Implant Dentistry

Implant dentistry is an area of dentistry focusing on dental implants. A dental implant is a tooth replacement solution that involves the placement of an artificial tooth root into the jawbone after a tooth is extracted or lost. For more than 30 years, dental implants have been successful and every year in the United States, more than 5 million patients undergo dental implant surgery.

At 5th and Olive Dental, we offer a variety of tooth restoration options, including dental implants.

Dental Implant Materials

At 5th and Olive Dental, we offer two different forms of dental implants:

Endosteal

Subperiosteal

Endosteal implants

Typically, when patients think of dental implants, they picture an endosteal, or root form, implant. This is a titanium screw that is inserted into the jawbone. Over time, the jawbone heals around the implant, securing it in place. Patients must have sufficient jawbone density to receive an endosteal implant.

Subperiosteal implants

For patients who do not have adequate jawbone density but need dental implants, we offer subperiosteal implants. These are very rarely used. In this case, the implant is placed into the gum either on or above the jawbone- it does not go into the jawbone.

Types of Dental Implants

The dental professionals at 5th and Olive Dental believe that dental implants are the best solution for missing teeth. This is the most natural-looking tooth restoration option. Plus, it stimulates the jawbone, which means you can avoid losing more teeth and protect your facial structure.

We offer several different types of dental implants, based on your needs.

Single Tooth Implant

A single-tooth implant is used to replace a single tooth. This requires the placement of one dental implant into the jawbone with a single dental crown. On average, single-tooth implants range from about $3,000 to $4,000- not including any additional procedures that may be required.

All-on-4 Dental Implants

For patients who are missing all or most of their teeth on either the upper or lower arch, we often recommend All-on-4 dental implants. This is a tooth replacement solution in which 4 dental implants are placed into the jaw: two in the back at a 45° angle and two in the front, straight. These implants will serve as an anchor for a denture plate. This is considered a permanent solution because the dentures may only be removed by a professional. On average, the cost of All-on-4 is $15,000 to $20,000 per arch- not including additional procedures.

All-on-6 Dental Implants

All-on-6 is the same as All-on-4 dental implants, only we place 6 implants instead of 4, offering greater stabilization. All 6 implants are placed straight. This solution is ideal for patients who have long arches or who want more stability. On average, the cost of All-on-6 is $20,000 to $25,000- not including additional procedures.

Implant Overdenture

Implant overdentures, also referred to as snap-in or snap-on dentures, are dentures that are supported by implants. They can be fixed or removable. You will need at least 2 implants to hold the denture. Some patients need up to 8. The cost varies, depending on how many dental implants you need, between $10,000 to $30,000.

Implant Supported Bridges

For patients who are missing several teeth in a row, we typically recommend an implant-supported bridge. Instead of the bridge being supported by the natural teeth on either side of the gap, we place dental implants as an anchor. A dental bridge will prevent your other teeth from shifting and also improve your ability to eat and speak. On average, an implant-supported bridge will cost $5,000 to $16,000- not including additional procedures that may be necessary.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer a variety of benefits, including:

- Restores your ability to speak normally
- Restores chewing ability
- Designed to look natural
- Improves self-esteem/confidence
- Prevents jawbone loss, making you look younger
- Reduces stress on remaining teeth
- Easy to maintain
- Should last a lifetime with proper care/maintenance

There are a few disadvantages:

Cannot be whitened like natural teeth

Requires surgery

Expensive, but the benefits outweigh the cost

Additional procedures may be required if you don’t have enough bone density

Dental Implant Procedure

Dental implant surgery is an outpatient surgery, which means you will be able to go home the same day of the surgery. However, it is important to note that there are several steps involved, so it may take several months to a year or more to complete the process.

Extractions

If necessary, the first step in the process is extractions. At this time, Dr. Sang Kim or Dr. Jiyon Kim will remove the damaged tooth or teeth. If the tooth is already missing, this step will not be required.

