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 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, the dental implant surgery, osseointegration, and the placement of your final restoration.
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, including:
- Over a 95% success rate for a reliable solution.
- Smile confidently with a natural appearance using all-ceramic materials.
- Regain as much as 70% of your biting force for a solution that feels natural.
- Preserve the density of your jawbone and support your facial structures.
- Reduce your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and additional tooth loss.
- Enjoy a cost-effective treatment that can last for decades.
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.
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.