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Dental Implants – Oshkosh, WI

Make Your Next
Tooth Replacement Modern

 

Dentistry has only gotten more and more advanced over the years, and dental implants are just one of the reasons why. While tooth replacement can be done in multiple unique ways, dental implants take traditional treatment a step further by replacing the root and the crown, fully rejuvenating your smile and long-term oral health simultaneously. Partnered with some of Oshkosh’s top implant specialists, Dr. Heil and his team are ready to make chewing food, at-home care, and smiling easy once again, so give them a call to get started with dental implants in Oshkosh, WI!

Why Choose Oshkosh Complete Dentistry for Dental Implants?

  • Partnered with Local Specialists
  • Calming Sedation to Keep You at Ease
  • High-Quality, Natural-Looking Restorations

What is a Dental Implant?

3 D animated dental implant supported replacement tooth

A dental implant is a unique restorative tooth replacement made up of three main components. This includes the titanium implant itself, the restoration (whether it’s a crown, bridge or denture), and the abutment that attaches these two components together. They can be used to replace single teeth or all the teeth in a given arch. While they do require oral surgery to place, they offer a level of functionality, esthetics, and longevity that is truly second-to-none.

How Dental Implants Work

Animated parts of a dental implant supported replacement tooth

Dental implants must occur in phases because the implant requires time to heal effectively. Following your consultation and examination at our dental office, Dr. Heil partners with a local specialist to have the placement and restoration phase of treatment completed. In the first stage of treatment, the implant is placed and given time to heal. In the second phase, the abutment is then placed, given additional time to heal, and the crown is placed on top.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Smiling woman eating an apple after dental implant tooth replacement

Because dental implants replace the root of teeth, you can expect many of your tooth’s previous functions to come back. For example, your biting strength increases, making it easier to enjoy your favorite foods. With a success rate as high as 98 percent when placed by a trained professional, you can expect your implant to last up to 30 years or longer when you practice routine oral care. Furthermore, blood flow is reestablished when you replace a missing tooth in this way, which means your cheeks will not hollow out and retain their elasticity.

Additionally, dental implants are strong enough to hold restorations entirely on their own. This means you won’t have to sacrifice existing tooth enamel just to fill the gap in your smile. It’s truly the best long-term solution for tooth loss, even if it takes longer to complete treatment.

Are Dental Implants Right for You?

Smile with dental implant post visible

Upon completion of your implant consultation, you can not only determine if dental implants are right for you, but confirm how many teeth you’d prefer to replace with implants.

Animated dental implant supported dental crown placement

Missing Single Tooth

Replacing single teeth starts by placing a single implant inside of the jaw, then giving it time to heal and integrate with your existing bone and soft tissue. After the implant has safely healed, a permanent restoration, which is made from natural-looking porcelain, is placed on top.

Animated dental implant supported fixed bridge placement

Missing Multiple Teeth

Replacing a series of teeth, including multiple consecutive teeth or teeth on opposite sides of the mouth, is done with either a bridge or partial denture held in place with dental implants. In this case, it’s actually easier to replace multiple teeth at a time, making it a cost-effective solution.

Animated dental implant supported denture placement

Missing All Teeth

Just because you are missing all the teeth in your top or bottom arch doesn’t mean you need to settle for a traditional denture. Instead, you can have a series of dental implants placed throughout your mouth, generally four to six. A custom denture designed to attach to dental implants is then placed on top, improving the stability and longevity of your prosthetic.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

smiling couple who have dental implants in Oshkosh

We realize that a major concern for patients about dental implants is the amount they’ll have to pay. Unfortunately, there’s not an easy way to estimate a price in general for dental implants because there are so many factors that go into calculating the cost. We really won’t know how much dental implants will cost you until we’ve had a chance to examine your mouth and fully understand your needs in a consultation. At that point, we can provide a treatment plan with a more precise estimate.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

diagram of a single dental implant in Oshkosh

When it comes to costs, it largely depends on the number of implants you are getting and whether or not you need preparatory treatments beforehand. If you require procedures like gum disease therapy, bone grafting, tooth extraction, or more, they can add to the overall cost you pay. But these procedures are sometimes essential for the implants to be successful and improve your oral health in general, making them well worth the time and funds.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

man looking at a mirror after working with an implant dentist in Oshkosh

Just as there are various brands and models of cars, dental implants may differ in price and quality based on the manufacturer. During your consultation, when we assess your needs, we can more accurately determine which implants would best suit your smile, allowing us to provide a clearer idea of the price of treatment. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that the price will depend on what kind of restoration you receive. Obviously, implant dentures will cost more than a simple crown. The more teeth you are replacing with your restoration, the higher the price is likely to be.

How Dental Implants Eventually Pay for Themselves

diagram of implant dentures in Oshkosh

Dental implants are considered to be a long-term investment that lasts for many decades, which is not something that can be said for normal dentures or bridges. On top of their longevity, functionality, and lifelike esthetics, dental implants remain largely cost-effective over time, even if they are generally worth more upfront than other options. In other words, you pay for the cost of dental implants upfront and avoid having to pay for replacements down the road.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

money with dental tools

Most dental insurance plans do not cover much of the cost of dental implants treatment. This unfortunately means that you’ll be responsible for paying most of the total out-of-pocket. However, some plans may provide partial coverage for preliminary work, like gum disease therapy, and for the restoration that is attached to the dental implants. When you see us for your consultation, we can review your policy and find as many ways as possible to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

woman smiling and looking to the side with dental implants in Oshkosh

Although insurance may or may not be helpful, chances are that you’ll need to pay most of the cost of treatment upfront. However, with financing through CareCredit, you don’t have to take on the entire total right away. You can pay for your dental implants at a reasonable monthly payment with little or even no interest. When you decide to move forward with implants, we can guide you through the application process with CareCredit and try to answer your questions.

Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants

woman smiling after getting dental implants in Oshkosh

Dental implants are capable of keeping your smile complete, strong, and healthy for a lifetime. However, that’s only the case if you take proper care of them and protect them against damage and infection along the way. At Oshkosh Complete Dentistry, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know to keep your implants firmly rooted in place for years to come. If you want to learn more about how to maintain your newly rebuilt smile, continue reading or call our office to speak directly with a member of our team!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

putting toothpaste on a toothbrush

Even though dental implants can’t get cavities, that doesn’t mean you can slack off on your oral hygiene. You must have a solid at-home dental care routine to keep harmful bacteria from attacking your gums. By taking proper care of your new smile, you can ward off oral health issues and prevent dental implant failure. All you need to do is brush at least twice a day, floss daily, and rinse with an ADA-approved mouthwash to keep your mouth in its very best shape.

Eat a Healthy Diet

eating a healthy meal

Once you’re all healed up, you’ll be able to eat almost any food you want! However, be sure to avoid overindulging in hard, sticky, sugary, and highly processed foods as they can be detrimental to your implants. Instead, you should stick to a healthy diet full of nutrient-rich foods (i.e., fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, dairy products). What’s more, eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin C will keep your jawbone strong and gum tissue healthy.

Break Bad Habits

breaking cigarette in half

Do you smoke, bite your fingernails, chew on pens or pencils, use your teeth as tools, or munch on ice? While these habits may seem harmless, they can destroy your natural enamel and dental implants. Luckily, you can keep your smile safe by kicking these habits to the curb. It’s a good idea to keep some sugar-free gum in your pocket for times when you feel tempted to chew on a non-food item. If you need help quitting smoking, ask a medical or dental professional for assistance – they’ll be able to provide you with the resources, support, and guidance needed to make the feat as easy as possible.

Protect Your Dental Implants

closeup of mouthguard

If you regularly play sports or grind your teeth at night, you should ask Dr. Heil about a custom-made oral device. An athletic mouthguard can protect against oral injuries, while a nightguard can prevent serious damage to your enamel and implants. Plus, they can help you avoid chronic jaw pain that can potentially lead to temporomandibular joint disorder.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

dental checkup

Aside from practicing good oral hygiene, you’ll need to visit Dr. Heil every six months for a checkup and cleaning to keep your smile in optimal condition. These preventive visits allow him to monitor your implants and spot developing problems. By catching any issues early on, you can avoid needing more costly and extensive dental work down the line.

Dental Implant FAQs

Lightbulbs around notepad with words frequently asked questions

Want to know more about dental implants before making any decisions? We can help! Below are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from patients about implant treatment. Choosing how to replace missing teeth is an important decision that involves many factors. To learn more about dental implants and whether they are right for you, schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Heil, an experienced implant dentist in Oshkosh.

How Successful Are Dental Implants?

When placed by a skilled professional, dental implants can have a success rate of over 95%. Dr. Heil partners with a trusted local specialist for the placement phase of implant treatment. Once your dental implants are in place, you will need to follow the aftercare guidelines we provide you. Practicing excellent oral hygiene at home, eating a healthy diet, and attending regular checkups will help ensure your implants heal properly and stay in a great shape. The success of dental implants can also vary based on the location of the implant in the mouth. In general, molars receive more strain from chewing than front teeth, so they may be slightly more likely to fail.

Do Dental Implants Make You Look Younger?

Yes! Dental implants in Oshkosh can help you restore or maintain a more vibrant, youthful appearance. They accomplish this by stimulating your jawbone, just like natural tooth roots do. When teeth go missing, the jawbone loses that stimulation and begins to deteriorate. Because the jawbone can no longer support the facial structures, you may eventually appear more wrinkled, with a sunken-in face and fine lines around your mouth. Dental implants are the only type of replacement teeth that can stimulate the jawbone and prevent the bone deterioration that makes you look older.

Am I the Right Age for Dental Implants?

Most dental professionals will not place dental implants in patients younger than 18. This is because people’s jaws typically are not fully developed until young adulthood. In general, men’s jaws take longer to develop than women’s jaws do. If dental implants are placed before the jaw is finished growing, it could interfere with further bone development and potentially result in complications.

For older patients, there is no upper age limit for dental implants. However, senior citizens may be more likely to have other health issues that complicate dental implant treatment. Dr. Heil can confirm whether you are a good candidate for implants after examining your mouth during an initial consultation.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

It’s possible to get dental implants if you are a smoker, but you should know that you will have a higher risk of implant failure. Smoking tobacco causes dry mouth, slows down healing, and can interfere with implants’ ability to integrate with the jawbone. If an implant does not heal properly, it will likely be unable to support a crown or other restoration. Smoking can also cause dry socket, a painful condition that occurs when the protective blood clot is dislodged from the implant site after oral surgery. If you are planning on replacing your missing teeth with dental implants in Oshkosh, now is the perfect time to kick the habit!