Dental Implants — Vero Beach, FL

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

First, you’ll visit with your Vero Beach implant dentist Dr. Adam or Giuliana Jones to discuss your tooth replacement goals and candidacy for dental implants. During this step, we’ll plan out your entire treatment from start to finish and walk you through every step. We’ll also help you plan out any necessary preliminary treatments like bone grafting or gum disease therapy before moving on to the next step.

Dental Implant Surgery

Once you’re cleared as a good candidate for dental implants, we’ll schedule your implant placement surgery. Thanks to our doctors’ advanced training, we’re able to perform this step of the process right here in our office instead of referring you to an outside specialist. Once we’ve ensured that you’re comfortable by numbing your mouth and administering sedation dentistry if needed, we’ll make one small incision for every dental implant you need. This allows us to access the jawbone, where we’ll carefully insert the dental implants. Then, we’ll place a protective cap on top of the implant and close your gums before sending you home to heal.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

It will only take a few days for you to recover from your dental implant surgery, but your jawbone will continue to heal for quite a while. Over the next three to six months, your dental implant will integrate with the surrounding bone tissue in a process called osseointegration.

When osseointegration is complete, you’ll have a strong and reliable foundation for your replacement teeth. You’ll visit us again to have a small connector piece called an abutment attached to the top of your dental implant. Next, you’ll return home while your custom-made restoration is fabricated.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

In just a few short weeks, you’ll visit us again for the last step of your dental implant treatment. We’ll secure your new crown, bridge, partial, or full denture onto your dental implant via the abutment and your smile will be complete! We’ll take the time to answer your questions, check the comfort of your bite, and ensure that you’re pleased with your results. Then, you’ll be ready to go out and show off your brand-new smile!

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.

Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

If you are suffering from tooth loss of any kind, there is a good chance you can receive dental implants. During your consultation, our team will consider three important factors:

• Your oral health and if you have signs of gum disease or tooth decay, in which you will need periodontal therapy or tooth extraction depending on the severity
• Your overall health and if you’re suited to undergo minor oral surgery
• The amount of jawbone that exists, as it is necessary to serve as the foundation for your prosthetics and future restoration. If lacking the density needed, a bone graft will be the next step

If you’re unsure whether you will qualify, don’t throw in the towel. It’s best to schedule a consultation and let our team evaluate your smile in its entirety. Even with the help of preliminary treatments, you can still receive implants that will improve your oral health and create a more youthful appearance.

Dental implants in Vero Beach are extremely versatile and capable of restoring smiles plagued by various types of tooth loss, including:

Missing 1 Tooth

According to the American College of Prosthodontics (ACP), 120 million Americans are living without at least one permanent tooth. Even with one missing tooth, eating and speaking can often be incredibly difficult.  Instead of neglecting treatment, we can help restore your smile by using a single dental implant. This unique post can support a dental crown for patients who have only lost one tooth. This method prevents the surrounding teeth from moving around (i.e., dental drift) and also supports the jaw to prevent bone loss.

Missing Multiple Teeth

The American College of Prosthodontics also states that the number of individuals who are missing most of their teeth will increase in the next 15 years to more than 200 million! If you are one of these individuals who are missing multiple teeth along your upper or lower arch, an implant bridge can  provide the ultimate security. Unlike with a traditional fixed bridge, the surrounding teeth do not have to be modified with dental implants. Also, if your missing teeth are scattered and not consecutive, a partial implant denture can be created and affixed to your dental implants in Vero Beach.

Missing All Teeth

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about 1 in 6 (roughly 17%) of individuals over the age of 65 have lost all their teeth. The ACP reports nearly 36 million Americans are living without any remaining, natural teeth. If you’re missing an entire arch of teeth, a full implant denture can not only restore your smile but also boost your confidence. Instead of relying on a traditional denture that only sits on top of the gums and requires dental adhesives to remain in place, we can use between 4 and 8 implant posts that fuse with your bone and create a permanent prosthetic that allows for a longer-lasting smile.

Learn More About Implant Dentures

Also, you may be eligible to receive All-On-4 or Teeth In a Day, which involves securing a complete prosthetic on as few as 4 dental implants. This is an ideal solution for individuals who have inadequate jawbone density as a result of waiting too long to replace their missing teeth.

Learn More About Teeth in a Day Learn More About All-On-4

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.

3D Cone Beam Imaging

To gain the most detailed image of your mouth and existing bone and gum tissue, we utilize a highly advanced 3D cone beam scanner. While this device is similar to digital X-rays, it provides us with information about your mouth that no digital X-ray can on its own.

The process of receiving a scan with this device is pretty straightforward. A team member will ask you to bite down onto a mouthguard-type portion of the machine, then the scanner will slowly rotate around your head to capture approximately 200 photos of your mouth at various angles. These images are then recompiled to create a 3D model.

Within this model, we can examine your:

• Soft tissue
• Nerve pathways
• Blood vessels
• Craniofacial bone tissue
• And other areas of interest!

With 3D cone beam imaging, we can make your dental implant surgery far more predictable, increasing the overall success rate compared to using digital X-rays alone. The scan is also, noninvasive, 100% painless, and takes just a few minutes to complete.

To have successful dental implants, sufficient jawbone density is very important. This is why your dentist might recommend that you have bone grafting before you move forward with the dental implant placement procedure. This is more common for patients who have been missing teeth for a long period of time. Bone grafting works by transplanting bone minerals to the appropriate areas of your jawbone. This usually takes several months to heal, but it makes a huge difference in the longevity of your dental implants.

