you a 15% discount on dental implant work.
• CareCredit Financing: Our office works with CareCredit, a reputable 3^rd party financier. They’d let you pay for dental implants in smaller monthly installments.

In the end, we want to give you implants that fit your smile and your budget. Please visit us to learn how to finance them!