Here Are Facts About Dental Implants You May Not Know

We offer dental implants for patients throughout the Delaware area.  Losing a tooth can be a traumatic experience. Not only does the loss of a tooth cause a person to have to adjust the way they talk and chew, but losing a prominent tooth can directly influence a person's self-confidence by causing them to smile differently or not at all. Unfortunately, tooth loss due to an accident, decay, or other causes is very prominent in the United States.  This has led to a significant increase in the number of people turning to the dentist to replace lost teeth. A relatively simple procedure, implants can restore a smile and provide a strong, reliable replacement for a lost tooth.

Implants are by no means inexpensive. For many years, they were viewed, both by some dentists and insurance companies, to be a cosmetic fix. The argument was that one did not need any one particular tooth to chew or speak properly. However, there has been a significant change in thinking. Today, many insurance companies view dental implants as an effective way to fix dental challenges for the long term, thus avoiding having to pay for further solutions. In the same vein, we offer dental implants in order to help our patients to regain the full functionality of their teeth.

While insurance companies have softened their stance on dental implants, and many will actually pay for them directly, some companies still view them as cosmetic. If your insurance company cannot pay for implants, you can request them to give you an allowance to use toward the procedure. This can be the equivalent amount as a traditional denture or bridge and allows your dentist to give you a more permanent solution. There are also other nontraditional ways to pay for a dental implant, such as in-house financing or payment options.

It is important to remember that dental implants are a long term solution. As a result, it can take several visits to our office to get your implants installed. The first step is usually to ensure that your mouth is healthy, and there is a limited possibility of getting an infection during the process. Next, is a consultation where we will discuss implants with you and agree on the best timeline to get your work done. Following this, we take measurements, creating a customized mold, oral surgery to put the implant post in place, and securing the tooth to the post once healed.

When considering implants you should be aware of the time and the financial commitments that are required. While the process is an outpatient process, meaning you go about your daily life in between appointments, you still will be required to put in several visits to the dentist's office. Similarly, you should always check and see what your insurance company will cover, discuss payment options with our office, and what the financial commitment will be that is required of you. Ultimately, however, getting implants can restore your smile, and over 500,000 Americans are choosing this solution every year.