FAQ

How much is an extraction and an implant?

A single implant, custom abutment, plus EMax crown is $1,795. Many tooth roots are positioned so that adequate bone remains after extraction to gain primary stability of the newly placed implant. For those cases that we can extract the tooth and place the implant immediately.

What about a temporary?

We provide a removeable, essix-type provisional at no added cost. Other types of provisionals are available depending on the number and position of remaining teeth, and price considerations.

What brand of implant do you place?

Nobel Biocare.

Do you use a surgical guide?

Yes. We use a CAD/CAM milled surgical guide generated by combining the files from a CBCT scan and the files generated from an optically scanned hard/soft tissue model for all cases that scheduling allows the time to mill the guide. Immediate placement for emergent cases may necessitate placement without a guide, at patient request.

Will I have an incision and sutures?

Most often, no. By utilizing a surgical guide, it is not necessary to visualize the bone for implant placement, hence no incision. Some hard/soft tissue grafting procedures require incision and sutures.

Does implant surgery require sedation?

Usually, no. Dental pain is mostly associated with working on natural teeth. We can provide anxiety releiving medications at additional cost, if you so desire. If you wish to be “put to sleep,” you will need to see a dentist with sedation certification.

How long will the implant surgery take?

For a single implant, total drilling time is less than a minute.

Will I have pain after an implant?

Very little. Some soreness from the anesthetic is normal and is usually well tolerated with Tylenol or Ibuprophen. It is very unusual to have significant pain following an implant placement. If you experience pain you should return to the office for evaluation.

Will I need to miss work to recuperate following implant placement?

No, typically an implant can be placed and the patient can return to work immediately. Patients that used the relaxing pill cannot drive or return to work or other activcities for the remainder of the day.

How long before I get my crown?

4 months. For a single implant I typically wait 4 months from the date of placement to the date the crown is placed on top. It is often possible to place the definitive crown at the time of implant placement; immediate load. Immediately loaded implants do well, but can fail if over-stressed. Because it is so easy to forget to eat a soft diet on the implant, I have a different re-work policy for immediate load cases; if the implant fails following immediate load the patient will have to pay again for replacement.

Do you make Teeth-in-a-day?

No longer. The temporary teeth in a day type of service is usually a success, and the patient returns months later to proceed with the multi-visit procedure of definitive prosthesis fabrication. There are a few reports in the literature of rare adverse sequellae such as implant rejection or psychologic effects of sudden loss of all teeth.My approach is to deliver a very esthetic milled provisional in a single visit, but place some implants and leave some teeth until the implants can be used to support the temporary. Accuracy is speed.

Do you use a Zirconia abutment?

No, unless specifically requested by the patient. I prefer a custom milled titanium abutment, pink-gold anodized to eliminate the metal show-thru.

Will I be able to get an MRI or go through a metal detector with an implant?

Yes, a titanium implant will not be a problem when going for an MRI or through a metal detector.

How do I need to care for my dental implant?

Use a WaterPik to clean around implants; never floss around an implant.

Are you capable of placing implants on all types of patients?

No. The following represents my personal opinion, please seek other opinions. Think of a normal distribution (bell-curve) of dental implants. The majority (1σ) are simple, among the simplest procedures a dentist performs. As such, (IMO), a fair price to the patient should reflect time and materials expended. The next standard deviation (2σ), represent patients that might require some bone, sinus, or tissue grafting, possibly some alteration of treatment plans. I am usually able to find an agreeable approach for the patients in this group. The last group is different; 3 standard deviations (3σ). I classify these patients into 1 of 3 groups, but many fall in 2 or all 3. Group 1 represents patients with no remaining bone in the areas where teeth once were. These patients require special implants placed in other bones of the skull, and complex grafting procedures. I refer these pateients to Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons trained and experienced in these advanced techniques. The second group is patients that require sedation, are medically compromised, or have special medical concerns. I refer these patients to hospital based specialists that are experienced with this group of patients. The last group in my classification is patients that require complex hard and/or soft tissue grafting procedures for the area of the jaws where teeth once were. Many cases where esthetic outcomes are paramount fall in this group. In my practice, I refer these patients to periodontal plastic surgeons.

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We’ll be happy to discuss the services we offer and answer any questions you have.

817.336.0212