Dental Implants – Rexburg, ID

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

During the first visit, Dr. Crofoot will closely examine your mouth and confirm the current condition of your oral health. In order to receive dental implants, you’ll need to have good oral health overall, meaning no tooth decay or gum disease. You’ll also need to have sufficient bone tissue so the implant can effectively integrate. Healthy gum and bone tissue is crucial to the long-term success of your dental implant, whether you need to replace single or multiple teeth. We’ll also take the time to learn your specific needs and inform you of every step of the treatment process.

Dental Implant Surgery

Once we’ve planned your implant surgery, you’ll have the first stage of the treatment performed. This is the surgical portion, which involves making a small incision inside of your gum tissue and placing a dental implant into the jaw. Before beginning, we’ll make sure to numb your mouth to prevent any potential discomfort during the procedure. After closing the gum tissue, it will be given time to heal over the next four to six months. This healing period can vary depending on the number of implants you need to have placed.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

In most cases, dental implants use titanium to replace the roots of teeth. Titanium is biocompatible with gum and bone tissue, which is exactly how it integrates so well with your oral structures. The process of the implant bonding with bone tissue, known as osseointegration, is designed to keep the tooth healthy and stable for many decades. After the healing process has completed, an abutment is placed on top, which acts as a connector for the eventual restoration. This keeps the restoration even and ensures that it looks natural after it’s placed.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

After the abutment is placed, the gum tissue needs additional time to heal around the implant. Once this process is complete, we can cast an impression of your implant and use it to create a permanent restoration. All restorations used to cover dental implants are made from porcelain, which offers the most esthetically pleasing appearance. Furthermore, porcelain is also incredibly durable and stain-resistant, making it ideal for eating the foods you want without worry. With proper care, your dental implant(s) should last 25 years or longer. Our dentists will go over the best steps to keep your dental implants healthy immediately following your treatment.

Speak and Smile Confidently

Dental implants are carefully crafted from all-ceramic material to match your natural teeth. They are designed to meet the exact size, shape, and color you need to blend in with your smile. Not to mention, your restorations are secured to your jawbone, so you’ll never need to worry about your new teeth slipping in the middle of a sentence. You’ll enjoy a stable and realistic options, so you can smile and speak confidently.

Enjoy Your Favorite Foods

Your jawbone fuses to your dental implants to create a secure foundation for your new smile. You’ll never need to worry about any slipping or irritation again, so you can enjoy your favorite foods. In fact, you can restore as much as 70% of your natural biting force to maintain a balanced diet. This helps prevent nutritional deficiencies that can be attributed to tooth loss.

Preserve Your Jawbone

Dental implants are the only treatment to stop bone loss in your jaw caused by missing teeth. Each titanium implant post serves as a tooth root, stimulating your jawbone. Your jaw fuses to the implant posts through a process called osseointegration. This not only allows your dental implants to potentially stay in place forever, but it also keeps your jawbone strong and healthy.

Improve Your Oral Health

When you lose even a single tooth, your adjacent teeth won’t have the support they need to stay in place because of bone loss. As your teeth drift out of alignment, you develop an increased risk of several issues, like cavities, gum disease, and additional tooth loss. Since dental implants preserve your jawbone, they also stop dental drift to prevent your natural teeth from moving out of position. This prevents common issues associated with tooth loss to protect any remaining teeth from complications.

Enjoy a Long-Term, Affordable Solution

It’s no secret that dental implants are more expensive upfront; however, they are more affordable long-term because they can last for a lifetime with the right aftercare. They have over a 95% success rate to last for decades with the right oral hygiene habits and care from your dentist in Rexburg. As a result, you’ll never need to worry about paying to have them replaced. Not to mention, they stop dental drift to prevent oral health issues, like tooth decay and gum disease. This lowers your overall oral health expenses to save you even more money down the road.

If you’re ready to discover the benefits of dental implants for yourself, take your first step toward a complete smile. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.

