Dental Implants — Westminster, CO

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

A consultation with J.B. Dental to determine the best course of treatment is the first step on your journey with dental implants. While some patients are cleared to immediately pursue dental implant surgery, others may require preliminary treatment. If this is you, do not worry. Dr. Bancroft and our team can administer appropriate care in the form of periodontal treatment, bone grafting, and even tooth extraction so that your mouth is better prepared for dental implants. If an implant is deemed the best solution for your tooth loss, we will then need to plan the surgical components of your treatment.

Dental Implant Surgery

In most cases, we can perform your dental implant surgery right here in our office! Dr. Bancroft is a highly skilled professional who understands and has experience performing this procedure. Local anesthesia will first be administered to numb the various areas of the mouth. Then, small incisions will be made in the gums to expose your jawbone. The number of implants you need will ultimately determine how many incisions are required.

She will then place each implant carefully, ensuring that it is properly positioned for maximum support. When finished, she will close the gum tissue and place protective healing caps over the implant posts while you heal.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

The completion of dental implant surgery means that you will be required to return home to rest. Generally, many patients, depending on how many dental implants are required, can resume some level of activity within a few days; however, those who require multiple implants (full denture) may need more time off from work.

During this time, osseointegration will occur, which is the fusing of your implants to your bone. This is necessary for a stable and firm foundation to form. Once this process is complete (it can take 4-6 months), you will return to J.B. Dental to have an impression taken or digital scan so that the fabrication of your custom restoration can begin.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

The final step of the dental implant process is the placement of your custom restoration. This can be a crown, bridge, or denture. The only way to determine which kind you will need is to identify how many implant posts you need to have put into place. You can expect that we will make sure your new tooth or teeth look natural and fit comfortably so that you can begin to use them to live your best life.

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Simple maintenance: Traditional dentures and dental bridges typically require the use of special products and techniques to clean them. With dental implants, since they’ll function just like natural teeth, you’ll simply need to brush, floss, and rinse them with mouthwash like normal.
• Improved chewing power: For other traditional restorations, you will still have to watch out for certain foods that can be complicated to chew. However, dental implants can help you regain 80% or more of your natural bite. This means you can feel free to munch on nearly all of your favorite foods without worrying about your teeth moving out of place.
• Boosted confidence: With titanium posts embedded into your jawbone, your new crown, bridge, or denture will not move out of position like you might expect from traditional prosthetics. In addition to your results looking exactly like natural teeth, you can feel more confident about your appearance in the long run.

Health Benefits

• Jawbone preservation: Dental implants will be surgically embedded into the jawbone, serving as your new tooth roots. This is essential as it will help promote circulation along with improved bone growth and stronger tissue. In this way, you can rebuild your smile as well as save your facial structure from the effects of tooth loss, as the jawbone can typically deteriorate if there aren’t tooth roots.
• Better nutrition: Since dental implants will offer exceptional stability for your new restoration(s), you’ll be able to munch on nearly all of your favorite meals or even expand your diet to include more nutritious options. By doing so, you can promote healthier gums and stronger connective tissues in the long run.
• Greater oral health: Dental implants are much simpler to clean, making it easier for you to maintain good oral health. In turn, you can also avoid more costly complications that could lead to problems with your overall well-being, such as gum disease and infection.

Long-Term Benefits

• Long-lasting solution: Dental implants typically boast a success rate of 95% or more even 10 years after being placed in the jawbone. Furthermore, with proper care, you can expect your new teeth to last several decades to a lifetime.
• Cost-effective treatment: You won’t need to replace your dental implants as often as you would with traditional dentures and dental bridges. This means you can save more in your wallet over time, even if there’s a higher upfront cost.

Missing 1 Tooth

If you need to restore only a single tooth/implant, an implant-retained dental crown is the ideal choice. Dr. Bancroft will design this conservative restoration from high-quality dental porcelain for a seamlessly lifelike appearance and feel. Better yet, it will be able to fit right in alongside natural teeth without requiring them to be heavily altered – this method is much better for your ongoing oral health.

