Dental Implant FAQ
Have questions about dental implants? Our dental implant FAQ has the answers you’re looking for.
Find out the average cost of dental implants, general healing time, what the procedure involves and more. If you don’t find what you need get in touch. We’re here to help.
Dental Implants are replacement tooth roots. Looking a little like a screw, an implant is surgically positioned in the jaw bone. A crown is then attached to the top of the implant to fill the gap of the missing tooth. Depending on where in the jaw implants are placed, implants have a success rate of up to 98% and with proper care they can last a lifetime.
In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for a dental implant. Patients should have healthy gums and enough bone to hold an implant. They also have to be committed to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Heavy smokers, people suffering from uncontrolled chronic disorders such as diabetes or heart disease, or patients who have had radiation therapy to the head/neck area need to be evaluated on an individual basis.
In general dental implants are not covered by dental insurance which is why millions of people travel to Tijuana from all over the globe for affordable dental implant treatments. We accept the following US dental insurance and will work hand-in-hand with you to maximize your insurance reimbursement for covered procedures. If you have any problems or questions, please ask our staff. They are well informed and up-to-date.
- MetLife
- Aetna
- Delta Dental
- Cigna
- United Concordia
- Durable and stable
- Built to last a lifetime
- They look and act like your natural teeth
- Implants protect your healthy teeth
- No more painful chewing or slurred speech
- No special glues needed to hold false teeth in place
- They are convenient
Dental implants are custom-made replacement teeth that are inserted into your mouth to help you get your smile, feel and function back after the loss of a tooth. During the procedure, Dr. Edgar will get you comfortable. Then he will fuse a small titanium or ceramic post into your jawbone to create a strong, long-lasting foundation for your new replacement. Once the titanium or ceramic post has made a strong bond, Dr. Edgar will make a mold of your mouth in order to build a tooth that effortlessly blends in and functions with our other teeth, so nobody will know it is not your natural tooth! When the replacement tooth is complete, Dr. Edgar will bond it to the post, your mouth transformation will be complete, and you will be free to enjoy your life without worrying about your missing tooth anymore!
- Single Tooth Dental Implants
- Dental Bridge
- Implant Supported Dentures
- All on 4
- All on 6
- Full Mouth Restoration
- Mini Implants
We offer titanium and zirconia dental implants. Both titanium and zirconia implants have advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of before choosing your implant material. The question of which dental implant material is right for you requires an in depth conversation with our implant specialist Dr. Edgar Montano. Book a complimentary phone consultation to discuss which is right for you.
The first step in a dental implant process is the development of an individualized treatment plan. You will need to schedule a phone consultation at a time convenient for you so that we can address your specific needs and provide coordinated dental care on an implant option that’s best for you.
Next, the tooth root implant. This process depends on which type of implant you decide to go with. In the case of titanium implants, a small post made from titanium is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As your jawbone heals, it will grow around the implanted post, anchoring it securely in the jaw. The healing process can take 6-12 weeks.
Once the implant has bonded to the jawbone, a small connector post called an abutment is attached to the post securely to hold the new tooth. To make the new tooth (or teeth), we will make impressions of your teeth and create a model of your bite, basing the new tooth (or teeth) on this model.
A replacement tooth, or crown, is then attached to the abutment. We will also match the color of the new tooth (or teeth) to your natural teeth. Because the implant is secured within the jawbone, the replacement teeth will look, feel and work just like your own natural teeth.
With titanium implants the bone needs to grow and bond with the titanium implant (osseointegration) and could take up to two stages. In some cases if a patient is already suffering bone loss and is in need of bone grafting before implantation, treatment will take 3 stages with a much longer healing process (3-6 months). Once complete, the healing time will take 3 months for lower jaw implants, and 4 months for upper jaw implants. Only once the implants are healed and are solidly in place will we do the final stage of placing the abutment and crown.
With ceramic implants the overall treatment is determined on the day of surgery, and healing can take 3-6 months depending on the condition of the bone.
Treatment time can vary depending on your situation. A disadvantage of dental implants is the time needed to finish the treatment. You need to be patient and be willing to come to Tijuana for two or three trips to finish dental implant treatments. If time is an issue for you, an alternative may be fixed bridges or partial dentures. Talk to us about your specific needs so we can help you achieve the best outcome for your dental health.
If you decide on titanium implants, for both bone grafting and implantation we will need you in our clinic for one visit. A second visit the next day may be needed if you are having temporary teeth made. The final stage can take 2 or 3 visits over 3-5 days, depending on the type of crowns, and number of crowns.
With ceramic implants we will need at least 2 days if we have already had a phone consultation and an x-ray. Otherwise, if we need to do an initial consultation, x-ray and order the implants, we will need at least 4 days.
Find out if you are a candidate for dental implants.
We’re ready to help you improve your oral health and your confidence. Our team is skilled in implant technology, with the same credentialing and training as dentists in the U.S.A. Book a FREE phone consult and get a quote.