Dental Implants — Vero Beach, FL

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Due to their comprehensive nature, dental implants look just like the smile you were born with (or even better). Unlike 10% of denture-wearers who struggle to socialize with others, go out to eat, or attend area events, dental implants allow you to have greater confidence in your appearance and embrace a better quality of life.
• You can eat and drink anything you want with stable dental implants. Denture-wearers and those with fixed bridges often find it difficult to consume certain foods; however, with dental implants in Vero Beach, you can freely eat the foods you love without worrying about slippage or your prosthetics accidentally falling out.
• Oral health is made easy when equipped with dental implants. Brushing and flossing are just as simple as with your natural teeth, requiring only your soft-bristled toothbrush, a non-abrasive toothpaste, and regular dental floss.

Health Benefits

• Dentures and fixed bridges only sit on top of the gums, whereas, dental implants replace the supportive root structure as well as the tooth, a method that nourishes the jawbone to promote better oral and overall health.
• Unlike a fixed bridge, dental implants do not require the modification of surrounding teeth. This allows your implant dentist in Vero Beach to disregard your healthy teeth, leaving them untouched, while focusing solely on the vacated socket and the implant that will be used to replace it.
• Dental implants make it possible to help extend your lifespan because of their ability to reduce common health problems. It is believed that people over the age of 65 who have lost 5 or more teeth suffer from problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Your choice to replace your missing teeth with dental implants in Vero Beach will minimize the potential risk for health problems that can ultimately shorten your life if left untreated.
• You will not experience oral sores or irritation as a result of your dental implants. As your facial shape changes, you won’t have to worry about ill-fitting prosthetics like you would if you were wearing dentures.

Long-Term Benefits

• When cared for properly, dental implants can be expected to stay strong and healthy for a lifetime. However, you must be committed to maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping up with your regularly scheduled dental checkups and cleanings with our office to ensure your prosthetics last as long as possible.
• It is not uncommon for dental implants to have a high success rate of 98% upon initial placement. This rate slightly lowers to 90-95% after 10 years, which still makes them a proven solution for permanent tooth replacement.
• Although the upfront costs are higher with dental implants, you will actually save money in the long run. No frequent adjustments or replacements, no dental adhesives, and no special cleaners will keep more money in your pocket.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Keep in mind that the entire dental implant process takes place over several months; in some cases, the treatment period can extend for a year or longer. Throughout that time period, you’ll undergo a number of different procedures that work together to restore your smile. For example, the implant placement surgery will be separate from the design and creation of your permanent new teeth. Similarly, a bone graft might take place months before the implant placement procedure.

You only have to pay for one portion of your implant procedure at a time. Knowing the cost of each part of your implant journey beforehand can help you to plan your budget in a way that makes it easier for you to afford your new smile.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Cost?

A healthy, beautiful, and long-lasting smile is a priceless asset. Not only will implants restore your ability to speak clearly and eat a well-balanced diet, but they can also improve your appearance and make you feel great about what you see in the mirror. Moreover, because they can last for decades, they may be a better long-term monetary value than other tooth replacement options, which may last for only a few years.

If you’re ready to find out how dental implants may be able to fit into your budget, contact our dental office to schedule your consultation.

Are Dental Implants Covered by Dental Insurance?

Some dental insurance policies cover implants. If they do not provide help for the implants themselves, they might assist with the cost of the implant restorations or preliminary work. In many cases, medical insurance might also come into play if your implants are considered necessary for your overall well-being. You’ll have to check the details of your insurance policies to find out how and if they apply to dental implants.

Paying for Your Dental Implants

If you don’t have dental insurance or have coverage with your plan, you may be able to utilize one or all of the following to mitigate the cost of your dental implants procedure:

• Financing: As your implant dentist in Vero Beach, we’re happy to help our patients apply for CareCredit. This program offers low-interest or no-interest financing to patients who need to undergo major dental procedures.
• Special accounts: If you have a healthcare savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA), you can put those funds toward dental work, including dental implants.

Practice Routine Oral Hygiene

Implants rarely fail, but when they do, the most common cause is an infection called peri-implantitis. This can develop if too much plaque and bacteria have been allowed to accumulate around the base of an implant, and it can literally break down the gum and bone tissue holding the post in place.

Thankfully, preventing this from happening is as easy as brushing and flossing consistently. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss in the evening before you go to bed. During both activities, make sure to spend time cleaning around the base of the implant. You can also rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash or use an interdental brush to clean those hard-to-reach areas.

Keep Your Smile Protected

Even though implants are extremely strong, just like your real teeth, they aren’t invincible. To make sure your implants don’t experience any trauma, you should:

• Wear a mouthguard whenever you play sports, whether or not the game involves any physical contact.
• If you grind your teeth while you sleep, your dentist can provide you with an oral appliance that will keep your smile protected while you slumber. This will have the added benefit of preserving the rest of your teeth as well!
• Try not to bite down on extremely hard things such as ice, popcorn kernels, certain candies, pens, pencils, fingernails, and so on.
• If you’re having trouble opening a package, don’t use your teeth as a tool—go get the scissors instead!

Don’t Forget About Us

You’ll be advised to get regular checkups and cleanings every 6 months after you’ve gotten implants, and you should definitely not skip these visits. They’ll give Dr. Jones the chance to examine your implants and make sure they are in tip-top condition. If there is an issue, they can help you fix it right away. You should also contact our office if you experience any pain, bleeding, or looseness with your implants, as this could indicate an underlying problem.

As you can see, looking after your implants isn’t really a chore—you basically take care of them just like your real teeth! That’s really all that’s needed to safeguard your complete smile and make sure you enjoy it for decades to come.

To learn more tips about how to maintain your dental implants, contact us today.