If you are considering dental implants as an alternative to dentures, a permanent bridge, or a partial plate, here is what you can expect. I've been through the process and I have first hand knowledge on the procedures, the timetable, and the costs.

If you are considering dental implants, you need to talk to your regular dentist. They can refer you to an oral surgeon who is specialized in the placement of dental implants and will be able to asses your situation and see if you are a good candidate. In my case, I needed to have the two lower teeth in the front replaced and they decided a single dental implant that looked like two teeth was probably the best way to go since the space was small and it would not accept two implants.

You will meet with the oral surgeon and they will take some x-rays of your jaw. From the x-rays they will be able to determine if you are a candidate for the dental implant procedure or if you should consider other choices. If your situation is good for the implants, the oral surgeon will take impressions of your teeth and ask you to return for the placement of the implant.

On the day that you arrive to receive the dental implants, the oral surgeon will administer a local anesthetic that will numb the area where the implant will be placed. You will then go to an operating room where he will make a small incision in the gum and drill a hole where the implant is placed. The implant itself is a small titanium screw that in time will fuse with the bone of the jaw creating a permanent root that could last a lifetime. After the implant is inserted into your jaw, a healing cap is placed on the top of the implant and the oral surgeon will then close the wound with stitches. You will need to return a couple times for the doctor to check on healing, but from that point on it is just a waiting game. You should expect the wait to be from 4 - 6 months for the implant to fuse with your bone.

After the swelling has gone down the doctor will probably need to modify your denture so it will fit over the implant. In my case, the denture didn't look very natural so you might have to put up with some bad teeth during the wait. You should be back to normal in a couple weeks, and then you will need to return to the oral surgeon's office in a few months to get an x-ray. The x-ray will let him know how well the bone has bonded to the implant. Once the bonding is sufficient, he will schedule you to have the abutment attached.

When the healing process is complete it is time to expose the implant and add the abutment. The abutment is a small metal post that is used as a way to attach a porcelain crown to the implant. The oral surgeon will once again numb the area and then make an incision in the gum above the implant. The healing cap is removed and the abutment is placed on the top of the implant.

Placing the Crown

After a few weeks of healing, you will visit your regular dentist who will take yet another impression of your teeth and will order a new crown that will be placed on the implant. In a couple weeks you will have a brand new tooth that will probably last a lifetime, although my dentist told me officially, they only guarantee 10 years.

The Costs

My dental insurance considers this type of procedure elective and did not cover the implant. I had to pay about $2000 out of pocket for the implant. They did cover half the cost of the crown so I only had to pay $400 for that part of the procedure. I am personally very satisfied with the final result and recommend dental implants as an alternative to dentures if for some reason you find yourself in a similar situation.