Dental Implants — Portland, OR

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

First, it’s important that you come see us for a consultation. During this visit, we’ll discuss your goals for your smile, review your medical history, and take a closer look at your mouth to determine if dental implants are a good choice for you. Some patients will need to undergo preliminary treatments like bone grafting or gum disease therapy to become good candidates for dental implants. Then, we’ll plan out the rest of your treatment and refer you to a trusted local specialist.

Dental Implant Surgery

Placing dental implants requires a minor surgical procedure. First, your implant dentist in Portland will numb your mouth and ensure you’re comfortable. Then, they’ll make an incision in your gums to reach your jawbone. The implant is then inserted into precisely the right location and the gums are closed around it. A protective cap will be placed over the dental implant to protect it and maintain the natural shape of your gums, and then you’ll be sent home to heal.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

Over the next several months, your dental implants will undergo osseointegration. Since dental implants are made of biocompatible titanium, they’ll gradually begin to fuse with the jawbone and become part of it. This is what will give your new teeth their strong, stable, and lifelike foundation. Osseointegration will take between three and six months. Then, a small connector piece will be attached to the top of your dental implant. As you heal from this step over the coming weeks, your brand-new restoration will be fabricated.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

You’ll return to our office once again for the last step of your dental implant treatment. During this appointment, we’ll attach your custom-made crown, bridge, partial, or denture to your dental implant(s) via the abutments placed during the previous appointment. Once they’ve been secured in place, we’ll test your bite to ensure its even and comfortable. Then, we’ll answer any remaining questions you may have about your new smile, and you’ll be all set to go out and show off your complete set of pearly whites!

Day-to-Day Benefits

• More youthful appearance: Dental implants keep the jawbone and surrounding tissues stimulated and strong, which helps you retain a younger look overall.
• Easy maintenance: With dental implants, you don’t have to take them out and soak them in cleansing solutions. Patients just have to brush and floss them like real teeth and get regular checkups to keep them looking like new.
• Complete confidence: Thanks to their firm foundation in your jawbone, you’ll never have to worry about your dental implants slipping or popping out of place at embarrassing times. You’ll be able to smile, eat, and laugh with complete confidence in your new teeth.
• Eat all your favorite foods: Dental implants can restore 80% or more of your natural biting force. That means that you’ll be able to eat foods like apples, steak, nuts, and anything else on your plate comfortably and confidently!

Health Benefits

• No dependence on surrounding teeth: Partial dentures and bridges rely on the healthy teeth around the gap to stabilize them, which can put those teeth at risk for decay, damage, or even extraction down the road. Implants are completely self-supporting, however, so this isn’t a problem.
• Prevent jawbone deterioration and shrinkage: As the only tooth replacement to restore the roots of missing teeth, dental implants are they only way to stop the jawbone deterioration that naturally occurs after tooth loss. By stimulating the bone tissue, they’ll keep your jaw strong and prevent the sunken, aged facial appearance that so often accompanies other forms of tooth replacement.

Long-Term Benefits

• High success rate: On average, 10 years after they have been placed, 95% of dental implants are still successful.
• Long-lasting results: Dentures and bridges need to be replaced every few years, but dental implants can last 30 years to a lifetime!
• Save thousands of dollars: Not only is the long lifespan of dental implants convenient, but it can save you a significant amount of money. Since you won’t be paying for new dentures or bridges every few years, you can potentially save thousands of dollars in replacements alone!

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

To be considered a good candidate for dental implants, you’ll need:

• Good overall health
• Great oral health
• Adequate jawbone density

If you don’t initially have all these factors, don’t panic! We can often help our patients overcome hurdles that stand between them and starting dental implant treatment. We may recommend preliminary treatments like gum disease therapy or a bone graft to ensure that your dental implants have the highest chances for success. From there, we’ll design your dental implant treatment around how many teeth you’re missing:

Missing 1 Tooth

In the case of a single lost tooth, a dental implant post is placed in the same position in the jawbone as the original root. Then, the implant is topped with a custom dental crown for a completely natural look. This method for replacing a single missing tooth is much more dependable than a traditional dental bridge, which requires altering the healthy teeth on either side and essentially leaving them weaker than before. Plus, as the dental implant stimulates the jawbone and keeps it strong around the roots of the other teeth, it will help to prevent future tooth loss.

Missing Multiple Teeth

If you’re missing several teeth throughout your mouth, a few dental implants may be able to provide support for a partial denture or dental bridge. Instead of anchoring to the surrounding teeth, these restorations are held using strategically placed dental implants. This gives them more stability and keeps your remaining healthy teeth strong.

Missing All Teeth

Even if you’ve suffered total tooth loss, dental implants may be able to help! With four to six implants, you can have a solid foundation for a full denture. This means no more slipping or popping out of place, no more gum irritation, and no more food restrictions! The dental implants will securely anchor your denture in place so you can enjoy having a complete and lifelike smile once again!

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

When calculating your personalized estimate during your consultation, we’ll take several very important factors into account. First, we’ll need to determine if you need any preliminary treatments. If you need gum disease therapy or a bone graft before you can get dental implants, the cost of these procedures will naturally add to the final cost of your dental implants.

Another factor you’ll need to budget for is the cost of your dental implant surgery. This price will vary based on where in the mouth your implants are being placed, the experience of your implant dentist, and what type of dental sedation you use. Since this step is handled by one of our trusted local oral surgeons, you’ll need to have a consultation with them to understand exactly how much placing your dental implants will cost.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

The next part to consider when estimating the cost of your treatment will be the dental implant or implants themselves. This will depend on variables like:

• Number of dental implants : Naturally, the more implants you need, the more expensive your treatment will be.
• Type of restoration : Dental implants can be topped with crowns, bridges, partials, or full dentures, each of which come at their own price points.
• Size or material : Dental implants can come in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and materials depending on your specific needs, which will influence their final cost.
• Brand of dental implant : We only use dental implants from reputable and trusted brands that offer high-quality dental implants.

