Dental Implants – Naples, FL
State-of-the-Art
Tooth Replacements
Whether you’re dealing with a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, or even an uncomfortable denture, dental implants can help you reclaim your complete smile for a lifetime. Working with a team of local specialists, Dr. Skupny and the staff at Island Coast Dentistry are able to provide what is widely considered the most natural-looking and longest-lasting tooth replacement available today. If you’re ready to eat, speak, and smile with confidence again, give us a call today to schedule your consultation for dental implants in Naples, FL.
Why Choose Island Coast Dentistry for Dental Implants?
- Partnered with Experienced Local Dental Implant Experts
- Able to Replace Any Number of Missing Teeth for Decades
- Fair Prices with Zero Hidden Fees
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are truly special because they actually recreate an entire tooth, including the visible crown and hidden root. They are the only treatment that does this, and the result is the next best thing to nature.
An implant post is surgically placed into the jawbone where it replaces the natural tooth root. In a few months, the dental implant securely bonds to the bone (through a process called “osseointegration”), allowing it to withstand the biting and chewing forces just like a healthy, natural tooth. At this point, the biocompatible titanium screw can be topped with a dental crown, bridge, or denture to complete your smile.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Compared to getting a traditional dental bridge or denture, the dental implant process takes much longer and requires several appointments. However, once your procedure has been completed by one of our partnered Naples dental implant specialists, you’ll find that this solution is worth the wait! After all, dental implants can last for 30+ years – maybe even a lifetime – as long as you take good care of them. Dr. Skupny can discuss your treatment process in further detail during your consultation, but the four basic steps are an initial consultation, dental implant surgery, osseointegration, and the placement of your final restoration.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
The start of any dental implant case is a scheduled consultation with Dr. Skupny. It is essential to determine your oral and overall health and the density of your jawbone. This appointment will not only include discussions about your goals and what you hope to accomplish with this type of treatment but also an examination of your mouth and digital scans to better understand the layout of your missing teeth. If we decide that preliminary treatments are necessary to address signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or jawbone resorption, we will incorporate them into the full treatment plan.
Dental Implant Surgery
Since Dr. Skupny only restores dental implants, he will make sure that you are referred to local implant dentists who are capable of placing and positioning your dental implants with ease. Administering local anesthesia, they will then make small incisions in your gums, exposing the vacant socket so that the dental implant post can be placed within the jawbone. Once in position, the gum tissue will be closed, and a protective healing cap will be placed over the top of each implant post.
Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment
The following 4-6 months after your surgery will involve following necessary instructions to ensure that you heal swiftly and successfully. During this time, your implants will fuse with your jawbone through the process of osseointegration. Once they are firmly in place, you will return to have your metal abutments added to the tops of your implant posts. These are small connector appliances that help to hold the restoration in place once it is attached.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
The final phase of treatment is to receive your customized restoration. Dr. Skupny and our team will review the new set of teeth to make sure that it looks natural and appears as instructed. We will then secure it in place so that your new crown, bridge, or denture remains firmly intact, allowing you to enjoy a fully functional, beautiful, and natural-looking appearance.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Replacing both the root and crown of the tooth allows you to enjoy a variety of benefits that are not achievable using traditional prosthetics. Here are some of the advantages that you can experience on a day-to-day basis, for your health, and in the long run.
Day-to-Day Benefits
Once your gums and jawbone have healed completely, your dental implant shouldn’t feel any different from your natural tooth. You may even forget that it isn’t one of your natural teeth! Here are a few of the benefits that you can experience every single day:
- Easy to Maintain: There aren’t any additional products or equipment that you need to purchase to take care of your dental implants. You can keep your dental implants in good shape the same way you do for your natural teeth. Brush twice, floss, and rinse with mouthwash on a daily basis. Continue to attend regular cleanings and checkups every six months.
- Stronger Bite Force: Dental implants can restore your bite force up to 90%! This is much more than what you can expect from dental bridges and dentures.
- Increased Confidence: If you have gaps in your smile, it is easy to feel that your confidence is lacking. With dental implants, you can continue to show off your grin with pride.
Health Benefits
Dental implants have a positive impact on the entire body! Here are some of the ways that your dental implants can benefit your health:
- Improved Dental Health: Missing teeth can increase your risk of other dental problems. This includes gum disease, misalignment, and additional tooth loss. Dental implants can help to prevent these negative effects.
- Better General Health: Your dental health and general health are very closely related. When your smile is thriving, you are at a lower risk of numerous life-threatening conditions, including diabetes and heart disease.
