• Home
/ Dental Implants

Dental Implants in Gilbert AZ

Dental implants are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. Dental implants allow patients to regain the ability to smile with confidence, eat normally, and be secure in the knowledge that they have selected a treatment that will provide a long-term, predictable solution.

What are Dental Implants?

The dental implants themselves are small titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These titanium posts act as tooth root substitutes. During the healing phase the bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for replacement teeth. Small posts (abutments) that protrude through the gums are then attached to the dental implant. These abutments provide stable anchors for the replacement teeth.

Dental implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.

Ready to Replace Your Missing Teeth & Restore Your Smile?

For more information about dental implants or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Porter, Dr. Mack and , call our Gilbert office at or our Yuma office at .

Dental Implants Surgical Procedure

For some patients, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, the dental implants are placed within the bone in the area of the missing teeth. For the first three to six months following surgery, the dental implants are allowed to heal, left beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. During this healing phase, you can return to normal activity and a near-normal diet.

After the dental implants have healed and bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. During a minor procedure Dr. Spanganberg will uncover the implants and attach small posts (abutments) that protrude through the gums and will act as anchors for the new teeth. When the new teeth are placed, these posts will not be seen. The entire process on average takes between four to six. Most patients experience little to no disruption in their daily life during this healing process.

Immediate implant placement

Using the most recent advances in dental implant technology, Dr. Spanganberg is able to place single-stage dental implants. These dental implants are placed during the same procedure in which the teeth are removed and do not require a second procedure to uncover them, but still require four to six months of healing before the new teeth are made. There are even situations (usually with front teeth) where a dental implant can be placed at the same time as the tooth extraction and a temporary tooth (crown) can be made and attached to the implant.

Dental Implant placement is a team effort between an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon and a restorative dentist. While Dr. Spanganberg performs the dental implant surgery, including initial tooth extractions, and bone grafting if necessary, the restorative dentist (your dentist) fits and makes the new teeth. Dr. Spanganberg and his team will work closely with your dentist to ensure a seamless process.

What Types of Prosthesis are Available?

A single prosthesis (crown) is used to replace one missing tooth – each prosthetic tooth attaches to its own dental implant. A partial prosthesis (fixed bridge) can replace two or more missing teeth and will require at minimum two or three implants. A complete dental prosthesis (fixed bridge) replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. The number of dental implants varies depending upon which type of complete prosthesis (removable or fixed) is recommended. A removable prosthesis (over denture) attaches to a bar or ball in socket attachment, whereas a fixed prosthesis is attached to the dental implants by small screws and can only be removed by your dentist or a dental specialist.

Dr. Spanganberg performs in-office implant surgery in a hospital-style operating suite, thus optimizing the level of sterility. Inpatient hospital implant surgery, while infrequent, is reserved for patients who have special medical or anesthetic needs or for those who require extensive bone grafting from the jaw, hip, or tibia.

Why Dental Implants?

They give you the best opportunity to regain your smile, confidence, and ability to eat the foods that you love! When you lose a tooth, several teeth, or all your remaining teeth – whether it’s a new situation or something you have lived with for years – chances are you have never become fully accustomed to losing such a vital part of yourself.

Dental implants can be your doorway to renewed self-confidence and peace of mind.

A Swedish scientist and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark, developed this concept for oral rehabilitation more than 50 years ago. With his pioneering research, Dr. Branemark opened the door to a lifetime of renewed comfort and self-confidence for millions of individuals facing the frustration and embarrassment of tooth loss.

Why Select Dental Implants Over More Traditional Types of Restorations?

There are several reasons. When choosing a fixed bridge to replace a missing tooth, you are committing to compromising the teeth on either side of the space to fill the gap. A bridge is susceptible to decay and surrounding gum disease and on average lasts less than 10 years before it needs to be replaced; what started out a single tooth missing often turns into multiple missing teeth! Partial and complete dentures lead to bone loss in the areas of the missing teeth and need to be removed after eating to keep clean and should be removed every night;  not to mention that dentures that slip can be uncomfortable and incredibly embarrassing.

Are You a Candidate for Dental mplants?

If you are considering dental implants, your mouth must be examined thoroughly and your medical and dental history reviewed. If your mouth is not ideal for dental implants, ways of improving outcome, such as bone grafting, may be recommended.

What Type of Anesthesia is Used?

The majority of dental implants and bone grafts can be performed in the office under local anesthesia, with or without intravenous sedation. When being honest, most people admit to anxiety or outright fear when faced with a planned dental procedure! While many of the procedures can be completed with local anesthesia (numbing injections), most people opt for and are grateful for the opportunity to be sedated and be completely asleep during their procedure, or at the very least, in a “twilight” state of sedation.

Do Dental Implants Need Special Care?

Once the dental implants are in place, they will serve you well for many years if you take care of them and keep your mouth healthy. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and keeping regular appointments with your dental specialists.

Dental Implants Cost Gilbert AZ

Dental Implants: An Investment in Health | How much do dental implants cost in Gilbert AZ?

Drs. Porter, Mack and know that when deciding between dental implants and alternative tooth replacement methods, there’s a lot to think about. That’s why we offer you this guide – a list of things to consider when making an informed decision about options for replacing your teeth.

• Implants Last Longer

  Fact: Dental implants last two to three times as long (25+ years) as traditional tooth replacement approaches such as bridges (5-15 years) and dentures (5-8 years). Simply put, in terms of longevity, dental implants can’t be beaten. This is why, although they are more expensive up front, they are usually a better investment over time. When compared to bridges and dentures, which will likely have to be replaced 2-3 times during a person’s life, dental implants pay for themselves.

• Jaw Deterioration: The Price of Going Without Implants

  Without the regular stimulation of chewing, biting, and speaking provided by teeth, the jawbone deteriorates. In the first year alone after the loss of a tooth, a patient may lose 25% of his or her supporting jawbone structure. There is only one way to stop the recession: with dental implants. Because the titanium screw fuses with the bone, it provides the stimulation that is needed overtime to maintain jawbone mass.

• Eat and Feel Great Again

  With dentures and bridges, there are limitations to what you can eat, and dentures look unnatural and have a reputation for falling out at inopportune times. By contrast, dental implants give you back your ability to eat anything, and your self-esteem at the same time.

Tips for Comparing Dental Implant Providers

When comparing quotes from various providers, keep in mind that there are several steps in the dental implant process that often involve more than one specialist – each should be figured into the cost.

Does insurance cover dental implants?

Most dental insurance plans do not cover dental implants because insurance companies feel that there are cheaper alternatives available. Helping you understand your benefits and alternative treatments is part of our job – we will be with you every step of the way.

Dental Implants: Estimating your Cost

The cost of dental implants depends heavily on a variety of details about each individual patient’s case. That’s why the best way to get an accurate estimate of what your cost will be is by calling us to schedule a consultation – we look forward to putting a smile back on your face.