Get Quality Dental Implant Care at Smile Design Dentistry
Missing a tooth (or teeth) can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. You might hesitate when you smile, or have difficulty chewing or talking. In the past, the only way to replace missing teeth was with bridges or full or partial dentures. Fortunately, dental implants provide a convenient and permanent solution, and the implant specialists at Smile Design Dentistry can offer you the quality dental implant care you need to restore your confidence and improve your oral health.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implantation is a procedure that replaces a damaged and subsequently extracted tooth with a new prosthetic one. This is most often done by implanting a new titanium root into your jaw, bonding with the natural bone. On top of this root, which is often shaped much like a screw, we place a custom made dental crown that looks just like a normal, healthy tooth.
Dental implant surgery not only improves your smile, it also contributes to the overall health of your jaw and surrounding teeth. When a tooth is missing, the other teeth around it can begin to shift, changing your natural bite. With a dental implant, however, the proper spacing of your teeth is maintained and your bite strength is enhanced. By fusing to the bone in your jaw, the implant even stimulates the growth of bone tissue. Furthermore, since the new crown is rooted directly in your jawbone, there’s no need to modify nearby teeth in order to support a bridge. This helps keep the rest of your teeth and mouth as healthy as possible.
Are Dental Implants Permanent?
With proper care and good oral hygiene, dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth. Dental implant surgery has a success rate of over 95% and is backed by nearly 50 years of clinical research. Implants are widely considered the best long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. The only maintenance that’s required is regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing, just like you would with your natural dentition.
Quality Dental Care You Can Rely On
Smile Design Dentistry is the smart choice for discovering what dental implant surgery will work best for you. You can schedule a new patient consultation with a dentist near you at one of our many locations throughout Florida. After the new patient exam, our specialists will provide you with a treatment plan that details the advice and guidance you need to make the best choices on your needs and circumstances.
Losing a tooth can make you feel isolated, as if you’re the only person who has this problem. However, it’s estimated that more than 178 million Americans are missing one or more teeth, so whatever your dental situation, you’re not alone. You can be confident that the specialists at Smile Design Dentistry have helped people just like you before, and that they have the knowledge, compassion, and expertise to find the best solution for you.
Family-owned and operated, Smile Design Dentistry was founded in 2004 in Dade City to serve the greater Tampa Bay area, and now has over 50 offices across the Sunshine State. We provide comprehensive dental care that focuses on patient comfort and satisfaction. Our dentists work in collaboration with you and our implant specialists to make sure the treatment you receive is individualized for your situation. Together we’ll create a customized implant treatment plan that meets your needs.
The Best Dental Implant Specialists
Our staff pride themselves on providing the highest quality of care in a friendly, welcoming environment. We know that going to the dentist can be stressful, which is why our clinicians go out of their way to make you feel as comfortable as possible during your visit. You’re in capable hands at Smile Design, and we encourage you to learn more about our qualified team of dentists, oral surgeons, and implant specialists. We’ve taken the time to provide biographies of all our staff members, so you can learn a little about our team before you even meet them in person.
We believe in fostering a sense of trust and community with our patients and our communities. That’s why each time you come in, you’ll see the same dentist and hygienist. Seeing the same friendly faces for each visit helps our patients feel comforted and supported while they receive treatment.
At the same time, since we have so many locations throughout Florida, Smile Design Dentistry is able to share specialists from different offices to perform oral surgery and implantation right in your neighborhood, so you can get the treatment you need, where you need it. Record sharing between our offices also allows our clinicians to work more efficiently and cost effectively, saving you money.
Types of Dental Implants
Smile Design Dentistry offers the full range of general, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatments. There are several different types of dental implants and processes available, depending on your particular situation. After you come in for your new patient exam, our implant specialists will take the time to explain which type will work best for you. Endosteal and subperiosteal implants are the most common and popular.
Endosteal Implants
Endosteal dental implantation has become the most popular form of implants because the new teeth are rooted in the jawbone, providing them with a great deal of strength and stability over time. A new titanium root is inserted into the jaw, and a custom-made crown is placed above it to replace the missing tooth.
The process involves several steps, and it takes three to four months for the bone and soft tissue around the implant to heal before the dentist can place the final crown on top of the abutment. The procedure may also involve a bone graft that firmly secures to the new root. If you have a tooth that needs to be removed before it’s replaced, implants can be placed in your mouth immediately following extraction depending on your situation, though it will take a few months of healing before a new crown can be placed over the root.
Subperiosteal Implants
If the jawbone isn’t able to support an endosteal implant, subperiosteal implants may be preferred. A subperiosteal procedure anchors the new tooth with an implant placed under the soft tissue, but on top of the jawbone, rather than in it. While the implant isn’t rooted as firmly as it is with an endosteal implant, nevertheless they can provide a useful anchor for a denture and the procedure doesn’t take as much time to heal.
All-on-4 Implants
This kind of implant anchors a whole row of teeth on four titanium implants placed into the jaw. It’s a popular alternative to dentures for people who need to replace multiple teeth rather than just one or two. Most people find them to be more comfortable than conventional dentures because they’re secured to the jaw and don’t need to be removed and maintained.
Whichever type of dental implants are best for you, the professionals at Smile Design Dentistry have the expertise and latest up-to-date equipment to provide you with the care you need.
Dental Implant Insurance Coverage
At Smile Design Dentistry, we’re dedicated to working with you and your insurance provider to make sure your dental implants are affordable. We’ll help you maximize the use of your dental benefits so that your insurance provider will cover as much of the cost of the procedure as possible. If you don’t have dental coverage, we can work with you to set up a payment plan.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Implants?
Whether or not dental insurance covers implantation depends on the plan. Medical insurance that includes dental coverage often only covers preventative and basic restorative care. However, direct dental plans sometimes cover endodontics, oral surgeries, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and periodontics, including dental implants. When dental insurance covers these procedures, it usually covers 50% of the cost. But again, it depends on your provider.
When you come in for a new patient exam, we’ll go over your plan with you to let you know how you can best use your benefits. See our Patient Information page for a list of insurance providers we normally work with, as well as additional payment arrangement options. One way or the other, we’ll work with you to get you the care you need.
Love Your Smile Again
If you’re missing a tooth or teeth, and you’re considering a dental implant, come see us at your local Smile Design Dentistry office. It’s easy to put off treatment, especially when you don’t know all the facts, but the sooner you come in, the sooner you’ll get the care you deserve. You’ll be relieved to learn how quickly you can start looking and feeling better. Schedule an appointment today!