Home / Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions
Straight answers,
including the ones
that cost us work.
If your question is not here, ask it on the consultation form. It will be answered by the doctor rather than by a script.
Why patients come here
- Practice limited to prosthodontics and oral implantology
- Every case CBCT-scanned and fully guided
- IV conscious sedation available in-office
- A written, itemized plan before anything is scheduled
Candidacy
Am I a candidate?
I've been told I don't have enough bone. Is that the end of it?
Almost never. "Not enough bone" describes today's anatomy, not a verdict. Ridge grafting, sinus elevation and tilted implant positioning each solve a different version of the problem, and a CBCT scan says which applies.
A meaningful share of second-opinion patients turn out to be straightforward once the anatomy is measured in three dimensions rather than estimated from a flat X-ray.
Am I too old?
Age itself is not a contraindication. Healing capacity, medication and general health matter; a birth year does not. Implants are routinely placed in patients in their seventies and eighties.
I smoke. Will it work?
Smoking measurably increases the risk of graft and implant failure, particularly in the healing phase. It is not an automatic no, but you will be told the honest numbers and asked to stop for a defined period around surgery.
I have diabetes / take a bone medication. Does that change things?
It can. Well-controlled diabetes is generally compatible with implant treatment. Some bone-density medications, particularly intravenous forms, change the risk profile significantly and require discussion with your physician before planning. Bring your medication list to the consultation.
I grind my teeth.
It changes the design rather than the answer — implant number, material choice and a night guard. Untreated grinding is a leading cause of prosthetic fracture, so it is planned for rather than hoped away.
The procedure
What it is like.
Does it hurt?
Surgery is done under local anesthetic, with IV sedation available. Most single-implant patients describe the following day as easier than an extraction and manage with over-the-counter medication.
Full-arch surgery is a larger event and comes with a defined recovery plan, prescribed medication and a number you can call over the weekend.
How long does the whole thing take?
Most single-implant cases run four to six months from placement to final crown, and the waiting is healing rather than appointments. Full-arch cases often deliver a fixed provisional on the day of surgery, with the definitive prosthesis four to six months later.
Can I really get teeth the same day?
In selected cases, yes. It depends on how firmly the implants seat in your bone at the moment of placement, which is measured during surgery. If the numbers are not there, loading immediately risks the implant, so the case is staged.
Will I be without teeth at any point?
Not in the visible zone. Where a same-day fixed provisional is not appropriate, a well-fitted temporary is provided. Being seen without teeth is not part of any plan here.
How much time off work should I take?
A single implant: usually the afternoon. Grafting or sinus elevation: one to two days. Full-arch surgery: most patients take three to five days, and are presentable but swollen at the end of the first week.
Cost and cover
Money.
What does it cost?
It depends on the number of implants, whether grafting is needed and which material the final restoration is made from — which is why no single number is published here. You receive a written, itemized estimate at the consultation, before anything is scheduled, separating surgical fees from restorative fees.
Why is one quote so much lower than another?
Usually because the two quotes cover different things. Ask specifically whether the figure includes the CBCT scan, the surgical guide, grafting, the abutment, the final restoration and the follow-up visits. A surgical-only fee compared against an all-inclusive fee is not a comparison.
Will insurance cover it?
Many plans cover part of the treatment — often the extraction, sometimes a portion of the restoration, occasionally the implant itself. A pre-determination is filed with your carrier so the number you plan around is theirs, not an estimate.
Is financing available?
Yes, through third-party healthcare lenders, including plans with interest-free periods for qualifying applicants. The practice does not benefit from which option you choose.
Afterwards
Living with them.
How long do implants last?
The implant itself is designed to be permanent, and long-term studies of well-maintained implants report survival in the mid-to-high nineties over ten years. The restoration on top is the wearable part, and screw-retained designs are built to be removed and serviced without cutting anything off.
How do I clean them?
Brush, a water flosser, and professional maintenance on a schedule set by the restoration you have — full-arch prostheses are unscrewed and cleaned professionally at intervals. Implants do not decay, but the gum and bone around them become inflamed if plaque is left, and that is the main cause of late failure.
Can an implant fail years later?
It can. The usual causes are peri-implant inflammation from inadequate cleaning, an overloaded bite, or a prosthetic problem that was never corrected. All three are largely manageable when caught at a maintenance visit rather than an emergency one.
Will it set off airport metal detectors?
No. Titanium implants are small and non-ferrous.
Do I still need to see a general dentist?
Yes — for your remaining teeth, your gums and routine care. This practice is limited to prosthodontics and implantology and works alongside your general dentist rather than replacing them.
Start with a scan and a straight answer.
A consultation includes an examination, a 3D scan and a written, itemized plan. If implants are not the right treatment for you, we will say so and tell you what is.