Dental Implants in Federal Hill

What a dental implant is

An implant replaces the root of a missing tooth. A small titanium post goes into the jawbone where the root used to be, the bone heals around it, and a crown is then fitted on top. Once it is finished you brush it, floss it and chew with it like any other tooth.

What separates an implant from the alternatives is that it stands on its own. A bridge borrows support from the teeth on either side of the gap, which means preparing two healthy teeth to carry it. An implant leaves them alone.

When an implant is worth considering

People come to us about implants after losing a tooth to decay, to gum disease, to an infection that could not be saved, or to an accident. It is also an option if you already wear a denture and want something fixed in place instead.

Whether an implant is right for you depends mostly on the bone that is left where the tooth used to be, and on how healthy your gums are. Dr. Ellis will take x-rays and tell you honestly at the consultation. If an implant is not the sensible choice, she will say so and go through what else would work.

What happens at your appointment

Dr. Ellis places implants herself, here on Light Street. The consultation, the surgery and the finished crown all happen in the same practice with the same team, so you are not sent across town to a specialist you have never met and your records do not have to follow you around.

An implant is not a single appointment. The post needs time to fuse with the bone before a crown can be loaded onto it, so the work is spread across several visits. How many, and how far apart, depends on your jaw and on whether anything needs treating first. Dr. Ellis will map out the stages for your case before you commit to anything.

The surgery itself is done under local anesthetic. If you are nervous about it, say so when you book. That is a normal thing to be nervous about and it changes how the appointment is run.

Looking after an implant

An implant does not decay, but the gum and bone holding it can still get infected, and that is what causes implants to fail. So it is looked after the same way as a natural tooth:

• Brush twice a day and clean between the teeth, including around the implant.
• Keep your regular checkups and cleanings, so the gum around it gets looked at.
• Tell us if it ever feels loose, or if the gum around it bleeds or aches.

If you grind your teeth, mention it. Grinding puts load on an implant that it was not designed for, and it is worth dealing with.

Cost and insurance

What an implant costs depends on what is involved, and that is not something anyone can quote you accurately over the phone before seeing your x-rays. You will get the figure in writing after the consultation, before any work is booked.

We take a long list of insurance plans. You can check yours on the Insurance Plans Accepted page, and we will submit the claim for you.

Questions people ask

Does it hurt?

The surgery is done under local anesthetic, so you should not feel pain during it. Afterwards there is usually some soreness while the gum heals, and Dr. Ellis will tell you what to expect and what to take for it.

Will it look like my other teeth?

The crown is made to match the shade and shape of the teeth around it. That matching is the whole point of the last stage of the work.

How long does the whole thing take?

Longer than a filling and shorter than braces, but the honest answer is that it varies a lot between people, because it depends on how your bone heals. Dr. Ellis will give you a timeline for your case at the consultation rather than a number off a website.

Can I have one if I have been missing the tooth for years?

Often, yes. Bone does shrink back over time once a tooth is gone, so the x-rays matter more the longer it has been. It is worth asking rather than assuming the answer is no.