What are dental implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts that function like the root of the tooth. Implants can be used to replace missing teeth or to secure a loose denture.
What are the benefits of dental implants to secure a denture?
For patients who are missing all their teeth, Dr. Omeltschenko recommends implant-supported dentures over a removable denture for the following reasons:
Increased confidence – Patients who have lived with a traditional denture and decide to add implants to support their denture will often experience a boost in confidence. Many patients with traditional dentures report having difficulty speaking because they have to strain their facial muscles to hold in the dentures. Implant-supported dentures alleviate these problems, giving patients the confidence to speak clearly without fear that they are mumbling or slurring their words.
Increased functionality – Anyone dealing with a loose denture knows how difficult it is to chew food with a denture that won’t stay put. Many report they can no longer eat their favorite foods, like steak, or that eating is a chore and no longer enjoyable. An implant-supported denture can give these patients back the ability to eat all the crunchy, chewy, sticky foods they love by securing the denture and adding three times the biting force of a traditional denture.
Improved oral health – Implant-supported dentures will maintain the health of the gums and jaw bone versus a traditional denture that cause deterioration of the gums and bone. This is because traditional dentures sit right on the gums and are only supported by the gums, causing the dentures to wear down these soft tissues over time. On the other hand, implant-supported dentures are stabilized by implants, rather than the gums so no extra pressure is added to the gums. Also, implant-supported dentures protect against bone loss because the implants are placed into the bone, stimulating the bone so that it doesn’t deteriorate.
Improved appearance – A denture that fits well and is held tight to the gums with implants is more attractive than a loose denture that slips and slides and has to be held in by pastes. Implant-supported dentures are made to look like natural teeth, complete with many of the same translucent properties of natural teeth. An implant-supported denture also protects against the “collapsed bite” that many people with traditional dentures experience as their jaw bone wears away. Maintaining the jaw bone helps maintain a youthful appearance!
Who is a candidate for dental implants?
Most people are good candidates for dental implants. Specifically you should:
- Be in generally good health
- Be free of gum disease
- Have adequate bone in your jaw to place the implant into (Bone grafts and sinus lifts can be performed to deal with bone loss.)
There are a few conditions that MAY limit your ability to have a dental implant and/or limit the success of the implant integrating into your jaw bone. They are:
- Heavy smoking
- Uncontrolled diabetes or other chronic diseases
- Pregnancy
- A jawbone that is not fully developed (as in a child that is still growing)
- Severe grinding or clenching teeth
What are the steps of the securing an existing denture with implants?
After meeting with you to discuss your goals and completing an examination to determine treatment options, Dr. Omeltschenko will design a treatment approach tailored to your needs. While each patient is unique, typically the implant process takes several visits and anywhere from three to six months to complete.
Here’s what the process usually looks like:
First Appointment: Meet with Dr. Omeltschenko to have an examination and discuss your treatment options. This appointment will last approximately 1 hour.
Second Appointment: At this appointment, Dr. Omeltschenko will place the implant “screws” into your jaw bone. This appointment will last approximately 1 hour and will involve making small incisions where the implants will be placed, opening up the gum to expose the bone beneath, drilling a small into the bone and placing the implant posts into the holes. The gum will then be sutured closed. Dr. Omeltschenko will make sure that you are comfortable throughout the procedure by explaining all the steps to you and using local anesthetics to get you completely numb.
Third Appointment: Return in one week to check the healing of the implants. This appointment will last approximately 15 minutes and will involve a visual examination of the site and removal of the sutures.
Fourth Appointment: Return in three to six months (depending on how long it takes for the implant to grow and bind to your jaw bone) to have the abutments placed on the implants and the denture snapped onto the abutments. This appointment will last approximately 90 minutes.
What can I expect after my dental implant surgery?
Many patients report resuming normal activities as soon as their numbness has worn off. For your comfort and to facilitate healing, it is best you eat soft foods for up to a week after the screw is placed into the bone. Other common discomforts that are associated with the placement of the implant screw are:
- Discomfort around the implant area
- Swelling and/or bruising
- Minor bleeding
To see a complete list of how to care for your dental implant after placement, visit our Dental Implant Post Op Instructions page.
What are the risks of dental implant surgery?
The risks associated with dental implants are rare and almost always minor. However there are always possible risks involved with surgery, drugs, and anesthesia. The risks include:
- Pain, swelling and/or infection
- Numbness of the lip, tongue, chin, cheek or teeth
- Inflammation of a vein
- Injury to other teeth
- Bone fractures
- Sinus penetration
- Allergic reaction to drugs or medications used
What is the cost of securing a denture with dental implants at your Cincinnati dental office?
It is very hard to give an exact price for securing a denture with dental implants. There are numerous factors to consider when coming up with the price, such as:
- Does the patient need to secure an upper denture, a lower denture, or both?
- Does the patient already have a denture that can be retrofitted to snap onto implants or does the patient need a denture?
- Does the patient have all teeth removed or do some teeth still need to be extracted?
Most often we recommend about 4 implant screws and 4 abutments to secure one denture. This puts the starting price for securing a loose denture with implants at $9,600.00. This cost represents:
- 4 implant screws at $1700.00 each (Total $6,800)
- 4 implant abutments at $700.00 each (Total $2,800)
- For a total of $9,600.00
Again, this cost can vary depending on the items listed above and only represents the price of the implants, not the price of a denture, extractions or any other necessary procedures. To get a better idea of the costs associated with what your will need, schedule an appointment in our Cincinnati dental office today. During your visit, we will determine if you’re a good candidate for dental implants, how long it will take to complete treatment and work to develop a plan that fits into your budget.
Why should I choose the Cincinnati dental office of Dr. Omeltschenko for my dental implants?
Quite simply, because we make the process of getting a dental implant simple and convenient.
- We keep your costs down by completing the entire procedure in our Cincinnati office so you don’t have to go to more expensive specialists.
- We are conveniently located in Northwest Cincinnati, making us easily accessible to those living in Colerain, White Oak, Monfort Heights, Cheviot, College Hill, Finneytown, Northside, Wyoming and more.
- We offer numerous payment options and discounts on dental implants to our Dental Savings Plan members.
If you live in Cincinnati and are in need of securing your denture with dental implants you will be in good hands at Total Dentistry. Don’t wait any longer to start your treatment, call us today at (513) 245-2200!