When dental implants are placed in the back of the mouth, it sometimes becomes necessary to perform a sinus lift. This is because when you’re missing teeth, it can create a significant gap. Without enough bone present to keep the implant in place, it could protrude into the sinus cavity and lead to complications. To keep this from happening, the sinus can be vertically lifted, and grafting material can be placed around the implant. This helps to cut down on recovery time and increases the success rate.

Proper healing is needed for successful dental implants. PRP/PRF treatment involves using your blood to speed up the healing process during recovery. The extraction of your blood will occur beforehand and will be placed in a centrifuge. When ready, we will apply it around the surgical site to encourage faster healing. Because your own blood is being used for these, there is a reduced risk of developing an infection.

If your jawbone isn’t wide enough to support dental implants, we may need to perform a ridge expansion. First, the bone is divided. Then, the space can be filled with grafting material to widen the space and create a denser area. Once the area has healed, we can move on to place the dental implants. Then you will be one step closer to a complete smile!

Good 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.

Protect Your Smile

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!

Routine Checkups & Cleanings

You’ll be advised to get regular checkups and cleanings every six 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.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Maintaining a well-balanced diet by being mindful of your intake of carbohydrates and sugars is incredibly important, whether you have dental implants or not. This is because the harmful oral bacteria that are known to cause gum disease and other infections, like peri-implantitis, feed off of these substances. Then, they produce waste in the form of toxins that can cause gum inflammation, bleeding, and worsening infections that can jeopardize the health of your new restorations. Try to avoid processed snacks and instead substitute fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily diet when you can.

Break Bad Oral Habits

Another step you should take to maintain the health of your implants, especially right after you have your surgery, is to break bad oral habits like using tobacco. Studies show that one of the leading causes of dental implant failures is smoking, because it inhibits your body’s ability to quickly heal your gums and prevent infections from developing as well as cause dry mouth, which can increase your risk of developing oral infections. Try to gradually stop smoking before your treatment so you can get the most out of your brilliant new grin.

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.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

After implant surgery, a blood clot will form around the site. This is to help the healing process and prevent bacteria from entering the wound. You need to keep this blood clot in place, so refrain from using straws, smoking, or spitting; all of these actions could dislodge the clot. If that happens, you could experience what’s known as dry socket, which is painful and can extend the healing process.

Common Side-Effects

You will experience some discomfort after implant surgery, but it’s nothing that can’t be alleviated with medication. We may prescribe some pain medication, but over the counter medicine can help as well. Some bleeding is normal right after the surgery; if you notice any, take a small amount of gauze and apply pressure to the surgical site. Swelling can last for over a week, but it can be controlled if you regularly apply a cold compress to the affected area for 10 minutes at a time. Call us if you think your symptoms might be getting worse.

Diet

During recovery, it’s important to make sure that your body is getting proper nutrition. You’ll be somewhat limited in what you can eat for the first few days. Your diet should consist of soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, scrambled eggs, and pasta. Soup is a good option as well as long as it’s not too hot. After the discomfort has faded, you should be able to eat normally again. You still need to be careful not to chew directly on the implant surgery site, however; putting that sort of pressure on the implant posts before they’ve been restored might damage them.

Health & Oral Hygiene

While your dental implants are integrating with your jawbone, you should take care to keep the area around them clean and free of bacteria. Continue brushing and flossing while being careful around the surgery site. It’s also a good idea to rinse with salt water up to three times every day. You can use mouthwash as well, but stay away from any brands that include alcohol as an ingredient.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Once your mouth has fully healed, we can finish the process by attaching a prosthetic to your implant posts. Compared to implant surgery, the aftereffects of this step are very mild. At most, you may experience minor sensitivity in the gum tissue. Bleeding and swelling are not normal at this stage, so call us if they occur.

Does It Hurt to Get Dental Implants?

Our talented dentists have years of experience and advanced training in placing dental implants. We use powerful and reliable numbing medications that will ensure you don’t feel any discomfort during your placement surgery. Plus, we utilize advanced dental technology for precise surgery and calming sedation dentistry for optimal relaxation to ensure that getting dental implants is as comfortable as possible. Most patients are pleasantly surprised at how quick, easy, and pleasant the whole process is!

Am I Too Old or Too Young to Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the ideal tooth replacement option for practically anyone missing teeth. However, no matter what age you are, you need to have adequate oral health and jawbone density in order to qualify for dental implants. We generally don’t recommend implants for patients younger than 18 years old since the jawbone is still developing. There is no upper age limit for dental implants, but our older patients are more likely to run into issues like gum disease or a diminished jawbone that can threaten the success of dental implant treatment. Thankfully, preparatory treatments like gum disease therapy or a bone graft can typically help get you ready for your new smile!

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

It is possible for you to get dental implants if you smoke, however, you should be aware that smoking dramatically increases your risk of dental implant failure. Tobacco products slow down your body’s natural healing process, which can interfere with the vital osseointegration process and leaves the area around your dental implant vulnerable to infection. We’ll discuss the risks further with you in person, but if you’re considering dental implants, we encourage you to take this as an opportunity to quit smoking!

Do I Need a Bone Graft Before Getting Dental Implants?

Not everyone will need a bone graft before getting dental implants, though this preparatory procedure is not uncommon. It’s essential that your jawbone is dense enough for your dental implants to fully integrate and fuse with the tissue. Unfortunately, jawbone loss is a common side effect of tooth loss, since it’s the roots of the teeth that stimulate circulation in the jawbone to keep it strong and healthy. During your initial consultation, we’ll take images of your jawbone density to determine if you need a bone graft before getting dental implants.