Dental Implants – Bothell, WA
The Closest Alternative to Your Natural Teeth
Tooth loss can happen for a variety of reasons, but it always produces the same devastating results. Not only is your oral health badly damaged, but your confidence as well, often making it difficult to talk and smile. There are several tooth replacement options, like dentures and bridges; however, they often leave patients wanting more. They want a solution that looks and feels like their natural teeth. Now, you can get your dream smile with the power of dental implants. Here at Annigan Dental, Dr. Henry Hsue and his team can help you through the implant process.
Why Choose Annigan Dental for Dental Implants?
- Ability to Place & Restore Implants In-House
- Experienced & Compassionate Dental Team
- Dentists with Several Years of Experience
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a comprehensive tooth replacement technique that is composed of three parts: the implant post, the prosthetic tooth, and a connecting abutment that attaches the two. The post is surgically implanted beneath the gum line and restored with the prosthetic after it has fused with the jawbone.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
- The Consultation: At your initial consultation , you’ll have ample time to speak one-on-one with Dr. Hsue. Our team will also take diagnostic images of your teeth and jaw as well, allowing us to review your oral anatomy in greater detail. Based on Dr. Hsue’s observations, he will create a customized dental implant treatment plan for you and walk you through it.
- Dental Implant Placement: In many cases, Dr. Hsue is able to place dental implants in-office to minimize the need for referrals to outside providers. In a more complex case that may require the eye of a specialist, our team will refer you to an oral surgeon for the placement part of the treatment. You’ll then return to our office for the rest of the process.
- Osseointegration: The following three to six months after your surgery, your gums will begin to heal and your dental implants will begin the fusion process with your jawbone, called osseointegration.
- Securing the Restorations: We will attach small, metal connector pieces to the tops of your implants that will allow us to secure your permanent restoration within your mouth. This is the final step of the process and will complete your smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
The secret behind the success of dental implants is the fact that they replace both the root and crown. They replicate the root using a dental implant post, which is surgically placed into your jawbone. Although it remains hidden below your gum line, it is hard at work stimulating new bone growth to preserve the density of your jaw. In addition, it fuses to your jawbone to create a secure and stable foundation for your replacement tooth.
As the only dental treatment that replaces the root, dental implants offer exceptional benefits:
- Improves your oral health
- Has the potential to last for a lifetime
- A 95% treatment success rate
- Looks and feels natural
- Does not damage your surrounding teeth
Who Can Dental Implants Help?
Dental implants can be used to treat all cases of tooth loss—no matter if you are missing one tooth, multiple teeth, or an entire arch. Depending on how many teeth are being replaced, your treatment process and the materials that are needed will vary slightly.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
The best way to tell whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants in Bothell is to visit us for a consultation. Dr. Hsue will examine your smile to determine whether you have some of the following important traits:
- Good dental health, or treatments planned to restore your oral health.
- Commitment to maintaining good dental hygiene.
- A dense enough jawbone to support the fusion of your dental implants.
- Any medical conditions that impact your immune system are being maintained and treated.
Our team will capture X-rays and other diagnostic information to also plan your treatment and timeline during your consultation. This will allow us to walk you through what the process will look like so we can answer any questions you may have.
Missing One Tooth
Unlike a traditional fixed bridge that needs to rely on surrounding teeth for support, a single tooth dental implant restoration is fully self-supporting. We will start the process by performing any treatments necessary to prepare your smile for dental implant placement, including tooth extractions and tissue grafts. Then, the implant post is positioned.
Over the course of several months, the implant post will fuse with the bone and gum tissue. Once this fusion process is complete, we attach an abutment post that connects the dental crown to the implant. Then, the dental crown is designed. Once we receive the final dental crown, you’ll return to the office where we’ll attach your restoration to the implant post.
Missing Multiple Teeth
When you need to replace multiple missing teeth at a time, you have a couple of options to consider based on the location of the gaps in your smile. An implant bridge can replace up to three consecutive missing teeth. Instead of the two abutments on either end of the restoration being secured to your existing teeth, they’ll be anchored within your mouth via two or more dental implants. This method can be paired with implant crowns to restore several missing teeth scattered throughout your arch.
