Many patients are curious about what is involved before, during, and after the dental implant treatment process. We will explain what a standard procedure entails. Every patient’s procedure is unique because of varying circumstances, but the majority of patients will experience what follows.

Once your dental implant consultation with Phoenix Periodontist Dr. Ariel Trujillo is complete, and it’s been determined you’re a suitable candidate, we will schedule a time for your surgery.

Most procedures for a dental implant will take under an hour. For multiple dental implants it may take some additional time. The dental work required to complete your treatment is complex, but you can be at ease because you are working with a Periodontist.

Periodontists, like Dr. Trujillo, have more experience and knowledge than a general dentist about your gums which can ensure greater success. Our entire team will do all that we can to ensure you feel comfortable and safe during the entire procedure. Depending on the complexity of your surgery, you may not even require anesthesia.

The Dental Implant Treatment Process Typically Includes These Steps:

1. Dr. Trujillo will prescribe medications such as antibiotics and/or pain relievers to begin taking prior to the surgery.
2. For most treatments, a local anesthetic, Novocain, is used to numb the area where the dental implant will be placed. Of course, at your request oral or intravenous sedation can be used for your comfort level. If sedated, a local anesthetic is still administered to numb the areas where the dental implant(s) is placed.
3. Once you are fully sedated Dr. Trujillo will create a small opening in your gum tissue, revealing the bone where the implant will be placed.
4. A socket is created using special instruments.
5. A titanium implant is then inserted into the socket.
6. Once inserted, sutures close the placement site to heal properly.

After the procedure, Dr. Trujillo and our team provide you with the proper information to allow your dental implant to heal. A standard dental implant will need two to four months to heal. During this time your bone will fuse around the dental implant so it becomes the new artificial root for your new tooth.

The exact amount of time it takes for your dental implant to heal is determined by a variety of factors. Follow-up care ensures that you are healing well and to determine when you are ready for the restorative phase of your treatment.

Permanent Teeth Restoration Phase

Dr. Trujillo will make an impression of your teeth to create an exact replica of your mouth and where your new implants will be. This is to make “bite” records so Dr. Trujillo can see the relationship between your upper and lower teeth. With this information, Dr. Trujillo inserts the abutments (support posts) that connect your dental implant with your new crown.

The number of appointments you will need and the amount of time required for each appointment is different for every patient. No two dental implant cases are exactly the same. No matter how many teeth need to be replaced, the work performed by Dr. Trujillo is done with great precision and attention to detail.

A New Smile & A New You!

Once your full dental implant procedure is complete, you are ready to rediscover the simple pleasures of life. You no longer need to feel embarrassed to show your smile and you can eat foods that were once forbidden.

Your new dental implant(s) will create not only a new smile but a brand new you! We know you are ready to make the change that you deserve. Get a new lease on life and schedule an appointment with Dr. Trujillo today!

If you need to replace missing teeth dental implants are the most popular and industry standard treatment option within dentistry today. Dental implants offer benefits for your health, wallet, lifestyle, and Smile. No other treatment method of replacing missing teeth compares to them!

Learn more about their benefits below from Phoenix Periodontist, Dr. Ariel Trujillo, and see how dental implants can completely change your life!

Dental Implants Ensure Your Health

If you have lost a tooth and decide to let your tooth socket remain empty, it can be dangerous to your oral health for multiple reasons.

First, without proper stimulation from a tooth, the jawbone in that section of your mouth will start to deteriorate. The blood capillaries that had surrounded your tooth will begin to fade and that area of the jaw will start to receive fewer nutrients. This causes your jaw to become weaker and brittle. This weak jaw bone compromises your other teeth, which potentially can start lead to you losing even more teeth!

Deciding to fill the empty space left by your tooth with a dental implant will stimulate new bone growth and help maintain your jawbone’s strength. Dental implants will assist in preserving and strengthening your jaw, and ensure your other teeth stay healthy.

Your natural teeth will gain additional support from your new dental implant. Your other teeth have a better chance of not becoming compromised and falling out. When you have an empty space in your mouth for a long period of time your natural teeth begin to shift, filling the gaps left behind. They also begin to deteriorate even more from foods that take more work to digest.

With dental implants in place, you can keep your other teeth as they are. They won’t shift to fill in the empty space that otherwise would have been left by your missing teeth. The reason is that dental implants act just like your normal teeth, and it will feel like you haven’t lost a tooth at all!

Dental Implants Save You Money

When a trained periodontist, like Dr., places a dental implant, and they are properly cared for, they are a one-time purchase. They’ll last a lifetime! Other tooth replacement techniques, like dentures, often last about a decade. With dentures, you may eventually need to come back to your dentist to make adjustments and replace them.

