Dental Implants – Franklin Park, IL

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Choosing the right implant dentist is the first step in the dental implant process. At Grand Dental – Franklin Park, we are pleased to have patients meet with our on-staff periodontist who will complete a thorough examination. This will involve reviewing a person’s oral health to ensure there are no signs of cavities or gum disease that may need to be treated beforehand. It will also include evaluating the jawbone to determine the density and whether a bone graft is necessary. Once the examination is complete, we will collect our findings to establish whether dental implants are right for a particular patient as well as how they can expect the process to move forward after the initial consultation.

Dental Implant Surgery

Because we perform the entire dental implant placement and restoration process in-house, patients do not need to worry about becoming familiar with new staff and specialists. Instead, we will monitor a person’s progress from beginning to end, starting with dental implant surgery after the consultation. By administering local anesthesia to ensure comfort and relaxation, we will make small incisions in the gums before placing each implant post. Positioning it correctly is essential to success, so we will take our time to ensure optimal placement.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

After the procedure, patients can expect to return home to recover. Although healing from the surgery may only require a few weeks, the process of osseointegration will continue. This is the fusing between the implant and the bone tissues. This must be successful if dental implants are to achieve a firm foundation.

Once healed from surgery, and the osseointegration process is complete, we will apply metal abutments, which are connector pieces that attach the restoration to the implant.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

Once the rest of the titanium post is fully intact and in place, the final step is to deliver a customized restoration. Depending on how many teeth a person is missing, the dentist will recommend either a crown, bridge, or denture. No matter which is selected, the finalized look will help patients to see a natural appearance that feels comfortable to wear and acts just like regular teeth.

Day-to-Day Benefits

• The ability to eat almost any food – Instead of worrying about slippage or prosthetic teeth falling out, patients can be confident in their dental implants since they are held firmly in place through osseointegration. This ensures a strong bite and chewing power, making it easy to consume virtually any food.
• Improved oral health – Instead of relying on specialized products to keep teeth clean, patients with dental implants in Franklin Park need only a toothbrush, non-abrasive toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash to reduce their risk of decay and gum disease.
• Better quality of life – Unlike denture-wearers who often complain about insecurity regarding their smiles, those with dental implants can enjoy heightened confidence when eating, speaking, and smiling.

Health Benefits

• No need to modify existing tooth structure – Dental implants are self-supporting, which means that an implant dentist in Franklin Park usually has no need to alter the existing nearby dentition.
• Jawbone preservation – Tooth loss causes the jawbone to deteriorate over time, so it loses it volume, mass, and shape. However, thanks to dental implants, the bone can remain stimulated and retain its strength and shape.
• Teeth remain in place – Empty space in a dental arch can allow the remaining natural teeth to begin to drift out of alignment. Fortunately, dental implants can prevent this issue. It is unlikely that an individual will require orthodontia to correct dental drift.

Long-Term Benefits

• The success rate of placement is high – When patients entrust their care to licensed, experienced dental professionals, dental implant surgery has a success rate of over 95% upon initial placement. After 10 years, the rate may drop to 90% depending on how well a person cares for their oral health.
• Dental implants last decades – Unlike dentures and dental bridges, which may only last up to 10 years, dental implants are known to endure 30 years or even a lifetime!
• They cost less in the long run – Yes, dental implants present a significant upfront expense. However, when patients look ahead 10, 20, or even 30 years, they will discover that these prosthetics are surprisingly cost-effective due to their longevity and health benefits.

Would you like to discover more about how dental implants may be able to benefit you personally? Contact Grand Dental – Franklin Park today.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

If you require any preliminary treatments prior to undergoing dental implant surgery, these procedures will add to your overall cost. Examples of preliminary procedures include bone grafts, gum disease therapy, and tooth extractions.

The dental implant surgery incurs a separate fee. Because we can perform this complex procedure in-house, you do not need to worry about paying an outside specialist. This keeps the complete cost in one place, making payment as easy and convenient as possible.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Some elements of your dental implant procedure that can impact cost include:

• The number of implants required – If only one tooth is missing, a single dental implant is required. This is much cheaper than if a patient needs four to six implants or more for full-arch tooth replacement.
• The materials used – Titanium alloy and zirconia are the two most common materials used to fabricate dental implants.
• The type of restoration needed – Dental crowns, bridges, and dentures can be secured to dental implants. The number of missing teeth determines the type of restoration needed. Generally speaking, a crown costs less to create than a denture or bridge.
• The brand – Dental implants are made by a range of manufacturers, which charge varying prices for their products.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

Dental implants are a cost-effective solution for patients who want tooth replacement that will last for decades, not just years. Instead of relying on messy adhesives and costly cleaning supplies, individuals can enjoy prosthetic teeth that are stable within the jawbone and do not require any additional, specialized products to hold them in place.

