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Tooth implants mimic and replace real, but missing teeth. There is a prosthetic crown with an anchor below the gum line and tooth implants remain permanently in place. Tooth implants are actually screws that are surgically implanted into the jaw bone and topped with molded crowns

Single Tooth Implant Procedure

There is more than one step to a single tooth implant procedure. In the first phase of a tooth implant procedure, the gum is prepared to accept the permanent “post” by surgically implanting a titanium “root” into the jaw bone.

Titanium is a light, highly durable metal and is rarely rejected by the body making it the finest choice for the ‘root’ section of a tooth implant procedure. This ‘root’ is surgically implanted by opening the gum tissue far enough to expose the jaw bone, installing the implant, then suturing the gum line shut. There are times when there isn’t enough bone to work with and bone grafting is needed to anchor the root into place.

Recovery and healing time from the first phase of a tooth implant procedure varies person to person, but generally speaking three to six months is average for osseointegration to be complete.

Osseointegration is the process of an implant becoming fully integrated into the jaw bone. The sutures, however, are usually removed one to two weeks after the initial procedure. During this healing time the prosthetic crown is molded and fashioned and once osseointegration is complete, the implant procedure is ready for phase two.

Phase two of a single tooth implant requires the opening of the soft tissue that has formed over the implant and attaching the post, known as an occlusal screw, to the titanium. This post is often enhanced with a zirconium abutment which is an attachment that keeps the prosthetic crown more firmly attached to the post and eliminates a lot of rotation of the crown after it is in place. These abutments also assure that the end result looks even more natural since zirconium is the color tooth enamel and promises not to show through the crown.

Once the post and the zirconium abutment are attached, the prosthetic crown is ready to be cemented in place. This crown has been constructed, shaped and colored during the initial healing phase and is the last step of a tooth implant procedure. This new crown is then slipped over the abutment and cemented for permanent placement. Viola! A new single tooth implant is in place and no one knows the difference between real and implant.

Tooth Implants Cost

Tooth implants costs are much more than other dental procedures, but are an amazing dental option. A person can expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $4,000 for a single tooth implant. The reason for such a wide range of cost for a single tooth implant is based on several variables such as the need for bone grafting, whether or not a zirconium abutment is used, the location of the implant within the mouth and of course, what dentist a person is using. These variables determine what the bottom line cost is for a tooth implant procedure, and if affordable, a single tooth implant is the best alternative for replacing any of those missing teeth.