Jawbone Prep

Some patients have soft or thin jawbones and require bone grafting to build them up, which will improve the quality of the bone and prevent implant failure. If a bone graft is necessary, you’ll need a few months to heal before the implant can be placed.

Implant Placement

In order to place the implant, the dentist will expose the jawbone by cutting into your gums. Then, a dental drill will be used to make a hole in the jawbone for the implant to be placed. The implant will function as an artificial tooth root. It will take at least a few weeks for the jawbone to fuse with the implant.

Healing/Osseointegration

Osseointegration is the process of the bone fusing with the implant and begins immediately after the implant is placed. This process may take several months to complete but will be strong enough to support a dental crown.

Abutment Placement

Once osseointegration has taken place, the dentist will expose the implant and attach the abutment. This will be what the dental crown is attached to.

Crown Placement

Once the abutment is placed, new impressions will be taken of your mouth. Then, the impressions will be sent to the lab so the crown can be fabricated. The crown will look like your natural teeth and will attach to the abutment. This will be the only visible part of the implant.

Aftercare

You will be given pain medications and antibiotics to take post-op. You must make sure that you are practicing good oral hygiene habits and eating soft foods during the healing process. We also recommend that you restrict alcohol and tobacco use, as well as caffeine consumption, as these all hinder the healing process. Finally, it is critical that you keep up with all of your post-op visits to ensure that healing is progressing as expected.

What is Full Mouth Reconstruction?

Full mouth reconstruction, or full mouth rehabilitation, is the process of using one or more dental procedures, including dental implants, to replace most or all of a patient’s teeth.

Full mouth reconstruction provides significant aesthetic and functional improvements and is often recommended for patients who have:

Multiple missing/damaged teeth due to decay or trauma

Extensive gum disease

Severe tooth wear due to erosion (diet/acid reflux) or bruxism

Genetic conditions that cause teeth to be poorly developed

These issues can impact a patient’s appearance, bite, and their ability to use their teeth- but full mouth reconstruction can resolve these issues.

What is Denture Stabilization?

Denture stabilization is the process of using implants to stabilize dentures. Many people refuse to wear dentures because they never seem to stay in place- even with denture adhesive. However, with implants, the denture is secured in place and can be removable so that you can still take it out to sleep and clean or can be fixed, meaning only the dentist can remove it.

Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation Today

If you are among the millions of Americans missing one or more teeth, schedule your consultation with the team at 5th and Olive Dental today. We are located at 509 Olive Way in Seattle. Our office hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We are open on Friday by appointment only. We accept a variety of dental insurance plans, just give your insurance card to our office staff and they will determine coverage. If you do not have dental insurance, we offer a variety of payment options, including financing through CareCredit.

Implant Dentistry FAQs

At 5th and Olive Dental, we hear a lot of questions when it comes to implant dentistry, including:

What is implant dentistry?

Implant dentistry is an area of dentistry focused on dental implants. This is a permanent tooth restoration procedure for patients who are missing one or more teeth. Your teeth have a major impact on your life- missing them can be detrimental to your overall health and happiness.

How long do dental implants last?

With proper care, dental implants may last a lifetime. This means practicing good oral hygiene habits, being careful what you eat/drink, and visiting the dentist every 6 months for exams and cleanings.

How much is a tooth implant?

Depending on the type of dental implant you get, the cost ranges from around $3,000 for a single tooth implant to around $30,000 for a full-mouth reconstruction.

What is Denture Stabilization?

Denture stabilization is the process of using dental implants to stabilize dentures. Some patients only require 2 implants to stabilize their dentures, while others may require up to 8. This depends on the size of their arch, as well as the quality of their jawbone.

Can you turn regular dentures into Snap-on dentures?

Yes, you can convert your traditional dentures into snap-on dentures. All you must do is attach the connectors to the dentures and have implants put in. This is one of the best upgrades you can make if you have traditional dentures.

What are used to stabilize overdentures?

At 5th and Olive Dental, we use traditional endosteal implants to stabilize overdentures.