- Prevent Bone Loss: When your jawbone isn’t being stimulated with regular chewing, it starts to be reabsorbed by the body. Dental implants replace the roots of the teeth, therefore stimulating the jawbone and preventing it from deteriorating over time.
Long-Term Benefits
Dental implants are more costly than traditional dentures and dental bridges. However, there are good reasons for this. Here are some of the long-term benefits of your dental implants:
- Long-Lasting: Dental implants are very durable. With proper care and maintenance, you can anticipate a restoration that will last for many years down the road. You can enjoy your dental implants for numerous decades or even the rest of your life!
- Successful: Dental implants have an astonishing success rate of over 95%. This means that dental implant failure is very rare.
- Cost-Effective: Dental implants may be more costly upfront, but they are made to last for a very long time. This way, you don’t need to worry about repair and replacements. You also don’t have to stock up on other products to keep your implants healthy. Lastly, dental implants can prevent oral health issues from developing, therefore saving you time and money when you look at the big picture.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Dental implants can be used to treat all severities of tooth loss in eligible patients. While the only way to know for sure if dental implants are right for you is to schedule a consultation, most adults who have good oral and general health qualify for this treatment. Even if you’re not a good candidate at first, we may be able to improve the chances of successful treatment with certain preparatory procedures.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
A person interested in getting dental implants needs at least three basic things: good dental health, stable overall health, and a strong and thick jawbone. The new roots need an adequate amount of jawbone in order to stay in place, and any existing dental problems (such as gum disease) could potentially affect their placement. Also, overall health conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or heart disease, could impact the dental implant procedure. If any of these requirements are an issue, your dentist in Naples, Dr. Skupny, can work with you to help you become a viable candidate for the treatment.
Once you’re ready to receive dental implants, our team can develop a treatment plan based on the number of teeth you have lost:
Missing One Tooth
An implant post is surgically placed into your jawbone to act as a new root. An abutment is connected to the post to attach a custom-made dental crown. Unlike a traditional dental bridge, none of your existing tooth structure has to be removed to secure this restoration into place, allowing you to enjoy improved oral health.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Several missing teeth in a row are replaced with an implant-supported bridge. A row of prosthetic teeth is designed to match the appearance of your natural ones. It is anchored to your jawbone using an implant post on either end of the bridge.
Missing All Teeth
A full denture can be secured to your jawbone using an average of four to six implant posts. With an implant denture, you will never need to worry about any slipping or irritation again.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
If you want your dental implants to go the distance and last for decades, you must put in the work to keep them and your mouth in good condition. Fortunately, maintenance for dental implants includes simple tasks you should be doing for your overall health anyway! The better you can stick with these care tips, the better your smile will be able to function and look year after year.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
The materials that make up your dental implants are impervious to decay, but you still have other structures that could become infected from oral bacteria. For instance, your gums and jawbone, which are essential for implant stability, could succumb to inflammation, making daily brushing and flossing imperative. By removing bacteria-filled plaque every day, you can stop infection from harming your smile and preserve your implants for the long term.
Eat a Healthy Diet
When you eat, you can also feed the bacteria in your mouth. Sweet treats, in particular, encourage their growth. As a result, you should try to limit your sugar and starch consumption. On the other hand, plenty of fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that strengthen your mouth against infection and inflammation. Make sure you have a balanced diet and make smart choices to hold onto your prosthetic teeth.
Break Bad Habits
Certain habits, such as oral hygiene, can be beneficial, while others can be counterproductive like smoking or vaping. These actions invite oral bacteria and increase your odds of infection substantially. If you choose to get dental implants, it’s the perfect time to make a change and stop any habits that could put your restored smile at risk of failure.
Protect Your Dental Implants
Dental implants are strong, but it is possible to damage them to the point of failure. For instance, if you grind your teeth while you sleep or get hit hard in the face, your implants could become loose. In these circumstances, you can prevent this damage with the help of special mouthguards. A nightguard keeps your upper and lower teeth from touching, which can minimize the impact on your implants as well as take pressure off your jaw joint. A sports mouthguard absorbs a decent amount of a blow to the face, protecting your mouth from harm.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Dental implant failure rarely happens suddenly—it usually develops over time. Consequently, you should continue to come into our office to have Dr. Skupny look at your implants and mouth on a regular basis or at least every six months. He can identify a problem early and treat it before it negatively impacts your smile.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
There is no easy answer to this question because the amount is determined by your individual treatment plan, such as the number of teeth being treated and your dental coverage. We help you maximize the value of your insurance policy to reduce the amount you need to pay. We accept a variety of payment options to cover any remaining balance to keep your new smile affordable. You will invest in your smile using a solution that can last for several decades, so you never need to worry about having it replaced.
