Dental Implants in Birmingham & Vestavia Hills, AL

Dental implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth, and the replacements have the same look, feel, and function of natural teeth.

Dental Implants in Birmingham, AL

Patients with a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth often have challenges eating the foods they love and smiling and speaking with confidence. In addition, these patients often suffer from the progressive oral health problems that can occur from missing teeth, such as the remaining teeth moving out of alignment, and the onset of jaw bone atrophy, which can cause patients to appear older. Tooth replacement using dental implants can solve these problems and have many other incredible benefits due to their innovative three-part design that emulates the structure of a complete, natural tooth. This design consist of

  • A small post, also called a screw, usually made of titanium, that replaces the root of your missing tooth
  • A connector piece called an abutment that is placed on the top of the dental implant to anchor a prosthetic replacement tooth (crown) to your implant post
  • The replacement tooth itself that is custom-made to match your smile

Implants are total tooth replacements—root and all—and like natural teeth, they are anchored in your jaw for a completely stable restoration that can last a lifetime with proper care. For a tooth replacement solution that looks good, feels good, and is good for your oral health, dental implants are the preferred choice.

Many dental implant patients at our practice find it reassuring to listen to stories from other patients who have undergone dental implant procedures at our practice. We encourage you to check out our Patient Stories page.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants are true tooth replacements that include the root, crown, and all, so they are lifelike in function as well as appearance. Dental implants also keep your jaw bone healthy and maintain the harmony of your facial structure because they stimulate the bone in your jaw like natural teeth when you chew. Dental implants are also incredibly versatile, with the ability to replace a single tooth or even an entire arch of teeth using a dental implant-based tooth restoration called a full-arch replacement. Unlike other tooth replacement options such as dentures, implant-based tooth replacements will never slip around in your mouth or make clicking sounds when you talk, eat, or laugh. Implants truly are just like healthy natural teeth.

The following are some of the key benefits of dental implants:

  • Durable and long-term. Dental implants are a long-term, realistic replacement because the implant fuses with the bone in the jaw. With good oral hygiene, dental implants can last a lifetime.
  • Natural look and feel. With implants, patients can enjoy life as if they never had any missing teeth.
  • Improved self-confidence. Dental implants are so natural in every way that our dental implant patients report that they feel a renewed sense of confidence in their smile and an overall boost in their quality of life.
  • Enjoy eating again. Enjoy eating your favorite foods again in comfort.
  • Maintenance of bone health and structure. Dental implants replace the entire tooth, including the root, so they stimulate the jaw bone to keep bone loss at bay, just like natural teeth do.
  • Versatile solution. Dental implants can replace one or multiple missing teeth or even an entire arch of teeth.
  • Most patients are dental implant candidates. With the bone and soft tissue grafting techniques we offer, if our patients are healthy enough to have a standard tooth extraction, dental implants are usually an option for them at our practice.

During your consultation with one of our skilled oral surgeons, Dr. Roden or Dr. Alling, it will be determined if a dental implant or other dental-implant based solution such as a full-arch replacement is the best option for your oral and health and smile.

What is the dental implant process?

Dental implant procedures are performed by our oral surgeons in the safety of the state-of-the-art surgical suite at our Birmingham practice with the assistance of a highly skilled surgical team. We are qualified to administer several kinds of in-office anesthesia, including IV sedation and general anesthesia, for your complete comfort. Dr. Roden and Dr. Alling have many years of training and experience placing dental implants with outstanding long-term results. A single implant placement at our practice will take between 30 and 60 minutes. Multiple implants can take from 1 to 3 hours. Since you are receiving personalized care at our practice, the amount of time that your dental implant procedure takes will depend on your specific treatment plan.