When compared to other methods, dental implants are the most durable with a very high success rate! When properly maintained, it’s very unlikely they will ever have to be repaired or replaced.

Feel More Attractive

Compared to other tooth-replacement methods, dental implants look and feel natural, and blend in with your natural teeth. Most people will never have any idea that you have an implant.

Not only do they blend in well with your other teeth, but they also maintain your face and mouth shape as already mentioned. With missing teeth, your cheeks start to sag into the spaces left behind. This causes a shrunken, wrinkled, almost skeletal appearance. This is another reason why you should choose dental implants. They will perfectly fill those empty spaces left by your missing teeth. They help keep your face looking as it should.

Live Life the Way You Should

Finally, dental implants don’t just look natural, but they function like your teeth. It is simple and easy to take care of your new teeth; maintain good oral hygiene habits — brushing and flossing your teeth.

Because the implants are fixed in your mouth permanently, you don’t have to worry when you bite into an apple. You can eat what you want since your new implants aren’t going anywhere. You can completely forget the list of foods you couldn’t enjoy before your implants!

Don’t be surprised if you forget which of your teeth are natural and which ones are implants. Dental implants feel and look so natural that it is effortless to adjust to them. You will be able to smile and speak easily, with no lisp, just as you always did.

Why Get Dental Implants From Arizona Periodontal Group?

If you are considering dental implants and are looking for an exceptional dentist in Phoenix, Arizona, schedule an appointment with Arizona Periodontal Group.

Dr. Trujillo is not like other dentists because he has additional training as a periodontist. This means he has more experience and training. You can rely on expert care and recovery with minimal discomfort during the entire procedure.

Now is the time to restore your lifestyle, and change your life! Schedule an appointment with us today to look into dental implants!

An ideal solution for a lost or decaying tooth, a single tooth dental implant can replace a missing tooth seamlessly. Lost, missing, or damaged teeth can cause patients significant issues. As well as feeling self-conscious about their smile, a missing tooth can lead to further movement in the mouth. Teeth that are next to the gap may start to move, and they may loosen over time. This could affect the visible appearance of your teeth and may lead to more tooth loss in the future.

With single tooth dental implants, however, you can replace a lost tooth easily. By fitting a replacement tooth via a surgical screw, a dental implant provides a permanent and robust solution.

How Is A Single Tooth Dental Implant Fitted?

When you have a dental implant fitted, your periodontist will affix a small, surgical screw to your jawbone. Sitting where the root of your tooth once was gives the replacement tooth something to adhere to. This ensures it will be robust, fully-functional, and not subject to subsequent movement. By using a surgical screw to affix the implant, a single tooth dental implant offers a long-term, stable solution.

Your periodontist will prepare the area and make an impression of your mouth. This enables specialist dental laboratory staff to create a replacement tooth that fits seamlessly. Additionally, your dental implant is color-matched to the surrounding teeth to ensure it’s not distinguishable from your natural teeth.

Will the Dental Implant Stay In Place?

Absolutely. A single tooth dental implant will remain in place for the long-term. In fact, many patients opt for this procedure purely for this reason!

Dental implants are fully functional, and the surgical screw ensures the tooth has a robust ‘root’ to support it. This means you can chew fully using the replacement tooth, without any movement occurring.

Furthermore, the osseointegrated material of the dental implants are biocompatible. This allows the bone in your jaw to grow between the ridges and around the implant itself. Known as osseointegration, this gives you replacement tooth the strength of a natural tooth root and increases its stability.

When Is A Single Tooth Dental Implant Used?

Single tooth dental implants are suitable for use in almost any situation where a patient is missing a tooth. Any number of reasons can cause a lost tooth such as decay, gum disease, or even an accident.

Depending on what caused your tooth loss, your periodontist may advise waiting a few weeks or months before fitting your implant. This allows the gum and surrounding area to heal fully and may allow for a more precise fit.

How Long Does It Take To Get A Single Tooth Dental Implant?

Providing the area has healed following the loss of the tooth, the periodontist can fit a single tooth dental implant relatively quickly. After mouth impressions, dental laboratory technicians will get to work creating your replacement tooth. In the meantime, Dr. Trujillo may offer you a temporary denture so that the gap in your teeth is not visible.

Generally, the implant is fitted before the replacement tooth is placed over it. This gives the implant time to integrate with the bone and gives the replacement tooth a strong base.