Missing Multiple Teeth

When multiple teeth are missing throughout the mouth, implant-retained dental crowns may still be the right option for replacement. Alternatively, if the teeth used to appear consecutively, Dr. Bancroft could anchor a dental bridge over two positioned implants on either side of the gap, providing more comprehensive coverage all at once that’s sturdy, functional, and long-lasting.

Missing All Teeth

Are you tired of a loose denture that doesn’t allow you to eat what you want? Ask Dr. Bancroft about a better alternative. An implant denture is a denture held in place using two or more dental implants. These dentures may be removable or fixed. Implant dentures eliminate the looseness of a traditional denture and increase your chewing abilities by 60-90%. Implants work to reduce bone loss by holding the bone in place after a tooth is lost, thereby creating a more stable platform to keep your dentures in place.

In addition to the traditional implant denture model, Dr. Bancroft now offers All-On-4 as a state-of-the-art solution to comprehensive tooth loss. Like the name implies, we’ll place as little as four implants at precise, strategic angles in the jawbone to support a full arch of prosthetic teeth. The biggest benefit of this technique is that these new teeth can be restored on the same day as the surgical procedure and then replaced with a permanent prosthetic after the patient has fully healed – you won’t have to spend any time without the complete, confident smile you deserve!

Learn More About Implant Dentures

Learn More About All-On-4

Types of Dental Implants

The most prominent factor associated with the cost of treatment is the type of restoration you will need. If you are missing only one tooth, you will require a single dental implant, metal abutment, and custom-made dental crown. Naturally, as you require additional implants, the price will increase. For replacing multiple missing teeth, you have a few options that range from multiple individual implants, to implant-retained prosthetics like a denture or a bridge. In cases where a patient is missing most of their teeth, the ideal solution is all-on-four implant dentures which typically requires 4 individual implants. In every case, the treatment is different and customized to fit the patients needs. The best place to start is always with a thorough consultation with Dr. Bancroft so she can present you with the best solution given your oral health and your financial situation.

The Stages of Dental Implant Treatment

Each stage of the dental implant process incurs its own fee, allowing you to better budget along the way. From the initial consultation to the surgical placement to receiving your abutments and finally, your customized restoration, the entire process takes several months. However, this presents a great advantage because it will allow you to pay for each step in the process as you go instead of looking at one lump sum at the end of treatment.

Some of the services you will pay for along the way include:

• Any pre-implant placement dental work (i.e. bone grafting, tooth extraction)
• Implant placement surgery
• Abutment placement
• Creation and placement of your custom restoration

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

There is no doubt that dental implants are most certainly worth the investment. Unlike traditional tooth replacement solutions (i.e. fixed bridge, traditional partial or full dentures) that require frequent replacements, dental implants are designed to remain in place for decades or longer. Not to mention that they offer improved oral health because of their continuous stimulation of your jawbone, preventing facial collapse or sagging as you age.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Your dental insurance company may cover the cost of dental implants; however, not all are jumping on the bandwagon just yet. You will need to check with your insurer to determine if they will cover any or all of your treatment. If the surgical placement is not, you may find that your abutments, restoration, or any pre-implant placement dental work are fully or partially covered.

No matter how your insurance company handles your upcoming procedure, your implant dentist in Westminster will go over additional payment options to help you stay within your budget. Whether it is applying for flexible financing through CareCredit, which offers low and no interest payment plans, or enrolling in our dental membership program that provides 20% off all additional treatments for one low yearly fee, we can help minimize your out of pocket expenses while achieving a new and improved smile.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

Your main priority should be to leave the blood clot located at the surgical site untouched so the healing can occur smoothly. Here are some rules that you will need to follow after your procedure:

• Don’t spit. Use a tissue or swallow your saliva.
• Don’t use straws when drinking liquids.
• Don’t smoke immediately after your procedure.
• Keep your tongue and fingers away from the surgical site.