The dental implant process at our practice typically goes as follows:

  • Consultation. During this initial appointment, you will have a comprehensive evaluation of your oral health condition and will work with your oral surgeon to develop a treatment plan that will best address your condition and goals. We may take detailed diagnostic images at this time, and, if applicable, your anesthesia options for your procedure will be discussed as well.
  • Day of surgery. Before you have your procedure, we will administer the anesthesia that you chose during your consultation so that you will be comfortable and at ease. Next, your oral surgeon will make a small incision in your gum tissue over the area of your jaw where he will place your implant. Once the implant is in, he will stitch the surgical site closed. After the procedure, you will have time to rest before your responsible driver takes you home to begin your recovery.
  • Recovery period. When your procedure is over, you are officially in the recovery and healing period. This healing time lasts until your implant has successfully fused with your jaw bone for stable and permanent tooth restoration. Our patients are usually back to their regular activity level in a few days; however, it will take a few weeks more for the complete fusion of the implant with the jaw bone, so you will be instructed to take extra special care of the surgical area during healing. Your healing time depends on the condition of your jaw bone, your overall health, your body’s healing abilities, and other factors. Your surgeon will go over these details with you carefully before you have your procedure.
  • Placement of the abutment. The abutment is the piece that connects your custom-made crown to your implant for complete tooth restoration. After there has been enough healing, your doctor will determine when to attach an abutment to your implant post.
  • Placement of the custom crown. You may have received a temporary healing abutment to wear during your recovery time, but once your healing time is complete, you will then receive your permanent, custom-made crown. Your restorative dentist will complete your treatment by fitting your new crown to your dental implant.

To learn more about the placement of dental implants at our trusted Birmingham practice and to find out if dental implants are the best solution for your condition and oral health goals, feel free to contact us to request a consultation with our oral surgeons. We look forward to meeting with you to discuss the restoration of your smile.

Dental Implant Cost in Birmingham & Vestavia Hills, AL

The team at Roden Oral, Facial, and Dental Implant Surgery believes that quality tooth restoration with dental implants should be affordable, and we are dedicated to delivering this care at competitive prices for our area using the highest quality materials available. Each patient’s condition is different, so the cost for your dental implant or implants at our practice will depend on your specific treatment plan.

Some of the factors that will determine your cost include

  • The number of implants you will be receiving
  • If you require bone or soft tissue grafting for a stable implant placement
  • If you require any tooth extractions before receiving an implant
  • Your insurance coverage

We will work with you to maximize your insurance reimbursement for covered procedures. We also have multiple convenient payment options to make oral surgery possible for our patients.

For an estimation of your costs for dental implants, we recommend that you request a consultation with one of our trusted oral surgeons. During this appointment, our doctors will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that considers every factor of your customized treatment and will make every effort to give you an accurate estimate of your cost. We urge you to beware of bargain dental implants which are not researched for long enough and tend to be of lower quality materials. Dental implant placement requires precision oral surgery performed by an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Dr. Roden and Dr. Alling are highly trained oral surgeons and use advanced diagnostic tools and surgical techniques for optimal results.

The Value of Dental Implants

Dental implants are nearly indistinguishable from a natural tooth in both form and function and can last a lifetime with good oral care. Restoring a missing or failing tooth with a dental implant will allow you to smile, eat, and laugh with complete confidence, and will also protect the health of your jaw and facial structure just as a natural tooth would. Other tooth restorations like tooth-supported bridges and traditional dentures must be replaced every few years and do not offer the same oral health protection.

Below are some of the many benefits patients enjoy when they choose to invest in dental implant treatment at Roden Oral, Facial, and Dental Implant Surgery:

  • A lifelong tooth replacement solution. Dental implants can last for a lifetime with good oral care, saving you the inconvenience, discomfort, and cost of receiving treatment for your missing teeth in the future.
  • Protection of oral health and jaw structure. Since dental implants fuse with the jaw bone during healing time, they act just like the roots of natural teeth, stimulating the jaw bone during the action of chewing. This stimulation fights back against the bone loss that can occur when teeth are missing. Dental implants also help to maintain the proper alignment of teeth in the dental arch.
  • Improved quality of life. The value of being able to eat the foods you love and speak, smile, and laugh knowing that your replacement teeth look and function just like natural teeth, cannot be underestimated!

