Our teeth are for more than just chewing food; with a dazzling smile, your self-confidence can skyrocket. Missing or damaged teeth can be replaced using dental implants, no matter what the cause of damage: whether it be due to disease, age, accidents, or injuries.
Implant-supported dentures are an effective and permanent way to fix gaps in your smile. Thanks to modern technology, there are numerous dental implant choices available.
With so many choices, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. This is why we have developed a guide on affordable dentures, implants prices, and how to choose implants:
Table of Content
- Single Tooth Implant
- Multiple Tooth Implants
- Mini Dental Implant
- Snap-in Dentures / Overdentures
- Denture Stabilization
Single Tooth Implants
Process
If you don’t replace a missing tooth, the teeth around it can move, which can eventually affect your bite, resulting in more stress on your teeth and jaw joints. If you only need one tooth replaced, single tooth implants are the recommended option.
Before the procedure can be conducted, a dental CBCT scan will be done during your clinical assessment to determine whether you have enough gum and bone support for the implant to be successful. Normally, if you are deemed a good candidate for implants, the following steps will be taken:
- Occasionally, a small amount of bone augmentation is necessary to replace the implant safely and securely after the tooth is extracted.
- This is followed by the installation of a temporary appliance.
- A porcelain crown is placed over the implant once it is fully integrated.
Advantages / Benefits of Dental Implants
- Implants are tooth replacement options that provide you with a natural-looking smile.
- It acts as a natural tooth and is therefore easy to chew with
- The most common treatments for losing one tooth (such as a tooth-supported fixed bridge) require surrounding teeth in your mouth to be ground down. Implants are an effective alternative to this.
- Due to dental implants replacing the roots of the teeth, the bone is more effectively preserved.
- A single implant will be easier to clean and will look better overall than a bridge.
Risks/ Side Effects
Some chronic illnesses may slow your healing after surgery and can prevent the successful placement of an implant. It is always good to ensure you are in good general health before undergoing the dental implant procedure.
Your jawbone also needs to be able to support the implant. If you have lost any bone in your jaw, a special technique called bone grafting may still be used to place an implant – but the process can be painful. Smokers (and tobacco chewers) have a higher rate of implant failure.
Recovery
Healing time is determined by where the replacement tooth is located and what type of implant is used. Following an extraction, a 2 to 4-month healing period is required before an implant can be placed.
A process called osseointegration leads to bone growing around implants to secure them in place.
Before a permanent replacement tooth can be attached to the implant, the implant may need to be completely integrated with your jaw bone. It can take several months to complete.
In other cases, the implant and a temporary replacement tooth can be placed in the same appointment.
Multiple Tooth Implants
Process
The placement of multiple implants is an option if more than one tooth needs to be permanently replaced.
The process usually consists of three key steps:
- Implant bases made of titanium are placed into the jawbone to replace the tooth roots. Afterward, the jawbone heals over the implant, making it a permanent part of your body. Following the healing of the bone, a crown is fitted.
- Abutments are then screwed into the implants and extend above the gum line to allow crowns to be attached.
- A custom-made crown is then placed over the abutments to provide the function of a natural tooth.
Benefits/ Advantages
- With multiple teeth implants, not only is the bridge permanent, but you are able to maintain almost all of your biting power without needing denture glue or paste.
- You can still enjoy your favorite snacks and foods without worrying about your dentures constantly moving around.
- Implants are screwed into the jaw bone instead of sitting on your gums, making them more secure.
Risks/ Side Effects
- There is a possibility of an infection developing during or after the procedure.
- Contributing factors to the risk of infection include autoimmune diseases, smoking or chewing tobacco, and poor dental hygiene.
- There is a risk for a reaction if you are allergic to titanium alloy, which is used in some implants.
- The implant may loosen if the area surrounding it is injured, which will result in the failure of the dental implant.
Recovery
Unfortunately, there is no definitive recovery time for dental implant procedures. This is because the recovery time is dependant on the unique oral conditions of each patient.
The following factors can influence how long it takes you to recover:
- The number of teeth that you need to have extracted
- Whether a bone graft is required (usually because of bone loss in the jaw)
- Whether your bone is healthy enough for the implants to bond to
- Healing times and differences among individuals
Mini Dental Implant
Process
It is still possible to get dental implants even if you lack sufficient bone thickness. By distributing the load evenly between four to six mini-implants, mini dentures can anchor a full plate and provide a structurally superior solution.
Therefore, they are ideal for elderly or infirm patients who are often able to benefit from a quick, straightforward procedure. The implant is threaded into the bone through an opening created by a small drill.
