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Are all implants successful?
The success rate of implants is very high, however there are several
variables to consider before placing an implant. First the patient must
be healthy and have adequate healing powers. Uncontrolled diabetics
generally have poor healing, poor immune systems, are prone to infections
and hence their illness may compromise the long-term future of the implant.
Second, a proper diagnosis and treatment plan must be selected for the
individual patient. Third, proper home care and regular maintenance
is essential for long-term success. Heavy smoking or excessive alcohol
consumption could impair the health of the gums and the implant.
Will implants last a lifetime?
There are some implants, which have been in the mouth for as long as
thirty years. Our understanding of how placement, design, bone physiology
and engineering of the prosthetics affects the long term prognosis,
and the overall advancement in education of the many dentists placing
implants, means we will probably see many more implants lasting an increasing
longer period of time. However, thirty years is still not the average.
In many cases our own teeth do not last thirty years. Our health and
maintenance is extremely important in determining how long an implant
will last. In the final analysis, whether they last a lifetime depends
on how long you live and at what age you are when implant(s) are placed.
Is age a deterrent?
Anyone from 16 to over 80 years old can benefit from implants, as health
is really the determining factor. In fact, many people 70 and 80 years
of age are better candidates than someone years younger who has physical
complications.
But no matter what your age, the bottom line is that eating comfortably
is critical to enjoying life.
For older patients, dental implants allow them to do away with dentures,
and chew food such as meat and raw vegetables again, helping them maintain
their quality of life. As well, older individuals are more likely to
need implants because they usually have lost more teeth and supporting
ridges. Digestion and absorption of essential nutrients from food can
then become impaired and the need to be able to eat all types of nutritious
foods becomes even more important.
Is there a guarantee?
If an implant is placed and fails to integrate, we will
replace it at no cost to you. This is an extremely rare
occurrence in our office; however, should it happen, we will determine
and correct the problem and replace the implant.
Once integrated, the success depends partly on the design of the prosthetics
and loading, and we will treatment plan accordingly. Success also depends
on your long-term care and maintenance of your teeth.
Will there be discomfort?
Just as with any surgery there will be some discomfort the first few
days following surgery. This is usually minimal to moderate; similar
to having a tooth removed, and for the majority of our patients it is
easily controlled with non-narcotic medications such as Ibuprofen or
Tylenol. However, we are not all alike and you will be provided with
alternative medications should it be necessary. During the procedure
there will not be any discomfort as the combination of local anesthetics
and sedation will keep you comfortable.
How much time does it take?
This also depends on the complexity of the treatment. Individual procedures
are completed from thirty minutes to few hours. The total treatment
time can vary from four months to two years.
Will I be without teeth?
If you need a longer healing process until your final implants are completed,
you may be without teeth for a few weeks or months. If this is the case,
we can often make you a temporary implant that can support fixed or
non-moveable teeth.
Also, in some cases where patients have dentures, we ask them to wear
them as minimally as possible for the first few days to one week following
surgery.
How long will I be off work?
Generally we recommend the day of surgery plus one to three days for
recovery. For simple procedures you may be able to return to work the
next day, and more complex procedures may require a longer recovery
time. In all cases, we do not recommend any exercise or strenuous physical
activity for at least three to seven days following surgery.
How much does it cost and will it be expensive?
Implant procedures vary from very simple to very complex and this will
affect the total cost. In some cases we can place your implants immediately;
for others, we may need to rebuild bone that has atrophied, shrunk,
before placing implants.
The type of prosthetics (artificial teeth) can also affect the cost
and the number of implants that you need. For example, over dentures
are essentially dentures that snaps into place overtop of a bar supported
by implants. These are generally the least expensive type of prosthetics,
and you can remove them yourself for home hygiene maintenance.
Fixed-detachable teeth are denture teeth fused to a metal framework,
which is then attached to the implants. These do not come out - only
a dentist can remove them. They are more expensive than a removable
over denture.
Thirdly, a custom post can be fitted to your
Dental Implants, and then a
porcelain or porcelain fused to metal (white) crown can be cemented
to the post. These are also non-removable, and are generally the most
expensive type of prosthetics.
Whenever you are asking for an estimate or making comparisons between
prices, be sure to ask what is the total final cost to complete the
treatment. For example, you may get a quote for most of the steps involved
in the procedure, but not for items such as bone grafting, especially
if your dentist does not offer that service. In this scenario, you could
in fact end up paying more when your procedure is completed.
Implant treatments can vary from under $3,000 to over $20,000, depending
on the complexity. The easiest way to find out more about costs for
your particular treatment is to visit us for an initial consultation/examination,
or you can email us see contact us section.
In addition, because Dr. Kwok does most aspects of treatment for your
Implant at our office, costs can be less expensive since only one dentist
is needed.
When we survey our patients after treatment, they tell us not only
that it was worth it, but also that they would happily do it again.
For the vast majority of people, implants greatly improve their quality
of life and bring considerable comfort.
Is there a guarantee?
If an implant is placed and fails to integrate, we will replace it at
no cost to our patient. With proper technique, this is a very rare occurrence,
however, should it happen we would determine and correct the problem
and replace the Implant. Once integrated, the success depends partly
on the design of the prosthetics and loading, and we will treatment
plan accordingly.
However, long term maintenance and home care is essential.
Consequently, there is no way to fully guarantee anything which goes
into the mouth and which is under the control of the individual patient,
any more than a physician can tell you that a transplanted organ will
keep you alive for a specific length of time. We will ensure your treatment
plan is suitable for you; the Implants are placed properly and provide
you with the information for your home care and follow up appointments
to evaluate your continued dental health. We will do everything we can
to make the Dental Implants succeed, but you also have to make the same commitment.
Financing is also available.
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