Treatment with dental implants offers our patients a permanent, healthy, and lifelike tooth restoration that enhances their daily lives. We invite you to request a consultation with one of our oral surgeons to discuss how dental implants can be a part of your treatment plan for improved oral health and a confident new smile that can last a lifetime.

Dental Implant Instructions

The team at Roden Oral, Facial, and Dental Implant Surgery is dedicated to your well-being, comfort, and safety, but to ensure that you have the best oral surgery experience possible, a smooth recovery, and an optimal outcome, it’s important for you to follow our instructions for at-home pre- and post-surgical care carefully. It’s very important to us that you feel well informed and cared for, so if anything is unclear, please do not hesitate to contact us for guidance.

Dental Implant FAQ

How long does it take to receive dental implants?

Receiving a dental implant can take from a few months to more than a year for more complex conditions or multiple implants. When you meet with your surgeon during the consultation appointment, you will receive a treatment plan that includes an estimation of the time it will take to complete your dental implant process. Treatment time will depend on a few factors: your needs, condition, medical and dental history, and the condition of your jaw bone where the implant(s) will be inserted.

Can a general dentist place my implants?

Dental implant placement is a surgical procedure, and by choosing an experienced oral surgeon, not a general dentist, to place your implants, you will minimize complications and ensure that your implants last for many years to come. The years of training oral surgeons undergo to deal with routine and complex surgical issues and techniques allow them to place successful dental implants. A general dentist usually provides the temporary and permanent replacement teeth (custom crowns) that will be attached to the surgically placed implants.

Is it painful to receive a dental implant?

Unfortunately, some discomfort will accompany most oral surgeries, but our team is dedicated to your well-being and comfort. As oral and maxillofacial surgeons, Drs. Roden and Alling have many years of hospital-based anesthesia training and offer several types of anesthesia options, including IV sedation. Since our doctors are experts in the precision placement of dental implants that are minimally invasive and require the least amount of downtime, we find that our dental implant patients are often back to their regular routines very quickly.

Can I receive an implant if I have bone loss in my jaw?

It is common for patients to suffer bone loss in their jaws when their teeth have been missing for a prolonged amount of time. When this is the case, stable dental implant placement can be challenging. However, with the bone grafting techniques we offer, your surgeon can restore lost bone in the areas where your implant(s) is going to be placed, allowing you to become a good candidate for a successful placement.

How do I care for my new dental implants?

Once you’ve been told by your surgeon that you have healed enough to brush and floss around the implant site, you can begin to take care of your new implant the same way you do your natural teeth. Since dental implants are true tooth replacements, root and all, if you keep your mouth healthy and see your dentist regularly, your implants have the potential to last a lifetime.

What is the recovery like after dental implant placement?

For your implants to be successful, they must fuse with your jaw bone. This process takes several weeks of healing time. A diet of soft foods while avoiding chewing on the implant site(s) is recommended during this healing phase. Our patients are usually back to their regular routines within a few days after the placement of their implants. You will receive detailed pre- and post-surgical instructions before your treatment begins, and our team is here to help guide you through your recovery so that you have an optimal outcome free of complications.

What will I use to chew with while my implant heals?

Once your implant is healed enough, you will receive your custom, permanent crown, but while your jaw is healing, you have some options for a temporary replacement tooth (or teeth). A temporary bridge or a modification of your current denture are two of the options. If you prefer nonremovable teeth during the healing phase of your treatment, you may be able to have a temporary transitional crown placed. You and your oral surgeon will discuss all of your options before your procedure.

Can my child receive dental implants?

When children lose permanent teeth due to an injury or accident, dental implants can be the best long-term solution. We suggest that you come in to meet with Dr. Roden or Dr. Alling as soon as possible after the tooth is lost to discuss options. In many cases, the surgeon will wait until your child’s growth has completed before performing a dental implant procedure, usually around age 18 for girls and age 20 for boys.

Other questions?

If you have any questions or would like to request a consultation at our welcoming practice in Birmingham, Alabama, please contact us. We thank you for the opportunity to care for you.

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