DuPage Dental Offers a Full Range of Implant Services
At DuPage Dental Smiles, we’re in the business of producing healthy, radiant smiles that project personal confidence, but it’s difficult to have that kind of smile if you have missing or damaged teeth. In the past, your only options for replacing missing or badly damaged teeth were bridges or dentures. The main shortcoming associated with these is jawbone deterioration caused by the loss of tooth roots.
Modern dentistry now offers a safe and healthy alternative in the form of dental implants. At our clinic in West Chicago, Dr. Sumeet Bagai offers a full range of implant dental services.
What is a Dental Implant?
Briefly explained, an implant is a titanium post or screw that is placed into your gum and serves as a foundation for the abutment and the crown (replacement tooth) that will be attached to the post. With implants, Dr. Bagai can replace a single tooth, as well as multiple teeth and even an entire dental arch.
Once in place, implants offer multiple dental benefits over traditional bridges and dentures. Among others, they give you the look and feel of natural teeth, and over time, the titanium post melds with the jaw bone, helping to prevent bone loss. Finally, with routine dental care, including regular dental checkups and daily brushing and flossing, implants can last a lifetime!
In contrast, a typical bridge will probably last about 7-10 years, while dentures typically will need to be replaced in about 5-7 years.
The Dental Implant Procedure
To be done properly, the implant process requires a minimum of two to three dental appointments.
During your first appointment, Dr. Bgai will surgically insert the titanium screw into your jaw, replacing the missing tooth or teeth. This procedure requires implant surgery performed using local anesthesia. Afterwards, you may receive a temporary cap to fill the space where your tooth was located.
It may take a few months for your jawbone to attach to the titanium screw, allowing the screw to become a secure part of your jawbone.
Once the implant screw and jawbone have fused, Dr. Bagai may place a healing cap to ensure the gum tissue heals correctly. This cap will probably remain in place for about two weeks, after which it is removed and the abutment that will support the crown (the replacement tooth) is screwed into the implant post.
Next, you will receive a temporary crown to be worn during completion of the healing process around the abutment.
It is essential to remember, however, that every implant procedure is different, and some of these steps may be combined or possibly eliminated completely, depending on each patient’s situation.
Your Permanent Crown and Recovery
As a final step in the procedure, Dr. Bagai will make an impression that is used to create the crown which will be permanently secured in place on top of the abutment. You can then treat this new “tooth” the same way you would treat your natural teeth, with daily brushing and flossing to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
During the implant process, you may have some discomfort which can usually be controlled with over-the-counter medications. Dr. Bagai will also advise you on the types of foods to avoid during the healing process.
Medicare and Finance Options
We are often asked by older patients if Medicare covers the cost of implants, and unfortunately, the answer is no. The original Medicare Act of 1965 does not cover dental costs, including dental implants. Medicare beneficiaries may want to consider enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, the vast majority of which offer various levels of dental coverage. Or alternatively, you might consider purchasing dental insurance with a private insurer.
While Medicare coverage does not pay the cost of implants, at DuPage Dental Smiles we offer a variety of payment options to all our patients, providing the dental care you need and deserve and financial options you can afford.
Schedule Your Appointment
As we said, at DuPage Dental Smiles we’re dedicated to providing you with that radiant smile you’ve always dreamed of having, and we urge you not to hesitate. Contact us at DuPage Dental Smiles today to schedule your initial dental implant appointment in West Chicago with Dr. Bagai.
