What are dental implants?

We receive lots of questions about dental implants - what are they, how much do they cost, and will they work for me? The answer to most of these questions depends upon the individual patient, but there are some basic facts that hold true.

An implant is a titanium post placed through the gums and fused into the patient's bone. The restoration - or "tooth" - is then placed on that post. Upon completion, an implant looks, feels, and otherwise acts almost entirely like a natural tooth. This is why dental implants are usually the best option to replace missing teeth.

And placing dental implants is now taught in dental schools across the country and is generally considered the standard of care today. Even so, most dental insurance plans exclude dental implants, and will instead only cover less expensive treatment options like bridges or dentures. So if you have dental insurance and are concerned about coverage for an implant, a simple predetermination will answer the question of whether you have any insurance coverage.

Whether dental implants will work for you can only be determined after a careful examination. Your bone density and the health of surrounding tissue will ultimately determine if an implant is an option for you. But if it is, there is no better way to replace missing or damaged teeth.

Dr. Zettler is experienced and careful, and in order to continue providing the most recent advances in implant dentistry, she has pursued the Surgical Program at the Misch International Implant Institute in California. More information on the Misch Institute is available here: www.misch.com/institute.html