Types of Dental Implants
There are several types of dental implants used to address different tooth loss situations. Depending on your needs, Dr. Skupny may recommend one of the following:
- Implant Crown: If you’re missing a single tooth, you can still get it replaced with a dental implant in Naples. We can attach a custom-tailored dental crown that is virtually indistinguishable from your home-grown teeth to your implant. That way, you won’t have an embarrassing gap in your smile where harmful oral bacteria can hideout.
- Implant Bridge: If you’re missing multiple consecutive teeth, we may recommend an implant bridge to replace it. With a traditional bridge, your healthy teeth will need to be altered to anchor your replacement tooth in place. Because your bridge will be attached to implants instead of other teeth, you’ll be able to preserve your natural teeth.
- Implant Denture: Dentures retained by implants are the costliest procedure because they can replace an entire arch of missing teeth at a time. The implants provide added support and stability, so you can confidently eat, speak, and smile again.
What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?
One fact about the dental implant procedure that many patients aren’t aware of is that it’s separated into several appointments and procedures. This allows you to split up the cost of the entire process into multiple payments over the course of several months.
Each phase of the process has a separate fee attached to it. Some of these include:
- Initial consultation.
- Local anesthesia.
- Implant placement surgery.
- Abutment placement.
- Custom restoration placement.
Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?
Patients and professionals will both agree that dental implants are well worth the investment of your time and money. When you consider the overall value of dental implants in Naples compared to traditional restorations, you’ll notice that they actually save you money over time.
Instead of needing to have traditional restoration replaced every seven or so years, your dental implants will be able to last you up to 35 years with the proper maintenance. That means you’ll be paying for less visits to your dentist while enjoying strong, sturdy, high-quality replacement teeth that you can count on.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Most dental insurance plans don’t cover the cost of implants because they consider them a cosmetic procedure still. At Island Coast Dentistry, we will gladly file any insurance claims for you as a courtesy so you can be reimbursed directly if your insurance company covers a portion of the process. However, Dr. Skupny isn’t a contracted provider for any insurance plans and doesn’t participate in Health Management Organizations. For payment options, we accept checks, cash, and credit cards, and we also offer flexible payment plans and additional financing options.
Dental Implant Frequently Asked Quetions
Thinking about dental implants in Naples? With over a decade of experience, we can assure you that you’ll be thrilled with the strong, life-like results that implants provide. But we also know how common it is to have a few questions about the procedure beforehand. Keep reading for answers to the implant questions we hear the most, and feel free to get in touch if you have any other questions!
Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Dental implants usually work beautifully for most patients, but what’s right for one person isn’t always right for another. Given the wide range of oral health needs everyone faces, the best place to start is scheduling a consultation. With that said, here are some of the factors we’ll be evaluating to determine if you’re a good candidate:
- General health – You need to be in good overall health to heal properly, so we may suggest alternative replacement options for patients with certain immune conditions, unmanaged diabetes, etc.
- Gum health – Implants need to be surrounded by healthy gum tissue. If you have gum disease, we may recommend gum therapy beforehand.
- Jawbone density – Implants also need adequate jawbone for support. If your jaws are weakened after tooth loss, you may need a bone graft to strengthen them before implants can be placed.
- Tobacco use – The implant success rate for non-smokers is over 97%, but that drops to 85% in smokers.
Are Dental Implants Covered by Insurance?
Unfortunately, most insurance companies only cover the least expensive treatment (such as a bridge or denture), even if it’s not in the patient’s best interest.
However, every insurance plan is different, so start by looking at your individual benefits or give us a call and we’ll be happy to look at your plan. Also, keep in mind that your insurance may partially cover services other than the implant itself, such as exams, X-rays, etc.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Absolutely! Implants have a very safe, successful track record and have restored the smiles of millions of people over the last several decades. They’re also made from the same material that’s used in knee and hip replacements; bio-compatible, surgical-grade titanium.
Is Dental Implant Surgery Painful?
This surprises many people, but getting implants isn’t as painful as you’d think. In fact, it’s similar to having a tooth pulled, so while you’ll feel pressure, you’ll be completely numb and won’t feel any pain. Also, keep in mind that you’ll have sedation options to relieve any stress and anxiety.
How Long Will It Take to Recover from Getting Dental Implants?
After your surgery, you’ll have moderate swelling and tenderness in the area, which is usually easily managed with over-the-counter pain medication. The recovery process usually takes about a week in total, but most patients only need to take two or three days off work. As a dentist in Naples, we often recommend scheduling your procedure on a Thursday or Friday so you can recover over the weekend.