However, new technology has allowed for the development of immediate dental implants. These types of implants are fitted in just one appointment, thus minimizing the time it takes to rejuvenate your smile. While immediate, single-visit implants may not be suitable for every patient, they do provide a safe and effective way to reduce treatment for a considerable number of patients.

What Aftercare Will I Need?

As dental implants are fully-functioning, patients are normally advised to care for them as they would any other tooth. Regular brushing, flossing, and professional cleaning can help to increase the lifespan of your implant, as with any tooth. In fact, it is the minimal aftercare and maintenance which attracts many patients to implants. Once fitted, your dental implant should remain in place for up to a lifetime. Although your periodontist will provide specific care instructions, most patients simply need to follow a normal dental hygiene routine.

What If More Than One Tooth Is Missing?

Although dental implants can replace just one missing tooth, it can also replace many missing teeth. If you have lost a few adjoining teeth you could have a single implant with a fixed bridge. The implant firmly anchors the bridge while the bridge replaces your missing teeth.

Similarly, it is possible to use a single dental implant as an anchor for dentures or other dental solutions. By minimizing the number of implants required, a single implant can actually resolve a myriad of dental issues.

What Are The Benefits of A Single Tooth Dental Implant?

Dental implants offer numerous benefits for patients. They are fast becoming one of the most popular dental treatments in America. Dental implants are permanent, so it’s unlikely you’ll need to have them replaced. Additionally, they are strong and robust, so you won’t need to avoid chewing or biting down on them. Furthermore, they don’t require special aftercare and match your natural teeth.

With so many benefits, it’s no surprise that dental implants are one of the most popular solutions for missing teeth.

Schedule An Appointment Today

If you have considered a dental implant to replace a missing tooth, schedule an appointment with Dr. Trujillo today. He is happy to sit down with you to discuss options about your individual case. He can find a solution to restore your smile and bring back your self-confidence. All of us at Arizona Periodontal Group look forward to meeting you!

What is the Cost of a Dental Implant?

The amount of work and materials for a dental implant will differ from patient to patient. The fees and costs vary based on the type of implants, the number of implants, and any associated procedures that might be necessary.

Many people consider dental implants to be too expensive when compared to fillings, cleanings, root canals, and teeth extractions. However, dental implants differ from these conventional methods of tooth replacements by lasting up to an entire lifetime. Here is a summarized list of the benefit of getting an implant over bridges, crowns, and caps:

• Permanent solution: dental implants last up to a lifetime while conventional methods only last between five and seven years.
• High success rate: the success rate is 95% or higher.
• Custom-designed: each crown and implant is custom made to fit and appear like all your other teeth.
• Specialized care: only periodontists with advanced education, skills, and training, can perform this procedure so you know you’ll be receiving the best of care.

Are Dental Implants Cost Effective?

Dental implants tend to have higher upfront costs than other tooth replacement procedures. This is for several reasons.

Firstly, only a specialized periodontist can perform a dental implant procedure that requires a lot of finesse and additional education. It also requires highly specialized and expensive equipment.

The implant must consist of material that will hold up to the time and the strain of being the root of a tooth. The crown, which is the visible part of the dental implant, must also stand the test of time and look natural so as to blend in. This takes precise technology and an artistic touch.

While the initial upfront costs of a dental implant may look expensive, they’re actually very cost-effective when you consider the long-lasting solution that it provides.

Patients who pursue conventional methods of tooth replacements find themselves having to pay those costs every five to seven years for upkeep, maintenance, and repair. Dental implants require little to no maintenance and repair.

What Else Should I Know About the Costs of Dental Implants?

You and your periodontist will make a decision about a dental implant after discussing your options for tooth replacement. If you determined that you need a tooth replaced and you want to go with a dental implant, you need to be aware that there might be additional costs involved beyond just the implant.

For example, your mouth may need some additional procedures before it can successfully receive an implant. The site of the missing tooth has to be prepared beforehand. Preparations may involve bone or gum grafting that your periodontist performs separately. The purpose of these procedures would be to build up your gum tissue and bone to be able to properly hold the dental implant.

Ultimately, the following additional factors come into consideration when looking at the total cost for a dental implant:

• The patient’s jaw bone and gum condition.
• Medical issues such as diabetes.
• Health concerns like tobacco use and dental hygiene.

Contact Us

The cost of dental implants may seem high, but end up being very cost-effective when looking at the lifetime of the patient. Additionally, dental implants are the safest tooth replacement option.

You can contact the AZ Periodontal Group with questions about costs or the procedure itself. You can schedule an appointment with us today for the procedure.

Dr. Trujillo dedicates himself to providing the best customized periodontal care suited to the needs of each individual patient.