Dental Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are, I’d love to think of them as artificial roots. We have a tooth, and it's great, but sometimes, for various reasons, we, the dentists, always try, but we can't save the tooth. So, a dental implant is an artificial root that's as close as we can get to replace our natural teeth.

What conditions would cause a dentist to recommend a dental implant?

There are several conditions when dentists might recommend a dental implant. Sometimes the tooth has been decayed, broken down, or diseased so much that, unfortunately, despite our efforts, we just cannot save it. That's always our first choice, but sometimes that cannot be done. Sometimes the support system of the tooth, which is the gum and bone, is diseased, and once the support system is gone, unfortunately, the tooth that might be in good condition cannot be saved either. That's the reason why people lose their teeth, and dental implants could be the answer to replace the natural teeth.

What are some of the advantages of dental implants?

There are multiple advantages of dental implants. Number one, it's amazing technology, and nowadays, if before people had no choice but to get false teeth such as dentures, now we can help them feel good, look good, eat well, smile well, and do all the things that they can do with their natural teeth using dental implants.

What would another advantage of a dental implant be?

Some other advantages of dental implants are that they also help us save the teeth on either side of the missing space. Sometimes you have two teeth and there's a missing tooth, and the best way to replace it is with another tooth-like replacement. The best thing we can do is use dental implants, which also helps us keep the adjacent teeth from shifting around and being lost.

What is the process I'd go through to decide if I get dental implants, such as an exam, history, or plan? What would the steps be?

There are several steps to see if my patients are qualified for dental implants. Usually, I go through three things. Number one, we’ve got to have a healthy patient because it's hard to place an artificial anything, just like an artificial knee. Number two, we’ve got to make sure the patient has enough bone because that's what supports the implants. And the third thing is really the budget. I hate to bring it up, but dental implants can be expensive, but they're a great replacement for missing teeth.

What are the steps in placing a dental implant?

When I or my colleagues place dental implants, there are multiple steps. The first step is to determine whether or not there is enough room to place the implant. Just like any foundation, you can't just build a house on the sand, so you’ve got to make sure there's enough support such as bone and the gums. First, we determine that, and we have multiple things that help us gauge that. We do a full exam and an intraoral scan. I also have a CT scan that shows me in great detail the amount of bone that we have, so that's very important. Planning is the number one thing. Once we determine that we have a good foundation, the placement of the implants is actually the easy part because it's all about the planning. All I’ve got to do, and sometimes we don't even have to do any cutting, is create the space, make literally an opening in the bone, and then we'll just drop the implant in. And then we wait because you’ve got to wait for the implant to integrate, to become whole with the bone. Oh, that's okay, but there's one more step. Great, now we have a foundation. Great, we have a foundation. How about the house? So after the foundation is solid, then we usually use a scanning ability to scan and then we basically order, take measurements, and then we get the tooth or teeth in your mouth because you really, you know, patients don't truly appreciate the foundation. The nerds like me do because that's what we do, but it's about getting your ability to eat, getting your ability to smile, getting your ability to be comfortable with yourself. That's what really matters to you, my patients.

When would bone grafting be required?

Oftentimes when the foundation, such as the bone, is not enough to place the implant, we need to reinforce it. You know, listen, you take out the tree, there's going to be a sinkhole, and if we don't fill this in, that's what we call a bone graft, then the ground is going to recess, and it's going to be hard to replant the tree. So we're going to do a bone graft to get us the right foundation, and then it's easy just to drop in an implant.

When choosing artificial teeth, what options will I have and what are the pros and cons of them, such as removable and fixed?

Many times patients ask me this question. If I have a patient who doesn't have any teeth, there are multiple options for how we're going to replace them. Sometimes we are able to replace their teeth so they are staying in the mouth, screwed in or cemented in, and that's definitely what I would strive for. But sometimes we are only able to do dentures. There are multiple reasons why we cannot do one versus the other. The main thing is how long the patient has been missing their teeth. The longer they are missing the teeth, the less bone support we have. Just like with our muscles, listen, I work out, so guess what, my muscles are nice and strong, and when I stop, they're going to start dwindling away. Okay, so that's what happens to the bone once we don't work out. I'm sorry, there's no teeth in there. We lose the bone, and the only option we might have is to have an implant-supported denture. For some patients, that might be the best solution because it's easier to maintain, easier to clean. Some people with manual dexterities, there could be one option better than the other, and for that, you really need to come in and let me tell you what the best option would be for you.

How long does it typically take to recover from dental implant placement?

