Dental implants themselves are small titanium posts that Dr. Jake surgically places below the gumline and into the jawbone to replace the missing roots of teeth. They’re made from biocompatible titanium, allowing them to naturally fuse with the bone and provide it with necessary blood flow to keep it from deteriorating with time. Once this process, known as osseointegration, has occurred, we can secure a crown, bridge, or denture to the implants to restore the smile.
Dental Implants – Fresno, CA
Reclaim Your Life with Natural Looking & Functioning Dental Prosthetics
Modern advancements in dentistry have made it so our patients can enjoy replacement teeth that not only mimic the appearance of nature, but also the function. Instead of only restoring the visible portion of teeth, dental implants in Fresno allow us to rebuild the entire tooth, including the roots that anchor the crown in place. Every material we use for this process is safe for the body, biocompatible, and customized to resemble your home-grown pearly whites. Call W Dental - Fresno today to schedule a consultation and learn whether dental implants are right for you.
Why Choose W Dental - Fresno for Dental Implants?
- Start-to-Finish Dental Implant Treatment
- Financing Through CareCredit Available
- Highly Experienced Dentist with an Eye for Details
What Are Dental Implants?
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Dental implants have a complex treatment process, so getting them involves many steps that span several months. Still, you can rest easy – their long-term benefits are worth this time and effort! Our team does the whole treatment in-house, ensuring your implants are well-placed and effective. Dr. Jake has even pursued a lot of extra training in implant dentistry for that reason. As for the specifics of your procedure, you can expect four main steps: consultation, surgery, osseointegration, and delivery of final restoration.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
Before your dental implant surgery, you’ll meet Dr. Jake for a consultation. This session allows you to share your treatment goals and lets us check your background and oral health. Based on its findings, we’ll confirm whether implants suit you and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
If our practice doesn’t think you qualify for dental implants, please don’t panic. You can become a good candidate later through extra dental work – gum disease therapy, tooth extraction, etc. Once you’ve had these other procedures, your mouth will be strong enough to handle implants.
Dental Implant Surgery
Rather than send you to a local specialist, Dr. Jake will place your dental implants himself. This in-house approach reduces your treatment time and allows for precise results. Since we’ll have access to your dental records, our team is sure to place your implants correctly.
The implant surgery involves several key actions. First, Dr. Jake will numb the treatment site so placement doesn’t cause any discomfort or pain. He’ll then make a small incision in your gum tissue to access your jawbone and make room for the implant. From there, the dental implant will be inserted precisely before your gums are sutured shut. Our last step will be to place a protective cap over the now-set implant post.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Your dental implant will slowly fuse with your jaw after surgery. This process, called osseointegration, takes 4-6 months and secures the implant posts. It’ll make your new “teeth” permanent parts of your mouth and keep them stable over time.
Once you’ve healed from implant fusion, we’ll perform a follow-up surgery. This step will place an abutment – a metal connector – on your dental implant that secures your final restoration. As you heal from its placement, the permanent prosthetic will be crafted from impressions of your mouth.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)
Our team will set your final restoration during the final part of your implant treatment. In other words, we’ll place a prosthetic that “matches up” with how many teeth you lost. This restoration could be a dental crown, bridge, or implant denture; it’ll depend on tooth loss.
Fortunately, it often doesn’t take long to fit the final restoration; we’ll just apply some dental cement. Our team will then make last-minute changes to ensure quality results. From there, you can enjoy your restored smile and its many perks!
Who Dental Implants Can Help
The best way to learn whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jake. Typically, we recommend this treatment for patients who are missing any number of teeth, have good oral health, and who are looking for a more permanent, stable alternative to traditional prosthetics. Then, based on your tooth loss situation, we may outline any of the paths listed below to restore your smile.
Missing One Tooth
For a single missing tooth, we can place one dental implant below the gumline. Once it has fused with the jawbone, we’ll attach a dental crown to fill the gap in your smile.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Instead of needing to alter your natural teeth to receive a traditional dental bridge, we can attach one to two dental implants placed on either side of the space in your arch. These will provide a strong and secure foundation for your prosthetic with the ability to last over 30 years with good dental hygiene.
Missing All of Your Teeth
For a more permanent and unwavering alternative to traditional dentures, we can secure a denture to anywhere from four to eight dental implants placed throughout the arch. Once fused with the bone, a denture can be attached to the implants, completely eliminating any shifting or slipping.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Every dental implant treatment we complete at W Dental - Fresno is customized to meet each patient’s unique needs. That’s why the cost of dental implants can vary depending on several different factors that we’ll outline during your consultation, like how many teeth you’re missing and whether you require any additional procedures. Before moving forward with dental implant surgery, we’ll make sure to walk you through the entire process and provide you with a detailed cost estimate and your financial options.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Part of your total estimate will include any preliminary treatments you might require. During your consultation, we’ll determine if you need gum disease therapy, bone grafting, tooth extraction, etc. If so, these will be added to your final bill.
Additionally, your dental implant surgery incurs its own fee; however, since we perform the service in-house, you don’t have to worry about another dental office billing you.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
There are varying aspects associated with your dental implants that must be considered when drafting your estimate, including:
- How Many Dental Implants You Will Need: The fewer implants you require, the less your overall bill will be. Naturally, replacing a single tooth will be much cheaper than taking care of a full arch of missing teeth.
- Type of Restoration: Your dental implants in Fresno will support a crown, bridge, or denture. The kind you receive will be added to the cost.
- Materials Used: Titanium and zirconia are the two most common materials used to create dental implants. Each has its own price point.
- Manufacturer: Much like cars or appliances, there are different manufacturers for dental implants. Our team will discuss why we choose a higher-quality product as opposed to a cheaper option that’s unlikely to last as long.
How Dental Implants Can Save You Money
There are other options, like dentures and dental bridges, that can also replace missing teeth, but there are many reasons why patients tend to choose dental implants. Apart from their long lifespan, ability to stimulate your jawbone to prevent bone loss, and stability, they are also cost-effective. While other solutions require regular replacement every 7-10 years, dental implants do not. They can last 30 years or more, and they don’t require additional products for maintenance. They act like regular teeth and can be cared for in the same way.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
At W Dental – Fresno, we are not in-network with any PPO plans; however, we are happy to file claims to help you get the maximum reimbursement. While it’s unlikely that your insurance company will pay for dental implant surgery, they may help cover the cost for certain aspects of treatment. Your consultation, restoration, and preliminary care may be partially covered, so you pay less out of pocket.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
Since dental implants can require you to pay a higher price out of pocket, we try to make them as affordable as possible for our patients. We are pleased to not only accept CareCredit Financing but also provide an in-house savings plan.
You have the option to finance your treatment and pay it off over time, similar to a credit card, or you can sign up for our membership plan and receive a 15% discount on treatment.