Questions About Dental Implants

Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Payson, Arizona

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is used to replace missing teeth. There are three parts to a dental implant:

A titanium screw which gets inserted into your jawbone and serves as a replacement for the root of your missing tooth
A small metal post, or abutment, which attaches to the titanium screw
A dental crown which attaches to the abutment and serves as your prosthetic tooth

Dental implants can replace an individual tooth or multiple teeth on both your upper and lower jaws. They provide you with a highly stable and durable restoration which looks and functions just like your natural tooth.

Am I a candidate for dental implants?

Most people missing one or more teeth are suitable candidates for dental implants. However, in order to successfully undergo your dental implant procedure, you must have healthy gums and sufficient bone density in your jaw to support the implant. At your initial consultation, Phoenix implant dentist Dr. Chris Winterholler will evaluate your gum health and the condition of your jaw bone to determine whether dental implants are right for you. In certain cases, it is possible to receive a bone graft if your jawbone will not support the implant.

How long does the dental implant procedure take?

A traditional dental implant procedure can take three to six months to complete. In the first phase of treatment, our Phoenix implant dentist will place the implant into your jaw. It will take three to six months for the implant to fuse with the jawbone. Once this process is complete, Dr. Chris Winterholler will attach the abutment and place a crown on top to complete the procedure.

Dr. Winterholler also performs implants through a procedure called Teeth-in-an-Hour. Using revolutionary technology created by Nobel Biocare, this procedure enables us to complete your procedure in just one office visit.

How much do dental implants cost?

The cost of your procedure will depend on a variety of factors, including:

Number of teeth being replaced
Number of implants required to support the replacement teeth
Whether or not you require a bone graft to support the implant

At your initial consultation, Dr. Winterholler will provide you with a more accurate estimate of your dental implant cost.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants offer you several benefits compared with alternative options such as dentures or dental bridges, including:

A fixed restoration which looks and functions like your natural tooth
Precise fit which eliminates slippage associated with dentures
Preserves facial features and restores your natural smile
Does not affect the health of surrounding teeth
Prevents bone loss in the region
Durable, long lasting results

To learn more about dental implants or to schedule your initial consultation, please contact our Phoenix implant dentists today. Winterholler Dentistry serves patients in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Payson, Arizona areas.