An implant is a small titanium post placed in the jaw where a tooth root used to be. Once the bone heals around it, a crown, bridge, or denture attaches on top. It is the closest thing to getting your own tooth back. Dr. Seyal has placed more than 2,000 implants and does the whole process here on 26th Street.
What an implant can do
Replace one missing tooth without touching the neighbors. Replace several with an implant bridge. Hold a lower denture in place with two implants so it snaps on and stops moving. Or replace a whole arch with a fixed set of teeth on four to six implants. Which one fits depends on how many teeth are missing, how much bone is there, and your budget.
How it is done
First an exam and a panoramic x-ray to check the bone. Placing the implant is a short surgical visit under local anesthetic; most people say it was easier than the extraction. Then three to four months of healing while the bone bonds to the implant. Then the final crown or attachment is made and fitted. If a tooth has to come out first, the implant can sometimes go in the same day.
Who is a candidate
Most healthy adults. Bone that has shrunk after years without a tooth can often be built back with a graft. Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes lower the success rate, and Dr. Seyal will be honest with you about that. He will also tell you plainly when a bridge or a partial is the smarter choice for your situation.
What you get
- Placed and restored by a dentist with 2,000+ implants behind him
- Nothing done to the neighboring teeth
- Cleaned like a natural tooth, no soaking
- Stops the bone loss that follows a missing tooth
- Turns a loose lower denture into one that stays put
- Decades of service with normal care
Questions people ask
Dental Implants: FAQ
Does getting an implant hurt?
The placement is done under local anesthetic and is usually less uncomfortable than an extraction. A few days of soreness afterward is typical.
How much does an implant cost?
More than a bridge up front, often less over a lifetime because it does not need replacing. The front desk will give you the full number, implant and crown together, before you decide. Call (502) 778-0999.
How long does the whole process take?
Usually four to six months from placement to the final tooth, most of it healing time with nothing for you to do. A temporary tooth can be worn in the meantime for a front tooth.
Am I too old for implants?
No. Age is not the issue; general health and bone are. Plenty of patients in their seventies and eighties have implants placed here.
