Dental implants are small, biocompatible titanium roots surgically implanted into your healthy jaw bone. After the artificial roots (implants) are fully healed to the bone structure, a dental crown, bridge, or full/partial denture is securely attached to the implant(s) for optimal chewing function and improved aesthetics.
Dental implants are the state-of-the-art, more permanent standard of care for replacing a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. Unlike traditional treatments, implant restorations do not slip or misalign. In addition, implants send regeneration signals to the jaw to help prevent spontaneous bone recession that typically occurs after tooth loss.
Patients who ignore a missing tooth or choose not to get an implant may face oral health or other problems, such as sagging facial structure, bone reduction, future tooth loss, tooth decay, and gum disease.
Implants tend to look far more natural when compared to removable prosthetics, such as full or partial dentures.
Implants are extremely durable, have a near flawless success rate, and with proper care and oral hygiene, can even last a lifetime.
Traditional removable dentures and partials can shift during routine activities such as talking and chewing. In addition, an ill fitting denture can cause soreness on the gums, and worse, a lot of frustration.
Because the implant is surgically attached to the jaw, it greatly improves the patient's ability to chew and enjoy food comfortably.
At our dental office, our dentists strive to make every patient feel comfortable and at ease. We understand that visiting an Indianapolis dentist can be daunting for some, so we have created a welcoming and friendly dental practice for everyone. Our staff is highly trained and dedicated to providing exceptional care.
Our dentists understand that dental consultations can be expensive, and we strive to provide affordable and comprehensive dental services. We work with various insurance providers and offer flexible payment options to help make dental care and oral health practices accessible to everyone. Our commitment to affordable dental care is especially important for our pediatric patients, as we believe every child deserves access to quality dental care.
The cost of replacing a tooth or multiple teeth with dental implants depends greatly on a number of factors...
The primary factor that drives your investment in implants is the total number of teeth to be replaced, and the number of implants needed to support the prosthesis; whether it’s a single implant crown, implant bridge, or implant denture.
After a thorough dental examination and detailed 3D x-rays are taken, Dr. Bowen will make sure that you are a candidate for the implant procedure and provide you with a detailed treatment plan. The treatment plan outlines exactly what treatment will be completed, how much of the services your insurance will cover (if applicable), your out-of-pocket investment, and a timeline of services from start to finish.
Simply put, dental implants replace the natural roots of teeth. These artificial tooth roots adhere firmly to the jawbone and become permanently secured. On top of the titanium root, Dr. Bowen places a crown, bridge, or denture on this root that looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth.
Dental implants have many benefits but are not limited to:
More attractive appearance and confidence
Improved comfort due to bulkiness and lack of mobility
Increased ability to chew food naturally
Speech improvement
Preservation of facial structure and jawbone
Planning Stage
Planning is the most crucial part of the implant placement process. Carefully designed and intelligently thought out treatment plans help determine the success rate of your implant case. Our office is equipped with the latest x-ray technology (CBCT), where we can get a full 360 degree, 3 dimensional look at the entire oral cavity.
From there, Dr. Bowen will confirm that the bone structure in your jaw is healthy enough to support implant surgery. If it’s not, we may recommend that you see a specialist to prepare the jaw bone for the implant procedure(s).
Implant Placement Surgery
In conjunction with one of the dental industry’s top implant manufacturers, BioHorizons, we will review the treatment plan with one of their technicians to ensure a high success rate for the procedure and order the required parts and materials.
After our consultation with their technicians is completed and we have received the implant parts, we will schedule the patient for the implant placement surgery which can take anywhere from an hour to a few hours and potentially require multiple visits.
Healing Time
After the surgery is completed, the bone around the dental implant grows and fuses with the newly placed implant(s). The entire healing process can take 4-6 months before the crown, bridge, or denture can be delivered.
Temporary Restoration
A temporary prosthesis is typically applied to the implant(s) shortly after the placement procedure for aesthetic purposes while the site heals.
Abutment Placement & Final Restoration
Once healing is complete, Dr. Bowen will place the dental implant abutment(s) and permanently secure the implant to a custom fabricated crown, bridge, or denture.
Our experienced implant dentist has an excellent track record in implant surgeries and restorations.
However, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the success rate of dental implants is 97%.
The ideal candidates for dental implants in Indianapolis generally have a fairly healthy oral cavity and are mostly up to date on their regularly scheduled hygiene visits.
These patients have a sufficient amount of healthy jawbone to serve as the base to secure dental implants. Still, even without the optimal jawbone, implant surgeons may continue to use advanced techniques such as bone grafts and sinus lifts to allow the proper placement of dental implants.
In recent years, Clarity Dentistry has successfully placed a large number of dental implants for our patients. We take great care in planning the most ideal implant treatment for our patients to ensure that the procedure is successful and that the restoration will last a lifetime.
One major consideration to the longevity of an implant is to make sure that the amount of force during normal chewing function is appropriately distributed in the mouth, so that the teeth and implants are not put under abnormal stress.
With careful planning and a compliant patient, we expect your dental implants to last forever.