What is a Dental Implant?
At its most basic level, a dental implant is a replacement for a missing tooth root. These implants are made of titanium, which, amazingly enough, bonds with the bone.
A straightforward, no-complications Dental Implant is $2,391. That consists of a $997 implant, a $597 custom titanium or zirconium abutment, and a $797 all porcelain or porcelain to high noble metal implant crown(unfortunately, a metal substructure is sometimes still advisable)
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Paul Shearer
My recent visit to Shallowford Smiles was very pleasant and helpful. They worked me into their tight schedule on the same day that I called for an appointment. Erica was very friendly and thorough in her examination of my problem, and Dr. Wilkerson Provided professional counsel after reviewing my X-rays and 3-D images. My wife and I have been using Shallowford Services for several years, and I highly recommend them to anyone for dental care.
Ray DeJong
This is the place to go. This dentist is the best I have been to in my long life. He was able to diagnose an issue that another dentist caused. I have a sensitive mouth and I don't even feel when he gives the shot to get work done. Wonderful experience.
Carrie Ogle
This office is absolutely amazing! I had two teeth pulled today and I didn’t feel any pain during the procedure. Dr. Brian Wilkinson and his staff made me feel so comfortable and they made my experience the best that I’ve EVER had. I highly recommend this office to anyone looking for a dentist!
What are the Benefits of a Dental Implant?
If you are missing a tooth and are a candidate, an implant is the preferred method to replace that tooth. With the use of computer guidance, the placement of the implant is very straightforward and predictable. Post-operative discomfort is also, on average, reduced significantly. Once the implant has bonded with the bone, or integrated, the permanent crown is not subject to getting cavities. Bridges, though sometimes necessary, are subject to getting cavities and having to be redone. Essentially, the overall long-term success rate is higher for implants than it is for bridges, but both are good solutions. Implants also tend to feel more like natural teeth than bridges do.
Restore Tooth Health
Missing teeth impact more than just your appearance. Tooth gaps leave room for teeth to shift around and become crowded or misaligned. A complete set of healthy teeth is also essential for maintaining face shape and jaw strength. Dental implants restore missing teeth, so you enjoy good oral health for years to come.
Natural Look and Feel
Implants are matched to your unique tooth shape and enamel color for a natural appearance and feel. After a while, you may even forget which tooth is the implant.
Improved Bone Strength
When you lose teeth, the jaw bone will weaken over time. Dental implants are placed directly into the bone, stimulating new bone growth, and restoring the bone structure and jaw strength.
What is the process of a dental implant?
You will have your consultation and exam with Dr. Wilkinson and discuss the options for the replacement of missing teeth. A CBCT/3D X-ray will be taken and if you are a candidate, a treatment plan will be presented to you.
3D Scan
If you wish to proceed, we will do an intraoral 3D scan of your mouth. This scan, when combined with the CBCT/3D X-ray, will allow Dr. Wilkinson to plan your surgery with the help of AI.
Placing the Implant
This will be the date of placement of the implant. You will have to be numb for this procedure. Most people do not require conscious sedation for this, but that is always an option for proper candidates. We also offer Nitrous Oxide for proper candidates. Once you are numb, the surgical guide will be used to place the implant. Dr. Wilkinson will take a 3D image at the beginning of the procedure to double-check the guide. Once everything is verified the procedure will continue and the implant will be placed slightly below the level of bone. A bone-level healing cap (where gum will grow over), or a tissue-level healing cap(where the tissue will grow around) will be placed. Pain medication and antibiotics may be necessary.
Post-Op Appointments
Post-op appointments are at 2 days, 2 weeks, and 2 months. X-rays may or may not be taken. Dr. Wilkinson does not charge for post-op or working x-rays, so there won’t be a charge for any x-rays pertaining to the implant.
Making the Implant Abutment
4 months after placement of the implant a digital intraoral scan will be done and sent to the lab to make the custom implant abutment and implant crown that will fit onto the custom implant abutment. You will likely not have to be numb if you have a tissue-level healing cap but will have to be numb if you have a bone-level healing cap that tissue has grown over. VERY few people find it necessary for conscious sedation if we must numb and uncover. We will also place a tissue-level healing cap back on, so we don’t have to numb you again.
Placing the Abutment
2-4 weeks after scanning for the implant abutment and crown, we will receive said items from the lab. A verification item is sent to make sure the intraoral scan was proper and to help place the custom implant abutment. A working x-ray will be taken to make sure the abutment is properly placed. If so, the abutment will be tightened to an amount determined by the manufacturer and procedure. The crown will then be tried on and adjusted like a normal crown. You will then be given time to look at the crown and feel it. Adjustments to the bite and basic shape can be made at that time. Once you are happy, we will polish the crown and place it with cement, then clean up. You will be able to eat normally in 1 day. Until then, avoid sticky foods.