Missing All Teeth
If you are missing an entire row of teeth, we can also support a complete denture using anywhere from four to eight dental implants. Dr. Hsue will strategically place the posts in the thickest and most supportive areas of the jawbone for maximized comfort and stability. If you have suffered from jawbone deterioration in the past, we can also utilize the All-On-4 method to replace your teeth while minimizing the need for preparatory treatment like bone grafting. Once the implants have fused with the jawbone, we can secure the complete denture to them, restoring the health and wholeness of your smile.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Because no two smiles are exactly the same, no two patients will have identical tooth replacement procedures. Indeed, the cost of your own dental implants may vary greatly from a friend or partner who has already had them done. Each implant post and restoration can cost between $3,000 and $4,500 -- but what goes on before and after the procedure will influence the grand total of your dental implants. Our team is happy to walk you through these details during your consultation, as well as introduce you to the several easy ways to pay for your treatment, including using your insurance benefits or a third-party financer, like CareCredit and Lending Club.
What Factors Affect the Cost of Dental Implants?
During a dental implant consultation, your implant dentist will consider a few factors to give you a proper estimate of what you can expect to pay for your treatment. These include the following:
- How many teeth are missing : Because dental implants are priced individually, the number of implant posts that you require will be a significant factor in what you will pay for your procedure overall.
- The health of your jawbone : Patients who have had gum disease or those who have been missing teeth for a while may require a preliminary bone graft procedure. This increases volume and makes it more likely your dental implants will be successful, but it also drives up the cost of dental implants.
- What the dental implants are made of : Most implant posts are titanium, but patients who have metal allergies may require an alternative material. Ceramic and zirconia implant posts cost more.
- Where in the jaw the implants will be placed : Front teeth require a more complex placement due to aesthetic concerns, which means it may cost extra to place and restore these dental implants.
How Can You Pay for Dental Implants?
The only way to find out what you can expect to be the cost of dental implants in Bothell is by scheduling an appointment with our office. After we have a close estimate, we can also discuss ways to make dental implants more affordable -- including maximizing dental insurance coverage whenever possible and exploring third-party financing as needed. Whatever the cost of dental implants, it is well worth the investment for a healthy, complete smile!
Dental Implant FAQs
What are dental implants made of?
Dental implants are made of titanium, a material that actually bonds with your jawbone in the process known as osseointegration. Over a recovery period of three to six months, the bone tissue fuses together with each dental implant.
How are dental implants placed?
Dental implants are surgically placed by a qualified dentist, periodontist, or oral surgeon. Local anesthesia and sedation are available for your comfort throughout the procedure. After the implants have healed together with your jawbone, they are ready for restoration. You return to your dentist’s office for the placement of the crown, bridge, or denture.
How do dental implants compare to other tooth replacement options?
Dental implants are by far the best tooth replacement currently available. Nothing else rebuilds your missing tooth structure in quite the same way. By giving you back your tooth’s root as well as its visible crown, dental implants provide the ultimate stability for your smile.
How long do dental implants last?
With proper care and maintenance, dental implants can be expected to last for a lifetime. Compare that to traditional dentures and fixed bridges and you see that dental implants are indeed the best financial investment you can make.
How much do dental implants cost?
The cost of dental implant procedures varies based on how many teeth are being replaced, where in the mouth they are located, and whether or not you need a preparatory procedure (like a bone graft or sinus lift) first. But in general, each dental implant costs between $3,000 and $4,500, including the prosthetic that is affixed to it. Your dentist will help you know what to expect so you can prepare your budget for your tooth replacement.
Does getting dental implants hurt?
Rest assured, there’s nothing painful about getting a dental implant. Your jaw will be completely numb throughout implantation, and we also offer options in sedation dentistry for additional relaxation.
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
People who are in solid oral and overall health are usually good candidates for implant dentistry. Health conditions affecting the immune system, like uncontrolled diabetes or advanced stage cancers, affect your ability to properly heal. Non-invasive replacement options are preferred in these instances.
Who is the dentist providing dental implants in Bothell?
Your trusted implant dentist is at Annigan Dental! Dr. Henry Hsue provides comprehensive dental implant care in his state-of-the-art office. If you’re interested in learning whether or not the treatment is right for you, please request an appointment today.