Patients can also expect to have a lower risk of health conditions that are often associated with tooth loss. You can therefore potentially avoid costly treatments for heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Although some dental insurance companies provide coverage for dental implants in Franklin Park, others continue to classify them as an elective procedure. However, even if your insurance carrier will not cover the cost of surgery, it is likely to pay for other aspects of treatment, including preliminary treatments and the final restoration. Our practice welcomes insurance; our team will assist you as you navigate your benefits and file your claims.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Our implant dentist in Franklin Park understands that this procedure can be a costly investment, which is why we are pleased to offer provisions to make your care easier to afford:

• Grand Advantage Plan – By paying a reasonable yearly fee, patients receive access to general dental care as well as discounts on virtually all other treatments available in our practice.
• Flexible financing through CareCredit – CareCredit offers convenient low- and no-interest payment plans for qualified applicants.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

Whether you feel like your normal self after surgery or not, there are some things you should expect to do as well as avoid immediately following our procedure. These include:

• Getting plenty of rest once you return home.
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers the moment you feel the anesthesia starting to wear off.
• Avoiding smoking or drinking alcohol for at least 24-48 hours.
• Using a cold compress to reduce swelling and discomfort.

Common Side Effects

Swelling, bleeding, and bruising are all common side effects after undergoing dental implant surgery. After all, your jawbone and gum tissues were opened and closed, so it will take time for them to heal properly. However, the good news is that these side effects will dissipate in little time, allowing you to feel better in a matter of days. However, should you notice that swelling or bleeding worsens, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office for help.

Diet

The first few days after your procedure, you’ll want to stick to a liquid diet, as this will allow your surgical sites to heal a bit more before any pressure is applied. Once it feels good enough you can switch to a soft food diet that consists of everything from pasta and yogurt to pudding, ice cream, warm soup, mashed potatoes, and more.

Denser foods will need to wait until you can bite down without feeling any pain or discomfort. This can take weeks or even months, as each person is different.

Health & Oral Hygiene

Your natural teeth and implant posts will need to remain bacteria-free during this healing phase, so you can expect to return to your normal oral hygiene routine the first full day after surgery. While you may be tempted to take it easy, you’ll need to thoroughly clean any natural teeth that remain. You can be careful around your surgical sites when brushing and flossing, and you can rinse with warm salt water as opposed to a traditional mouthwash to flush out any remaining bad bacteria.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Once you are given the green light to receive your finalized teeth, you’ll be pleased to see that they feel good the moment they are secured in place. While there may be some slight sensitivity at first, this will dissipate in only a few days, allowing you to enjoy life with a complete set of teeth that look and function like normal.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

While dentures and dental bridges need to be replaced every five to ten years, dental implants in Franklin Park can easily last 30 years or more. In fact, with the proper care, most patients can enjoy their dental implants for a lifetime without replacement. How long your dental implant lasts will ultimately depend on how well you take care of it. From improved oral hygiene to wearing a custom nightguard, our team will provide helpful tips and techniques to ensure you get the most out of your new smile.

How Successful Are Dental Implants?

When placed by a seasoned and highly trained professional, dental implants boast an impressive 95% success rate. This high level of success is even seen 10 years after initial placement! At Grand Dental — Franklin Park, your smile will be in the trustworthy hands of our in-house periodontist and implantologist Dr. Bruce Abdullah. He has over three full decades of experience and is a member of numerous prestigious organizations, including the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and the American Dental Association.

Am I Too Young For Dental Implants?

Since dental implants are stabilized in the jawbone, we do not typically recommend them for patients who are under the age of 20. The jawbone continues to grow until about the age of 18 or 19. Placing a permanent restoration like a dental implant into a jawbone that has not fully developed can cause serious complications. We encourage younger patients with missing teeth to choose alternative tooth replacement options until it is safe for them to pursue dental implants.

Am I Too Old For Dental Implants?

There is no upper age limit for dental implants. However, the issues that can potentially keep you from being considered a good candidate for dental implants are more common later in life. You will need to be in good oral health and have adequate jawbone density to get dental implants. Fortunately, if you are not initially a good candidate because of these factors, we can likely get you on the right track with preliminary treatments like a bone graft or gum disease therapy.

Will I Need to Take Time Off of Work for Dental Implant Surgery?

In general, yes patients will typically need to take a short amount of time off of work to get dental implants. However, the amount of time off needed will vary from patient to patient. For example, someone who is getting a single dental implant may only need to take one day off of work. Alternatively, a patient who is replacing several missing teeth or is getting an implant denture will need more time to recover. We will discuss how long you specifically can expect to take to recover and will schedule your implant surgery in a manner that’s right for you.