Follow-Up Appointments
2 weeks after the placement of the custom implant abutment and crown, we like to see you again to take a follow-up photo and post-op x-ray and make sure everything is healing fine. Plus, we just like seeing you. Post-op information for after placement of the implant (not the crown or cap portion): This is the surgery portion of the procedure. Pain and swelling will peak at some point between days 2 and 4 post-surgery, with most people favoring day 2. Likely a surgical guide was used, but on occasion, additional procedures occur, or it is necessary to place sutures. Sutures will be removed approximately 2 weeks after they are placed and are usually accomplished with topical anesthetic.
Post-op information for after placement of implant abutment and crown: Tissue in the area may feel slightly pinched or compressed. The bite might feel a bit odd, as there hasn’t been a tooth there for a bit. It’s not uncommon to bite the cheek. You should be able to floss and chew normally, though don’t chew sticky foods for 24 hours. If the bite feels wrong more than 72 hours after, please call, it likely is a very fast and easy fix.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Cost of dental implants in Chattanooga
In Chattanooga, expect to pay approximately $3,000 – $6,000+ for a single tooth implant. Full-mouth reconstructive dental implants may cost anywhere from $6,000 to $60,000 and up. The cost for a full set of implant-supported dentures averages out to about $30,000. Remember that no dental practice can provide you with an accurate quote over the phone. The dental implant procedure is very complex and depends on many factors that are unique from person to person.
How is the cost of dental implant surgery determined? Here are some important factors:
- The type and number of implants you need.
- The materials and supplies that are used.
- The time and experience of the dental team will be with you every step of the way.
- The location and complexity of the surgery.
- Your recovery time. We will be here for you for as long as you need us.
Every case is different so it’s important to speak with a dentist and to have an oral exam to allow us to evaluate your unique situation and provide you with different treatment options to consider. To get a more accurate quote, you’ll need to come into our Chattanooga dental office for a consultation.
Financing Options:
Your mouth is one of the most important investments that you can make in yourself. Many of our patients find it easier to break up the investment in their mouth into monthly payments. As such we work with Care Credit and Alphaeon to help. There are options ranging from 0% interest for 6 months, up to 60-month terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Honestly, this one varies. Usually, it is about the same as the extraction. Pain and swelling are usually at their worst around day 2 but may persist into day 4. Everyone is different and we want everyone to know that they should always reach out to us if they are concerned. It’s better to be safe rather than sorry.
Rest and drink plenty of water. Seriously. Your body will need the rest, don’t overdo it. Most people find that cold compresses help significantly. We do recommend taking Advil Dual Action if we have not prescribed pain medication and as long as it doesn’t interfere with other medications you might be taking.
No. An extraction and bone graft with membrane would be an additional cost.
Dr. Wilkinson will tailor treatment plans to everyone. Multiple implants are sometimes called for, but we would have to make sure that you are a candidate. The consultation is free, and if you aren’t a candidate, the x-rays won’t be billed to you, and we will send them wherever you ask. It is risk-free to find out.
Your implant will be treated just like a natural tooth. That is to say that you should brush it twice a day and floss at least once, right before bed.
Though some dentists do that, Dr. Wilkinson has found that this is less predictable in his experience. He prefers the boring and predictable way.
Yes, there is a 5-year warranty on all work for non-smokers and controlled diabetics that get regular cleanings. Though we don’t offer hygiene services, we do refer to an office that does.
The point of the post-op appointments is to catch failure early so that we can remove the failing implant and graft the site to prepare for the future. Replacement of the implant is done at no charge, and there is no charge for the bone graft in case of failure due to normal circumstances. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and undiagnosed medical conditions that adversely affect implants are the only things that void that warranty.
One of the reasons that we are able to offer the prices we do is that we don’t have the administrative cost associated with running a hygiene department. We are working on a way of integrating that into our model, but have no current plans to open that service up at this time.
This depends on the severity. If something feels life-threateningly wrong, please call Emergency Services immediately by dialing 911. For emergencies that aren’t life-threatening or require immediate attention, please call our emergency line at 423-558-3934.
Relative to a partial or a bridge, an implant crown will feel far more natural. This is the most natural solution that there is.
Dental Implants are, all things considered, widely considered to be the superior way of fixing a missing tooth. The major advantage is that the implant can’t decay, whereas a bridge can. Essentially, if there is a problem with a bridge, you will have a minimum of a 3-tooth problem, or however many teeth the bridge is replacing. That said, sometimes implants are not possible, and a bridge is a preferred solution. Schedule your risk-free consultation to find out which solution would work best for you.