Missing One Tooth

Single implants are restored using individual titanium posts and porcelain crowns. Titanium naturally bonds with bone and gum tissue, while porcelain most effectively blends in with neighboring teeth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Dental bridges can be customized to fit with dental implants. Two implants sit on either side of the restoration, while a crown sits in between each implant-supported crown. This option is ideal for replacing two or more teeth at a time.

Missing All Teeth

If you want a partial or full denture that carries a more stable foundation, choosing implant-supported alternatives can prove to be incredibly effective. Our dental office can also perform All-On-4 implant dentures, effectively giving you brand-new teeth the same day as your placement. Mini implants may also be ideal if you do not have sufficient bone volume for traditional implants.

Learn More About Implant Dentures

Types of Dental Implants

There are many factors that influence the amount you can expect to pay for your new smile, such as the number of teeth you are replacing and the posts that are used. Besides traditional implant posts, there are also mini dental implants, which can be more affordable for patients who have decreased bone density.

The number of implant posts that you need varies depending on the type of restoration you need. A single tooth replacement only requires one post; whereas an implant-supported bridge will need a post at either end. When replacing an entire arch, the number of posts needed to secure a denture average from four to eight.

What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?

The process to complete your smile is performed in different stages, each of which has separate costs. This can make it easier to afford your new smile because you will not need to pay for the entire treatment upfront.

Your dentist in Rexburg provides you with a custom estimate during your initial consultation and discusses the fees associated with each step of your treatment. On average, you can expect to pay for:

• Initial consultation, including digital X-rays and a CT scan.
• Additional procedures, like tooth extractions or bone grafting.
• Implant placement surgery, which includes sedation or anesthesia.
• Abutments and restorations.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

Dental implants cost more upfront than traditional treatments, but they are more affordable long-term because they can last forever. You should never need to have them replaced if you maintain your oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly. This makes them more cost-effective down the road.

Dental implants can also help lower your overall oral health costs. The implant posts stimulate your jawbone to protect any remaining natural teeth from dental drift. This reduces your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and additional tooth loss to prevent the need for a costly treatment in the future.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Generally, dental insurance companies will not pay for the entire treatment, but they may cover certain aspects of it depending on your specific policy. We work on your behalf with your insurance company to reduce the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket. We also accept a variety of payment options, including third-party financing with CareCredit. We will help you find the solution you need to keep your new smile affordable.

If you are ready to invest in a beautiful, functional smile, it is time to schedule your consultation for dental implants. Contact our office today for an appointment.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Dental implants cannot get cavities. However, that doesn’t mean you can slack off on your oral hygiene. It’s still incredibly important to take proper care of your teeth and gums. Brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing every day with an ADA-approved mouthwash are a few excellent practices that can ward off issues like decay and infection. With a solid at-home dental hygiene regimen, you can keep your smile in tip-top shape for life!

Eat a Healthy Diet

Believe it or not, your diet has a significant impact on your oral health. Even though you can eat almost anything you want with dental implants, you should still avoid overindulging in sugary, starchy, or acidic foods. Otherwise, you can cause serious issues for your implants. It’s best to eat nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, dairy products, and whole grains. By consuming foods particularly high in calcium and vitamin C, you can keep your jawbone strong and gum tissues healthy.

Break Bad Habits

Do you smoke? Bite your fingernails? Chew on pens or pencils when you’re stressed? Munch on leftover ice after a cool drink? While these habits may seem harmless, they can wreak havoc on your new smile. Continuing to practice them will put you back in the same place you once started – with missing teeth. Therefore, you should kick these habits to the curb right away. If you need help quitting, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance. Our team will gladly provide you with the support, resources, and guidance you need to make the feat as easy as can be.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Although dental implants are strong, they’re not indestructible. If you regularly play sports, you should ask Dr. Crofoot about a custom-made athletic mouthguard. It’ll protect your teeth from any impact should you sustain a blow to the face. For those who grind their teeth at night, a nightguard is an effective solution to consider. The oral device can keep the implants safe from extra wear and tear. 

