What Are Dental Implants in Arundel ME

Imagine living the rest of your life with a set of teeth that looks great and feels comfortable. For anyone who suffers from tooth loss, this reality might not seem possible, but it is with dental implants. At Arundel Family Dentistry, we can use this state-of-the-art treatment to give your smile a second chance and safeguard your oral health and appearance for decades to come. Call us today to schedule your consultation for rebuilding your smile with dental implants in Arundel ME!

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The Longest Lasting Tooth Replacement in Arundel ME

Sometimes the loss of a tooth or even a few teeth may happen to you or someone you know. There can be several reasons for this, but whatever the cause, it can affect not just your physical appearance, but even the way you speak and eat. One solution Arundel Family Dentistry offers to the issue of missing one or more teeth is a dental implant. If you want a tooth replacement solution that lasts 30+ years, allows you to eat your favorite foods, and helps to provide continuous stimulation to your jawbone to prevent facial sagging, dental implants are the way to go. Made of titanium, these prosthetics work like natural teeth and are designed to restore them from the roots to the crowns. Placed into the jawbone, they fuse with the surrounding tissues, creating a firm foundation for crowns, bridges, or dentures.

A dental implant is a more recent development in dental surgical procedures. It consists of a “screw,” usually titanium, that is surgically attached to your jawbone. After this procedure has been completed, the screw is given time to fuse with the jawbone. Since your body doesn’t create an immune response thanks to the biocompatible properties of titanium, nutrients continue to be sent to that part of the jawbone to retain both size and health.

Once proper fusion has occurred, a “crown” is applied to the screw, which is just a custom-designed artificial tooth that sits on the now very stable implant that is fused to your mouth. With this final step, the procedure is permanent, complete, and will not require any additional maintenance on your part aside from a sensible oral hygiene regimen of brushing and flossing to protect the rest of your teeth and gums.  Dental implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth in your mouth.

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The 4-Step Dental Implant Process In Arundel ME

The dental implant process takes place over the course of several months, but the time and effort are well worth it! Dr. Jung and our team are able to handle the entire procedure right here in our office, so you will not have to worry about dealing with referrals to other practices. We will strive to make every stage of your treatment as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Just what is involved in replacing your teeth? There are four basic steps that every dental implant patient must go through: the initial consultation, dental implant surgery, osseointegration, and restoration.

1.) Initial Dental Implant Consultation

• During your consultation, Dr. Jung will examine your mouth. We may also use our CBCT machine to evaluate the health of your jawbone to ensure that it is strong enough and large enough to support dental implants. Next, we will work out the details of your tooth replacement journey. Feel free to ask questions — we want all of our patients to feel confident about their treatment plan!
• Some patients are able to receive implants soon after their consultation. Others, though, must get a bone graft, gum disease therapy, or tooth extractions before they can move forward.

2.) Dental Implant Surgery

• We perform the dental implant placement surgery right here in our office, so you will get to enjoy the top-quality care provided by our team throughout your entire tooth replacement process.
• The surgery itself is pretty straightforward. We numb your mouth and may administer sedation. Once you are comfortable, we will make incisions in your gums and insert the implants at precise, pre-planned positions. We close the incisions so you can go home and start the healing process. Most patients are feeling well enough to go back to work within a few days of their surgery.

3.) Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

• Osseointegration is the biological process that allows dental implants to form a strong bond with the surrounding bone tissue. It usually takes at least a few months. For most of that time, your mouth will feel completely normal.
• After adequate osseointegration has occurred, you may undergo a second minor surgery. Your implants will be exposed, and we will place healing caps on them. Later, you will receive abutments (small connector pieces that will keep your new teeth in place.) Some patients receive abutments during their initial surgery, so they can avoid this second procedure.

4.) Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

• To design your restoration (crown, bridge, or denture), we will take detailed impressions of your mouth. Those impressions will be sent to the laboratory that will fabricate your new teeth. Once your restoration is ready, you will come back to our office so we can make sure that it fits well, looks good, and lives up to our rigorous quality standards. We will give you some tips on how to care for your new smile before we send you home so you can start enjoying all the benefits of dental implants.

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Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

There's no flat rate for dental implants because several factors influence the amount you'll pay. No two mouths or situations are identical. The cost of dental implants in Arundel is based on your individual treatment plan. Dr. Kwonduk Jung strives to keep a complete smile within everyone's budget. He accepts various payment options to keep dental implants affordable.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

• Getting dental implants requires a multi-step treatment process, each with separate expenses. You can pay for each step as you go. Although every situation differs, you can expect your estimate to include preliminary procedures. After examining your mouth, your implant dentist in Arundel may discover that you need a little prep work, like tooth extractions, gum disease therapy, or bone grafting.
• Once you've recovered from any preparatory procedures, you're scheduled for your placement surgery. Sedation or anesthesia will be used to keep you comfortable, which will be factored into the cost.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant - Your estimate will also include the materials needed for your treatment. Depending on the number of teeth you're replacing, you'll need to pay for:

• Implant Post: An implant post is surgically placed into your jawbone to mimic a tooth root.
• Abutment: Every implant post will require an abundant, which is a fixture to connect your restoration.
• Restoration: You'll require either a crown, bridge, or denture to replace your lost teeth.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

• Dental implants in Arundel may initially cost more than traditional treatments, but they are the most cost-effective overall because they can last for decades. Regular bridges and dentures have to be replaced every few years, but not dental implants. They have over a 95% success rate of lasting for 30 years or longer with the correct care, like brushing and flossing. They can end up paying for themselves.
• Not to mention, they also improve your oral health, decreasing the likelihood of needing costly dental work later. In addition, as the next best thing to real teeth, you can't put a price on the benefits you'll gain by investing in dental implants.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

• Your dental insurance will not pay for your entire treatment, but your benefits can cover certain aspects of your care, like your consultation, diagnostic services, and preparatory procedures. After meeting your annual deductible, you can use your insurance to pay for any medically necessary procedures using your yearly allowance. We will work on your behalf with your dental insurance to maximize your benefits to lower your out-of-pocket responsibility.

Making Dental Implants Affordable - Our office offers multiple payment options to keep dental implants affordable, including:

• Traditional Payments: Our office accepts cash, personal checks, and credit cards for your convenience.
• Financing: You can pay any out-of-pocket expenses using monthly installments through a third-party financing company, like
• CareCredit. Based on your credit approval, you can benefit from little or no interest in financing to make monthly payments for your new smile.

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Dental Implant Failure & Salvage

With dental implants, you can usually expect to take full advantage of tooth replacement with a much longer lifespan and a more natural-feeling bite. However, they can fail after some time, and it can be due to a wide range of reasons. Whether they’re feeling uncomfortable or you suspect they’re becoming loose, you’ll want to notify our team so that we can provide dental implant salvage treatment. We can help detect the root of the problem and develop the proper way to preserve your fully rebuilt smile.

Learn More About Dental Implant Failure & Salvage

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Benefits Of Dental Implants

Aside from restoring a tooth into an empty space for aesthetic reasons, there are many other sound health benefits for getting a dental implant replacement.

CLICK HERE for more information regarding the benefits of getting a dental implant.

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If you’re interested in getting dental implants, the first crucial step is an examination by our Arundel ME dentists to determine the health of your gums and your jaw. If you are a suitable candidate for a dental implant, you can move on to the next steps and go about getting one of the most comprehensive tooth replacement techniques available today. Contact our team at Arundel Family Dentistry today for more information.