Common Side Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement

Some mild side effects are normal – especially for the first few days after your surgery. Here are some of the most common ones that patients experience:

• Bleeding: Minor bleeding is normal for a few days after your surgery. This will subside with gauze and light pressure.
• Swelling: For the first 72 hours after your procedure, inflammation is likely. Use a cold compress to reduce this.
• Discomfort: Soreness is normal after the procedure. This can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and prescribed medication.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

For the first few days after your procedure, you should stick to a soft-food diet. Here are some items to enjoy as you heal:

• Mashed potatoes
• Yogurt
• Ice cream
• Pudding
• Soup
• Scrambled eggs
• Pasta

Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene

The day after your surgery, you can brush your teeth as you normally would.  However, you should be especially careful when near surgical sites. Gently rinse your mouth two or three times each day after meals with salt water to keep the surgical area clean. When you use mouthwash, make sure that you aren’t using one that contains high levels of alcohol – this can irritate the site of the implant.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Now that your replacement teeth have been attached, the difficult part is over! Once your new crown, bridge, or denture has been attached to your implant(s), you could experience some minor sensitivity, but this should be easy to manage with over-the-counter pain relievers. There shouldn’t be any swelling, bleeding, or extensive recovery. You will be ready to show off your new and improved smile!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

While dental implants are immune to cavities, it doesn't mean you can neglect your oral hygiene. Even though the implant isn't made of organic materials, the gum tissue around it can still become inflamed from plaque and bacteria buildup. To keep your smile in optimal condition, make sure to brush twice daily, floss every day, and rinse with an ADA-approved mouthwash at least once a day.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Whether you have dental implants or not, maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet is essential. Eating healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains will help your new smile last as long as possible. On the other hand, consuming excessive amounts of sugary and starchy foods promotes the production of plaque acids by bacteria, which can harm your teeth. Additionally, staying hydrated helps keep your mouth clean and removes food debris.

Break Bad Habits

Dental implants are durable, but they are not indestructible. Avoid harmful habits such as using them as tools, biting your fingernails, smoking, and chewing on hard objects. These actions might seem harmless but can actually damage your implants. Do your best to break these poor habits and use your teeth only for their intended purposes: eating, speaking, and smiling!

Protect Your Dental Implants

Remember, dental implants can still break or fail due to trauma or injury. To protect your new smile, be sure to wear the right protective gear! If you play contact sports like football, basketball, soccer, hockey, or wrestling, wear a custom-made mouthguard. Additionally, if you grind or clench your teeth at night, consider getting a nightguard to safeguard your implants while you sleep.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

A comprehensive oral hygiene routine includes regular dental checkups and cleanings. Visiting our office every six months allows us to monitor your implants and promptly address any issues. These routine appointments help keep your smile in top shape. With early intervention, you can avoid the need for complex or expensive treatments in the future.

How long do dental implants last?

As long as you commit to taking proper care of your teeth and maintaining them through regular oral hygiene and visits to see Dr. Bancroft every six months, you can expect your dental implants to last nearly 30 years. There are cases in which individuals have enjoyed their permanent prosthetics for a lifetime, making these tooth replacements superior to other solutions (i.e., dental bridges, dentures). This unique benefit is also one of the reasons millions of Americans are already living with and enjoying the advantages only dental implants can provide.

How successful are dental implants?

Once dental implants in Westminster are in place, the initial success rate of placement is around 95%. After 10 years, the rate falls between 90-95%. The chances of dental implant failure are quite slim; however, some cases do occur and require extensive treatment. Fortunately, the majority of patients who are living with these permanent prosthetics have not experienced serious complications, making them a popular and highly recommended tooth replacement option for dentists throughout the world.

Am I too young to get dental implants?

As an implant dentist in Westminster, Dr. Bancroft believes in placing these prosthetics at the appropriate time. If you are in your teens, it’s highly unlikely that we will agree to insert dental implants at this time. The reason is that the jaw and other facial and oral structures are still developing. If implants are placed too soon, it can hinder the continued development of your mouth and face as well as cause potential implant failure. It is not until you are in your early to mid 20s that our team will consider dental implants to replace your missing teeth.

Will I have to take off work for dental implant surgery?

Anyone who is planning to undergo dental implant surgery should expect to take at least two or three days off of work. How long you spend recovering at home is ultimately determined by how many teeth must be replaced. More extensive work may require that you take one week off of work, whereas only one dental implant post may require a day or two to be spent at home.

When scheduling your procedure, you can try to book it later in the week if you’d like to use your weekend as part of your recovery effort. This is a great option for patients who are unsure about how much time they can safely take off.