What are dental implants and how do they work?

Dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement. A dental implant is typically made of titanium, and it is a screw that is anchored into the jaw bone. The top portion of the implant is designed to have prosthetic components screwed into it, so it can be used in a variety of ways: to replace one tooth, to link to additional implants to replace multiple teeth, or as a snap or portion of a bar that dentures snap on to. Implants are most commonly used to replace a single tooth, and in that scenario it is a 3-piece thing replacing one tooth. The implant itself is replacing the natural tooth root, which is in the jaw bone. A component that screws down into the implant but sticks up out of the gums (like a natural tooth that has been prepared for a crown) is called the “abutment.” And, like a natural tooth, a porcelain crown attaches to the abutment to complete the restoration and replace the missing tooth.

Many of our patients report they’d been told by other dentists that they are not candidates for dental implants. These days, it’s fairly rare to be a patient who cannot have implants. One limiting factor is the loss of bone that will support the implant, but with advances in technology and understanding, we can now do bone grafting as a routine aspect of tooth replacement.

How long do dental implants take? (https://vimeo.com/302136439?fl=pl&fe=vl)

The answer varies depending on the patient’s individual scenario. We can provide a more qualified answer during the initial consultation. Bone healing takes roughly 3-6 months depending on a number of factors: age, gender, size of the tooth, if infection was present, health history, etc. From the day an implant is placed to the day a tooth can be attached is usually around 4 months. There are plenty of instances where a tooth or arch full of teeth is attached to implants the very same day the implants are placed. For individual teeth, this is more common in the anterior portion of the mouth where the biting forces are weaker and it is safer for the implant. If a tooth needs to be extracted prior to implant placement, that bone often needs to heal for 3-4 months before it is strong enough to support an implant. In these cases, the full timeline for many patients who need a tooth extracted is 8-10 months. Again, this varies greatly depending on the scenario. CT scans, intraoral exams, and bite assessments allow us to develop a timeline specific to each patient during their consultation.

Do dental implants hurt?

For any patient who has not had an implant before, pain is usually heavy on their mind. Fear not! It’s truly a daily experience for us to hear how easy the process was or how shocked someone is with the lack of discomfort and swelling. The bone itself has very little feeling. Gums have feeling, but discomfort in these areas is very easily controlled with mild medication. The same often holds true for implant surgeries, especially when they are CT guided which is the preferred method at Atlanta Dental Spa. Because we are able to work in a small space, the discomfort is essentially limited to the tiny area of gums around where the new implant is, which is very easy to manage. With the help of IV sedation to make your visit a stress-free experience, we are able to give medication that helps make the first 48 hours extra easy. The best part is your body produces that medication naturally, so no one is allergic to it and it’s very safe! We strive to make every procedure as comfortable as possible.

How long do dental implants last? Are they permanent?

The goal is decades and decades, and hopefully a lifetime. Implants have only been around for about 45 years, so no implant has survived longer than that, and much about the design, materials, and methods changed in the first 10-15 years. There are lots of healthy implants that are 30+ years old, and if the patient maintains good habits and hygiene, their implants should last a very long time.

Are dental implants safe and what are the risks?

Dental implants should be very safe. Although placing an implant is technically a surgery, it is typically a minor one that has low risk and an easy recovery. At Atlanta Dental Spa, we always use 3D x-rays (CT scans) to know exactly where important anatomy is located so we can always stay safely away from important structures. Most of our implants are also done in a completely guided manner that removes the vast majority of any risk. Our implant doctors are all highly trained, but we still often use guides to make sure that every step, and every result, is as perfect as possible. Think of a professional bowler who decides to use the bumpers…they don’t need them, but it makes it really difficult for them to miss their target. Like any surgery, the risks are things like minor swelling, some mild discomfort (most of our patients report never taking a single narcotic afterwards), temporary bleeding (usually it is more like a trickle that stops after 2-3 hours), and occasionally a small bruise (but that’s fairly rare and usually on people who bruise very easily). There can certainly be higher risks such as if the implant made contact with a nerve or a structure like the sinus or a neighboring tooth, but again, that is why we only have doctors placing implants who are highly trained and we use every available, cutting-edge resource to avoid anything of that nature. We have placed thousands of implants over the last 20 years, and we’ve never had a major complication!

Will dental implants look and feel like natural teeth?

A well placed and nicely restored implant can often be impossible to distinguish from natural teeth. However, it is technically a prosthetic body part, so inherently there can be some challenges in making that completely camouflaged. Things like bone or gum grafting or possibly even restorations on neighboring teeth can be great ways to make the implant look as natural and perfect as possible. Remember, we’re replacing a tooth that was lost for a reason, so that often means the area around the implant has already been through some type of trauma or was unhealthy for an extended period of time before the implant replaced the tooth. We have lots of amazing tricks up our sleeves to help rebuild and restore the damage or disease that was the cause of the lost tooth, and we use top quality materials and dental labs to provide you with the prettiest result possible.

How much do dental implants cost in Atlanta?

When shopping around, make sure you ask the right questions. Many offices or websites leave out details to sound more affordable, but you find out once you’re there that there is more to it than the cost of the implant. Implants typically require an extraction, often some type of bone grafting, occasionally some amount of gum grafting, the implant itself, typically a temporary crown (this is the step that is often skipped at other offices and usually is the difference in an implant looking amazing or not), an abutment, and the crown. Most patients prefer to be sedated for the surgical steps as well. In Atlanta, the dental implant itself is usually $2000-$3000, but the entire set of procedures required to place and restore the implant is more like $5500-8000 depending on what the situation requires.

Are dental implants painful?

They don’t have to be! We pride ourselves on giving patients the best dental experiences possible, and we use multiple cutting edge approaches to help prevent pain such as a 3-day local anesthetic that helps keep the gums partially numb during the first few days of recovery. We also usually centrifuge some of the patient’s own blood to isolate and concentrate all of their best, natural healing factors that we then give back to the patient in the surgery sites. This speeds up healing, decreases pain, and lowers risks of infection. It’s basically making the patient heal like a younger version of themselves, and who doesn’t want that!?!

Post-Op Instructions & Sedation Guide

At Atlanta Dental Spa, we want every patient to have the best possible result and the most comfortable recovery. That’s why we make sure you have all the knowledge, guidance, and support you need after your procedure. No matter how big or small your treatment is, following these instructions will help you heal smoothly and feel like yourself again in no time. From start to finish, we’re here to make your experience exceptional.
‍
Select the page below that best matches your treatment, and if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to help.

1.General Post-Op Instructions

‍Applies to most oral surgery procedures.
Bleeding control, rinsing, swelling reduction, diet guidelines, sutures, and cleaning.

View General Instructions

2. Pain Control (Advil & Tylenol)

How to safely rotate Advil and Tylenol to stay ahead of discomfort.
Most patients never need prescription pain medication when following this guide.

View Pain Control Instructions

3. Procedure-Specific Instructions

Hybrid denture, sinus lift, wisdom teeth, and other treatment-specific guides.
Each includes a dedicated section with specific instructions tailored to your procedure.

View Procedure-Specific Instructions

4. Sedation & Ride-Home Instructions

Everything you need before sedation plus a video for the person driving you home.
Simple steps to keep you safe and comfortable.

View Sedation Instructions