Dental Implants

Living with an incomplete smile can significantly reduce your quality of life. Missing teeth make it difficult to enjoy your favorite foods and speak naturally. They can also change your appearance and harm the health of your remaining teeth. At White & Haines Advanced Dentistry, dental implants have become the most popular treatment option for restoring smiles to their full form, function, and beauty, thanks to their reliability, comfort, and life-long treatment results. 

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a restorative prosthetic dental treatment designed to replace one or more missing teeth. A dental implant treatment consists of three components:

• Anchor - An implant anchor is a screw-like prosthetic made of biocompatible metal and designed to mimic a tooth's natural root system. The anchor is inserted directly into the jawbone where it fuses with the bone matter to provide a stable foundation. 
• Abutment - Also made of biocompatible metal, the abutment connects to the anchor and is custom-designed to support the patient's dental restoration. 
• Restoration - The permanent restoration is the only visible portion of a dental implant. They can consist of a dental crown, dental bridge, or a full or partial denture. Restorations are often made of luminous and highly durable tooth-colored porcelain. Restorations can be used to replace one, several, or all of a patient's teeth. 

Dental implants offer superior treatment results by mimicking natural teeth with an artificial "root" system that securely and stably supports a natural-looking dental restoration. 

Types of Dental Implants

Several types of dental implants exist, such as:

• Endosteal Implants - The most common type of implant, these use the traditional design that is inserted into the jawbone. 
• Subperiosteal Implants - These implants are placed along the top of the jawbone, instead of within it. 
• Zygomatic Implants - These implants are designed for anchoring in the cheekbones when there is not enough matter available in the maxilla (upper jawbone). 
• Mini Dental Implants - These implants feature a smaller, more slender design appropriate for patients with smaller jawbones or less space between teeth. 
• Zirconia Dental Implants - These are a good option for patients who have metal allergies. 

Our dentists will help you determine the type of dental implant that can best meet your treatment needs. We design all of our implant options to be affordable and long-lasting, providing our patients with a lifelong return on their dental care investment. 

Treatment Options: Versatile Dental Implant Services

Dental implants offer a wide array of treatment options and applications. 

1. One‑for‑One Tooth Replacement

Replace a single missing tooth with one implant topped by a crown—for a natural look and durable function.

2. Implant‑Supported Dental Bridge

Use one or two implants to anchor a fixed bridge, replacing several consecutive missing teeth efficiently.

3. Full‑Mouth Dental Implants

Ideal for patients missing all teeth—each tooth is fitted with its own implant. This offers maximum jawbone support, though it can be more costly.

4. Implant‑Supported Dentures

Strategically place multiple implants to secure full or partial dentures, restoring smiles when most or all natural teeth are gone.

5. Cosmetic Dental Implants

Dental implants can also be placed for cosmetic purposes to improve the aesthetic appearance of a patient's smile. When the natural teeth are healthy, however, we more often recommend alternatives, such as dental bonding, dental veneers, or dental crowns. 

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Patients with no existing periodontal disease who are healthy enough to undergo and heal from the implant placement procedures are good candidates for dental implants. Additionally, patients must have enough jawbone matter available to support a dental implant or be able to receive a bone graft successfully. Patients must also be willing to abstain from tobacco and alcohol use throughout the treatment process and continue refraining from tobacco use after treatment. 

Dental Implant Procedure Steps

The treatment process is highly personalized and can look different for every patient. However, patients can expect to move through the following basic treatment steps. 

1. Initial Consultation

This first appointment involves an examination, diagnostic images, and a health evaluation. At this time, we will answer all of your questions, provide you with options, and help you determine the personalized treatment plan that's best for you. 

2. Comfort Care

We prioritize our patients' comfort, and all procedures are performed with local anesthetic and a variety of sedation dentistry options. This ensures a pain-free, comfortable experience with minimal stress. 

3. Preparational Procedures

Some patients require preliminary oral surgeries (such as tooth extraction, bone grafting, ridge augmentation, or sinus lift) before dental implants can be placed. A healing period will follow any of these procedures, and we will re-evaluate your jawbone before scheduling your dental implant placement. 

4. Implant Placement Procedure

Dental implants are placed in the jawbone during an oral surgery, which requires us to make a small incision in the gum tissues to access the jawbone. After the implant has been placed, we use sutures to close the gum tissues. This procedure is then followed by a healing period during which the implant fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. 

Once the patient has healed, we perform another procedure to attach an abutment to the dental implant. This involves another incision in the gum tissue and a subsequent healing period. 

When the gum tissues have healed, we can permanently affix the dental restoration to the abutment, completing the treatment. 

5. Post-Operative Care

After each procedure, we will provide you with comprehensive instructions for post-operative care. Including steps for pain management, wound care, and dietary restrictions, in addition to follow-up appointments. 

Dental Implant Maintenance and Ongoing Care

Dental implants are fairly easy to care for once they are fully healed. Simply continue practicing good oral hygiene habits at home and visiting the dentist every six months for an examination and professional cleaning. We also usually recommend adding a water flosser to your oral hygiene routine to ensure you are able to thoroughly clean your gum tissues around the dental implant to prevent gingivitis and gum disease. 

Dental Implant Treatment Recovery and Success Rates

Dental Implant Recovery Time

Every patient is different. As a result, healing, bone generation, and osseointegration times vary significantly and can impact the total length of your treatment. On average, dental implant treatments can require six months to more than a year for completion. 

Factors Affecting Dental Implant Success Rate

With proper care and maintenance, dental implants are designed to last a lifetime. Certain factors, however, can compromise the integrity of your dental implant, such as tobacco use, gum disease, and diminished overall health. 

Dental Implants Cost and Financing

The cost of treatment with dental implants varies significantly, depending on each patient's unique treatment plan, the type of dental implants used, the type of teeth being replaced, the number of teeth being replaced, and the type of permanent dental restoration being placed. 

On average, a single dental implant ranges from about $3,000 to $6,000, and full-mouth restorations with dental implants can cost about $50,000 or more. Some dental insurance policies and certain types of Medicare include coverage for dental implants if they are considered a medically necessary treatment. 

Additionally, we offer several financing and payment options to help make a high-quality smile restoration affordable for all of our patients. Our office team can work with you to help you determine the best treatment plan and financial options to achieve your oral health goals within your budget. 

Exceptional Dental Implant Services: Why Choose White & Haines Advanced Dentistry

At White & Haines Advanced Dentistry, our experienced team uses advanced technology to design and implement personalized treatment plans. We have an extensive track record of achieving successful patient outcomes, and we take pride in the trust our community places in us as we continue delivering outstanding, comprehensive dental care. 

If you are missing one or more teeth, we encourage you to consider smile restoration with dental implants and how a completely restored smile would improve your life. To learn more about dental implants or to request a consultation, we welcome you to contact our office in Cornelius, NC.