How Dental Implants Pay for Themselves

While dental implants are initially more expensive than other tooth replacement options, they are likely to pay for themselves over time. In fact, many patients will end up saving a tremendous amount of money in the long run by choosing dental implants over dental bridges and dentures! These traditional restorations require special care and need to be replaced every five to seven years. Meanwhile, not only do dental implants lower the overall cost of caring for your smile, but they have the potential to last a lifetime. This can save you thousands of dollars in replacements alone!

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

In most cases, dental insurance companies will not cover dental implants themselves. However, many parts of dental implant treatment will often receive some form of coverage. For instance, your dental insurance policy may cover a percentage of your final restoration, any preliminary treatments you need, and the sedation you need during placement. One of our knowledgeable team members would be happy to review the details of your coverage and ensure that your benefits are being maximized.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Do you not have dental insurance? Are you unsatisfied with your insurance coverage? We believe dental implants should still be a financially achievable goal for you. That’s why we’re proud to partner with CareCredit, a third-party financing company. With one of their various low- to no-interest plans, you can break up the cost of your dental implants into smaller, more manageable chunks that fit into your monthly budget. To learn more about CareCredit, feel free to reach us online or call our office .

Do I Need a Bone Graft to Get Dental Implants?

Not every patient needs a bone graft in order to be eligible for dental implants. That being said, it’s not uncommon to need this type of preliminary procedure. Since the jawbone naturally begins to deteriorate once a tooth goes missing, many patients who suffer from tooth loss don’t have adequate bone structure to support a dental implant. This is particularly true for patients who have extensive tooth loss or have been missing teeth for a long time. The only way to know for sure if you’ll need a bone graft beforehand is to come see us for a consultation, where we’ll use advanced technology to measure the density of your jawbone.

Am I Too Young or Old to Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are an excellent choice for practically any patient suffering from tooth loss. Typically, dental implants are not recommended for teenagers or children under the age of 18, as their jaws are still growing and developing up until that point. On the other side of the coin, there is no upper age limit for dental implants! As long as you are in good health, free of oral health issues, and have adequate jawbone density, you can get dental implants. While these prerequisites are harder to meet as you get older, we can likely help you get on track for your new smile with preliminary treatments if necessary.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

It is possible for patients who smoke to get dental implants, but studies suggest that dental implant failure is much higher in smokers. Tobacco products harm your health in a variety of ways, including leaving your mouth vulnerable to infection. Smoking can also interfere with osseointegration, keeping your dental implant from forming a solid foundation. If you smoke, you should stop at least two weeks before your dental implant placement, and continue to refrain for two to three months afterward. Of course, this is an excellent opportunity to kick this bad habit and make the most of your new smile!

Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

At first, hearing that dental implants require minor surgery to be placed may sound somewhat intimidating. However, we assure you that you have nothing to fear! We’ve partnered with trusted local oral surgeons in Portland to ensure that your dental implant placement goes as smoothly as possible. Your implant dentist will ensure that your mouth is completely numbed before your treatment, and they may recommend dental sedation for optimal comfort. Thanks to their advanced training and experience, getting your dental implants should not be a painful process.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Dental implants can’t develop cavities like your natural teeth, but you still need to practice great oral hygiene. The most common cause of dental implant failure is a condition called peri-implantitis, which is an infection in the gums around your dental implant. The easiest and most effective way to keep this serious oral health issue at bay is to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day and floss daily.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Since dental implants can help you regain 80% or more of your natural chewing power, you can eat all your favorite foods once again! Take advantage of this excellent benefit by enjoying a wide variety of healthy and nutritious foods. Eating lots of foods with calcium, lean protein, and vitamin C is a delicious way to keep your jawbone strong and your gums healthy.

Break Bad Habits

While a few good habits can prolong the life of your dental implant, a few bad habits can dramatically increase your risk of dental implant failure. If you want to maximize the long-term success of your new smile and make the most out of your investment, it’s time to break bad habits like:

• Smoking and chewing tobacco: Tobacco products lower your body’s natural healing ability. Not only does this leave your mouth at-risk for infection, but it could interfere with the osseointegration process and keep your implant from fusing with your jawbone.
• Chewing on hard objects: Chewing on hard items like ice, pen caps, or your fingernails can weaken your restoration as well as your natural teeth. Chew on sugar-free gum or a crunchy apple to avoid damage.
• Using your teeth as tools. Using your teeth to open containers, rip off price tags, crack open nuts, hold an extra bag of groceries, and as other types of tools puts your smile at risk of serious damage and can potentially loosen your dental implant.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Dental implants are strong, but they’re not indestructible. If you play sports, taking a blow to the mouth can easily damage your restoration or knock your implant loose. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, the excess pressure can loosen your implant and weaken the restoration. To lower your risk of serious complications, we can create a custom-made athletic mouthguard or nightguard for bruxism to keep your smile safe on the court or while you sleep.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Whether you’ve replaced one, several, or all your natural teeth with dental implants, it’s still important that you come see us every six months for routine checkups and cleanings. These simple visits let us monitor the well-being of your dental implant and the rest of your mouth, and gives us the best chance of spotting any oral health issues as early as possible. Plus, our thorough and gentle cleanings can go a long way in preventing problems from developing in the first place!