The recovery after the placement of the implant varies. Sometimes there could be no downtime at all. If we have, if my patient has just one single missing tooth, oftentimes I call them, and they're right back to their normal activities within a day or two. And sometimes when the procedure is a lot more extensive, it might take a few days to a week. But no worries, I have a great protocol where we can manage patient comfort very easily.

How long do dental implants last?

I get asked this question of how long the dental implants last very, very often. They do last a long time, but like anything else, if you want it to last, take care of it.

Can dental implants get cavities?

Dental implants fortunately cannot get cavities because, again, titanium does not decay like natural teeth.

What are the costs and financing options involved with dental implants?

Simply Smiles offers different options when it comes to making this treatment more affordable. We have financing options, and we have multiple things that can be done to make it easier for our patients. Please give us a call, come in, get a consultation, and find out if dental implants are right for you. We can also tell you more in person about the financing options we have.

Do most insurances cover the cost of dental implants?

I have a lot of patients who have dental insurance, and I always get the question if dental insurance helps with the cost of the implants. The answer is, I'll be honest with you, I don't know. There are as many dental plans as there are people, and it's all about the fine print. But guess what, you deserve the best despite what insurance does or does not cover. I am not going to focus on that, I'm going to focus on your health and what you need.

DENTAL IMPLANTS ARE THE BEST OPTION WHEN YOU’VE LOST A TOOTH

Who wants to lose their teeth? Nobody! At least that’s what we hope! But did you know that losing one tooth can cause additional tooth and bone loss? The teeth on either side of the missing one will shift to fill in the space, and the tooth above it might start coming out more than it should to try and make contact with an opposing surface. None of this is good news. In Sarasota, Florida, at least now there’s a way that you can keep your mouth from going down this slippery slope when you’ve lost a tooth: dental implants!

What Does a Dental Implant Involve?

The implant body

To have an implant crown, you’ve got to have something hold it in your jaw. It helps prevent the catastrophic bone loss that occurs when a tooth is lost and not replaced: the implant body. The screw that the abutment (the appliance that supports the final tooth-replacing crown) will sit on top of. Don’t let the hardware store talk fool you–dental implants have come a long way since they were first introduced. They are safer and longer-lasting than ever.

Implant consultations are always complimentary, and Dr. Gekht does some implant cases in-office, which saves you time and money! If your case requires the care and expertise of a specialist, especially a periodontist, we’ll refer you to an office we know and trust. Once you’ve had the implant body placed, we’ll have to wait a few months before moving forward. We want to make sure that the implant has integrated with your bone and that you’re all healed up. Once you’ve been cleared for uncovering and final impressions, we’ll bring you into the office to take impressions for the implant crown.

Bone grafts

Implants require several millimeters of healthy and robust bone for support. That is where the bone graft comes in. The doctor will fill the space left behind by your extracted tooth with a material absorbed by your jaw, which encourages your bone to grow into that space and keeps other tissues from growing into it. 

You see, if that space stays empty, soft tissue will grow into it, aggressively expanding and reducing your bone density in that area. Allowing the graft to integrate with your bone and heal takes several months. During this time, you’ll visit the practice every once in a while so the doctor can make sure everything is going well. A bone graft is a great way to increase the chances that your implant will succeed! At Simply Smiles, Dr. Gekht has a wealth of experience placing bone grafts and can perform this service at our practice.

Implant-supported crowns

Now we get to the good part! The crown is the part of the implant that looks like and functionally mimics the visible portion of your missing tooth. We’ll match the shade of your crown to your natural teeth, so it fits right in. And all those months you spend waiting for everything to heal gives you a golden opportunity to get the rest of your teeth to a shade that you like even more. Now there isn’t a crown on earth that’ll last forever, but modern crowns will last a long time. And if you need to get a crown replaced, why not think of it as something to celebrate? You’re outliving your dental work! That means you’re doing something right.

Implant-supported partials and dentures

Just look at those pictures. These aren’t your grandma’s dentures! You might be shocked by how remarkable an implant-supported denture is. You can even floss! The process is very similar to getting an implant crown. Instead of placing one implant and abutment, you’ll have to have a few placed. The number will depend on how many teeth we’re replacing. Once we’ve finished the waiting game with your bone graft and the integration of the implant body, the abutments are placed, we fit the denture, and boom, you’ve got something that looks great and doesn’t have to be dropped into the water every night for the rest of your life!

You can reach the Simply Smiles team at (941) 877-5262 or visit us at 2750 Stickney Point Rd Suite 107, Sarasota, FL 34231.

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