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Investing in routine dental checkups and cleanings is one of the best ways to keep your smile in optimal condition. Dr. Crofoot will perform an oral examination and monitor your prosthetics to ensure no problems are developing. If any issues are spotted, early intervention can help you avoid more costly and invasive dental work down the line.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

When you first get home after receiving your dental implants, your main focus should be on protecting the blood clot that forms after surgery. The blood clot needs to stay in place to protect the surgical site; if it’s disturbed, it could lead to a painful condition called dry socket. Avoid anything that could dislodge the clot, such as spitting, drinking through a straw, smoking, or touching the area with your fingers or tongue.

Common Side Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement

You may notice intermittent bleeding, swelling, and general discomfort in your mouth after implant placement, especially during the first few days. All of these side effects are completely normal and should be mild; if they get worse over time, call us immediately. In the meantime, you can manage your post-op symptoms by:

• Apply light pressure to the bleeding area with a piece of gauze.
• Holding a cold pack or warm compress over any swollen areas.
• Taking pain medication to reduce your discomfort.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

You need to be gentle on your mouth for at least a few days after implant surgery. A large part of that is eating only soft or liquid foods. Some good choices are mashed potatoes, yogurt, ice cream, pudding, scrambled eggs, and pasta. You can also enjoy some soup as long as it’s not too hot. You can return to a normal diet as soon as you feel comfortable doing so, although you should still try to stay away from crunchy or tough foods as much as possible.

Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene

You can brush your teeth normally the day after surgery as long as you’re extremely careful when cleaning near the surgical sites. It’s a good idea to rinse with salt water around two to three times every day; this helps clean your mouth of potentially harmful bacteria and food particles. You can use mouth rinse as well, but avoid any mouthwashes that contain high levels of alcohol; they might interfere with the healing process.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Compared to what you’ll experience after implant surgery, the recovery process after getting new teeth is much easier. You may notice some temporary sensitivity in your gums, but it won’t be anything you can’t control with pain medication. There won’t be any bleeding or swelling at this stage, and your new teeth will be ready to chew all kinds of foods on the same day.

I smoke. Can I still get dental implants?

Yes, but there are some risks involved. For a few months after you get dental implants placed, your jawbone actually grows around the implant posts in a process called osseointegration. Using tobacco slows down all of the oral healing processes, including osseointegration. Because of this, if you continue to smoke after getting your implant, you have a higher risk of implant failure. If you have been looking for a reason to quit smoking or chewing tobacco, then getting dental implants would definitely be it.

Can I get dental implants if I have diabetes?

Yes, but like with smoking, there is a higher risk of implant failure, especially if your diabetes is poorly managed. Failure to control your blood sugar levels can hinder your body’s ability to heal and fight off infections, both of which are crucial to the success of your dental implants. If you’re diabetic and considering getting implants, talk to your doctor first about how to better manage your blood sugar.

Does getting dental implants hurt?

Most patients report experiencing very minimal discomfort during the dental implant procedure, thanks to a combination of local anesthetic and possible sedation. In fact, many patients claim that implant placement hurts significantly less than having a tooth extracted. You may experience some soreness for a few days afterwards, as with any surgical procedure. However, your dentist should prescribe some pain relievers to help alleviate your discomfort. Take them as directed on the bottle.

Why do I need a bone graft before getting dental implants?

When it comes to the success of dental implants, the amount of jawbone mass that you have is crucial. If you don’t have enough jawbone mass to support an implant, you will probably experience implant failure. The longer you have been suffering through tooth loss, the more your jawbone will have deteriorated due to lack of stimulation from the tooth roots. This is why a bone graft is necessary. Through this procedure, we will graft artificial bone tissue onto your jawbone and allow it to heal. Within a few months, your jawbone should be strong enough to support dental implants.

Can I go right back to work after getting dental implants?

It depends on how complex your surgery is. For example, if you are only getting one implant placed, and are receiving very little sedation, you might be able to resume your day afterwards. However, if your procedure is more complicated, we might recommend getting two to three days of rest before going back to work or school.