Dental Implants: Invest in the Lasting Health, and Beauty of Your Smile
We Smile Dentistry understands that cost is an important consideration when exploring options for tooth replacement. However, it is just one of many factors to consider in partnership with our team in London, Ontario. Patients must also account for the durability of the new tooth and the satisfaction they will get from their chosen form of tooth replacement. These and other factors add up to “value.” Dental implants are of tremendous value. They are designed to last and are like natural teeth. So, they support natural, healthy function and comfort.
Replacing a Molar with a Dental Implant
Our molars are the teeth at the back of our mouths, on each side, and in the upper and lower jaws. They are vitally important; each molar’s large surface area is made to grind down food efficiently when we chew. This process also aids in proper digestion. Molars are also more susceptible to damage from conditions such as tooth decay. Their locations at the back of the mouth make them more of a challenge to correctly and consistently brush and floss. Lingering food particles and bacteria promote the development of destructive dental decay. Additionally, molars feature fissures and pitted and grooved areas that tend to trap food. Again, this characteristic makes molars particularly vulnerable to decay, a leading cause of tooth loss.
For this reason, dentists like Dr. Giulio Spagnuolo often proactively recommend professional preventive services, such as applying dental sealants. Each sealant may be applied to the molars or premolars to “seal out” food, bacteria, and plaque build-up that can flourish on uneven tooth surfaces.
If these teeth cannot be preserved with proactive care, measures such as root canal therapy and extraction, followed by prompt replacement, are almost always recommended to restore the smile’s health, structure, comfort, function, and appearance. The notable exception to this “rule” is wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth are vestigial structures; as humans have evolved, these third molars (the last teeth to erupt in the jaws) are no longer necessary for our health and to support functions like chewing. When these teeth become “impacted” or trapped in the jaw, they must be removed. However, unlike other molars and types of teeth, we do not need to replace them.
If we determine that implants are the most appropriate option to replace a molar or other teeth, we are very clear and transparent in communicating the costs associated with this treatment.
Many variables can influence your out-of-pocket costs. A few of these factors include:
- The number of teeth that must be replaced
- The number of dental implants that are placed in the jaw (we do not need to place an implant to support each tooth)
- The type of sedation and other approaches to the procedure specific to each patient’s needs and situation
- Additional procedures may be necessary to “prepare” the implant site; for instance, for patients with bone loss in the upper jaws where premolars and molars used to be, a sinus lift (sinus augmentation) may be performed to build up the bone between the jaw and sinuses
Before and After Images
Additionally, patients may require extractions or tooth removal and other procedures to build up deteriorated or lost tissues; for example, periodontal therapy and other oral conditions must be resolved. These services can add to the cost. We are happy to discuss payment options to ease concerns about the cost of treatment. Financial concerns should never hinder patients from getting the treatments they need and want.
Call us at (226) 605-0042 with questions or to schedule an appointment at our London, Ontario, office. For your convenience, “request an appointment” online through this website.
