How often have you seen those inviting advertisements announcing implants for 00-00? You may not be getting the whole story and here is why.

It’s not a secret that anyone with missing teeth understands how embarrassing or uncomfortable it can be smiling or eating in public. Quality of daily life and self-confidence are at risk, which is devastating and can make you feel socially isolated.

Fortunately, current dental technology and implants can transform your life by restoring appearance, speech, comfort, ability to chew properly, and self-esteem.

When a tooth is lost, the jawbone in the area shrinks affecting your smile, changing the shape of your face causing you to look prematurely aged.

the implant can be placed. Keep in mind that these procedures, as well as the required CBCT scan and fabrication of a surgical guide, are an ADDITIONAL cost to you! As you can see 00 implant advertisements are NOT entirely accurate and most likely include ONLY one phase of the treatment process!! So what are the phases? What should you expect?

What does it take to get a dental implant?
The entire process might take 3 to 6 months depending on individual jaw anatomy and amount of jawbone present.

Phase 1 DIAGNOSIS
A thorough exam and evaluation by a trained dental professional are necessary to determine if a patient is a candidate for a dental implant.

Dental implants can be placed in most adults. Teenagers might have to wait until their facial structure matures. Certain medical conditions may affect healing and decrease treatment success. As you can see getting an implant is not guaranteed and costs money to determine candidacy.

Phase 2 SURGICAL placement of implant
Once the patient’s candidacy is confirmed, several steps might be necessary before implant placement is even possible. The existing decayed, fractured or abscessed teeth might need to be extracted and a bone graft placed into the site or a sinus lift procedure performed. Only then can the implant be placed.