Benefits / Advantages
The procedure for mini-implants is easy and simple.
- It takes as few as one to two hours.
- It is a less invasive procedure compared to regular implants and often doesn’t require an incision.
- There is a short healing time.
- Since the mini-implant procedure is less invasive, it is also slightly less traumatic, and most importantly, it disturbs the bone and gum tissues substantially less than a conventional implant procedure.
Risks / Side Effects
In general, mini denture implants are relatively safe and involve very little risk. It is usually poor planning or inexperienced practitioners who cause the majority of problems in or after surgery.
Implants of any type require bone to be supported, including mini implants. Therefore, they cannot be implanted in areas of the jaw that lack enough vertical bone density or bone width to support their placement.
Recovery
Mini dental implants involve a quick, almost painless procedure. Any discomfort felt after the procedure will likely pass within 48 hours, but often there is hardly any pain at all. The vast majority of patients can eat just a few hours after surgery.
Snap-in Dentues/ Overdentures
Process
Both snap-in partial dentures and overdentures require dental implants, which is a surgical procedure. Dentures rest on the gums and slide around in the mouth, but Snap-On Dentures are attached firmly to multiple implants and will not slip out of place when eating or speaking.
These simple, affordable solutions can put an end to loose-fitting dentures that rub against your gums, causing sores.
Benefits/ Advantages
- Freedom to eat and drink anything you want
- Reliability and stability
- Improved self-confidence
- Easily maintainable
- The procedure is affordable
Risks/ Side Effects
This procedure is commonly performed in an outpatient setting under a local anesthetic with sedation to help keep you comfortable throughout the process. Consequently, the complication rates are minimal.
It is possible to acquire infections, damage your other teeth, suffer nerve damage, have delayed healing, or suffer mild swelling/bruising during the preparation phase.
Recovery
Snap-on dentures are typically placed two to four months after the surgery to expose the tops of the implants. A timeline of 18 months may apply in the unique case that grafting or other bone damage repairs are needed.
Denture Stabilization
Process
As you wear dentures, you lose the bony structure that supports your soft tissues over time. Denture stabilization implants may be necessary in such cases.
The dental practitioner of your choice will place between two and four implants in an arch and then retrofit your dentures with snap-on attachments.
By using these attachments, implants can securely hold dentures in place. It is necessary to place a minimum of two implants to achieve stability. Chewing power can be increased by placing three implants or more.
Because snap-on dentures are used for stabilization, they can still easily be removed for cleaning and other care.
Benefits/ Advantages
- Provides the necessary support for proper speaking, chewing, and smiling
- Prevents any changes to your facial shape due to jawbone recession
- If you don’t want to pay for individual implants, this is a great alternative
- There will no longer be a need for dental adhesives
Risks/ Side-effects
- You may feel some pain in some areas of your gingiva due to the movement of your new teeth.
- There is a possibility of gum irritation
- Daily inflammation is possible
- Patients can experience bleeding
Recovery
In most cases, the replacement arch can be attached to your implants immediately after they are inserted. This is more convenient because there is no need to wait for the healing time to pass between the surgery and tooth replacement.
These provisional teeth look and feel much like natural teeth, and you can lead a normal life immediately after surgery. Following a few months of healing time, your dentist can place the final bridge.
Procedures like this can greatly improve your quality of life and allow you to start enjoying your favorite foods again.
Why Affordable Dentures & Implants
When we say our fees are at an affordable dental implant cost, we mean it. In general, Affordable Dentures & Implants charges a third or a half of what its competitors do, ranking us among the most affordable practices in the country.
Our Dental Implants Miami Lakes provider even offers financing options with 0% interest to help patients ensure their procedures fit within their budgets.
A strong, beautiful set of teeth can help you enjoy your favorite foods again, can improve your speech, and greatly improve your self-confidence – we want to help you be proud of your smile.
Our onsite laboratory allows us same-day service, and the certified dental technicians have more than 75 years of experience combined. If you are struggling with damaged or missing teeth or loose-fitting dentures, we can help you put your best face forward.
At Affordable Dentures & Implants, our single implants with an abutment and crown are only $1995, and our implant-stabilized dentures start at just $2995.
If you aren’t completely sure about the best treatment option for you, we can help you compare dental implant options so you can decide whether you want a snap-in overdenture or a permanently affixed implant-stabilized denture or view our Dental Implant FAQ’s.
For more information on our tooth replacement options, costs and dental implants in Miami Lakes, contact us today at (305) 901-0390.