Arnold, MD Affordable Dental Implants

You may understand that stabilizing your dentures with dental implants would make them secure and would help prevent the shrinking of your jawbone, but are looking for an affordable alternative that fits into your budget.

Be Careful Looking for Cheap Dental Implants

You may be tempted to go with cheaper advertised implant fixtures, but be warned that there are dangers. Implantology isn’t a recognized dental specialty, which means that it isn’t tightly regulated. Dentists without any special training at all can provide this service. In fact, this is the most common area for dental malpractice lawsuits. And the pressure to offer more affordable alternatives leads some dentists to cut corners in care.

One of the ways some dentists try to cut the cost is by using substandard fixtures. But implants made without precise manufacturing standards can become loose or infected.
Another way is to shortcut the diagnostic process. When implant placement begins without a three-dimensional x-ray, implants can be improperly placed. They can end up poking through the jawbone, perforating a sinus, or impinging on delicate nerves.
Placing teeth on the implants before adequate healing time can compromise the osseointegration and lead to them later coming loose.

When you come to us for your dental implant treatment, Dr. Esposito will give you a complete breakdown of the costs as well as treatment options that could save you money. To help fit treatment into your budget, we offer some financing options. Click the link to learn more.

One compromise affordable treatment option is the snap-on denture.

The Snap-On Denture

With the snap-0n denture, two implants are placed in the anterior portion of the lower jaw. Using only two implants allows the denture to rotate up and down, but will prevent it from sliding around or coming loose.

Since you will have this rotating motion, Dr. Esposito will fit these implants with ball attachments. Little flexible o-rings are then embedded in the denture. This will allow for that rotation without unnecessarily stressing the implants. You will also be able to remove the denture, clean it, and snap it back in. The presence of two implants will prevent bone resorption around those implants, but will not prevent resorption in other places in your jaw. But using only two implants will cut the surgical expenses about in half.

The o-rings will periodically wear out and need to be replaced.

This is definitely a compromise. It would be better to have a fully secured overdenture, but the snap-on denture is certainly an improvement over a fully removable denture.

If you opt for this snap-on denture, you can rest assured that Dr. Esposito will place each of these high-quality implants with exacting clinical standards and no compromises. She has advanced training in the placement of dental implants.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Fully secured by four or more dental implants, your denture won’t slip or slide around and you will be able to speak and eat with no fear of it coming out.
You’ll be able to eat whatever you want. It will feel as if you have your own natural teeth back.
Bone resorption is prevented. A long-term consequence of wearing removable dentures is that, in the absence of teeth, your body begins to take the minerals from your jawbone to use elsewhere in the body, eventually leading to facial collapse. It gives your face a sunken-in look. The presence of implants prevents this bone resorption of the area around the implants.

What to Expect

There are several steps to placing dental implants:

Dr. Esposito carefully reviews your medical history before the procedure.
She uses a CBCT scan to create a 3D model of your mouth structure for accurate placement of the implants, avoiding unexpected bone perforation or nerve impairment.
A surgical procedure will install dental implants. While Dr. Esposito places single implants, if the surgery is more involved she may refer you to a surgical specialist for this step.
After a number of weeks of healing, the implants will fuse to your jawbone, a process called osseointegration. During this time, Dr. Esposito can provide you with temporary dentures.
After healing is complete, the attachments will be added and the overdenture will be completed.

If you are interested in dental implants, please give us a call at the office number below. Or you can fill out our appointment request form and we will call you to set up the examination appointment.