Dental Implants Full Guide 2022
It doesn't matter if you get your implants in the United States or anywhere abroad; IT IS THE SAME PROTOCOL. How much are dental implants? Am I a candidate? What are they made of? What are the details of the treatment? Does insurance cover dental implants? Are dental implants painful? How long do they last?
- Keep scrolling and learn about the best and most modern treatment to restore teeth.
How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?
How much do dental implants cost in the United States?
It can be pricey and higher compared to the prices you find in Mexico. In cities such as Dallas or New York, a single tooth implant is priced up to 5,000 US per tooth!
Why spend so much on oral rehabilitation when you can save thousands by having them abroad?
How much are dental implants in Mexico?
The tooth implant cost in our dental clinic in Cancun is USD 900
How much do full dental implants cost?
Our cost is USD 9,500 for the All On Four per arch (for the entire treatment). To view our price list, please click here.
How much do Clearchoice dental implants cost?
Individual implants range between 4,000 and 5,000 USD. A set of full mouth dental implants at Clear Choice can cost $30,000 or more.
Can we compare ourselves with clinics such as Clear Choice?
Yes, not only our cost for the same treatment is cheaper (you can save up to 75%), but we use the same materials, protocol, and technology at a fair cost you can afford!
We are confident in our treatments' quality, stability, and durability.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium screws that work as replacement roots for your tooth. They act and look like a screw-like anchor to hold permanent replacement teeth that feel and function like your teeth.
The dental implant design is like the foundation of a natural tooth.
An implanted tooth has two main parts,
- The visible part is the crown, which shows above your mouth gum line.
- The second part below the gum line is the root of the implant. It goes anchored securely and hidden into the jawbone.
The hidden part is the dental implant is screw-shaped, which replaces the function of a natural tooth's root and will bond to the bone.
There are many types, sizes, and widths of dental implants available.
It is almost impossible to recognize a natural tooth from an implanted tooth. The perfection attained by the materials used for artificial crowns gives a natural look. The materials are E-max or Zirconia.
What Are Dental Implants Made Of?
Whether you need regular, zygomatic, or mini dental implants, they are all made from titanium. Some variations like Zirconia implants, but only titanium is approved, accepted, and the most frequently used material after many tests over the years.
It is the same material often used for orthopedic treatments like hip or knee replacement. It is a solid material with a low risk of rejection. It is fully compatible with body tissues.
Titanium's porous texture will allow the bone and implant to bond. It will provide a firm foundation post in your jawbone that can hold on top a crown, a bridge, or a full-arch bridge like a Zirconia bridge.
What do dental implants look like?
Despite the many designs tested during the last decade with unsuccessful results, the most effective one appears to be the anchoring system, which shapes like a standard carpentry screw.
Titanium is a metal capable of bonding to the bone without problems due to the porous texture other metals do not have.
The titanium screw's porous surface will allow the bone cells to grow around and bond with the jawbone.
Once the implant is bonded with the bone, it will form a solid base. On top of that, any restoration can be locked, such as crowns, a hybrid bridge, or a Prettau Zirconia implant bridge.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Replacing a single tooth or having full mouth implants requires the same type of protocol for the surgery. You could ask yourself if dental implants are safe; they sure are. When placed correctly, titanium implants have a low rejection risk.
The primary purpose of the titanium post is to replace the root of a missing tooth. On top of that post goes an abutment that can support crowns or a full bridge like a full-arch Prettau Zirconia bridge.
Specialized dentists and oral surgeons have been placing dental implants for decades worldwide. It is a standard treatment for missing teeth.
How Do Implants Work?
Let's compare placing a dental implant with the creation of a building.
The structure that rises above the ground would equal the tooth's crown. The part we do not see buried in the field, the foundations would be similar to the dental implant.
Without adequate foundations, the building could not support any structure on top.
The Foundation (The implants)
Proper foundation placement requires a study of the terrain, which can be of different consistencies. Sometimes rocky or gritty. Similarly, the bone in which the dental implant is placed can have different densities.
Sometimes the bone is very dense and unfavorable because it has fewer vital cells establishing the solid bone bridges. It could also happen that the bone density is very low and has a small number of those essential vital cells. Determining the bone quality can usually be done with a radiological study (such as a CT Scan) while considering factors such as age and sex. Based on this information, we chose the type of implant, the design, and the thickness.
The Ground (The bone)
What could happen when you want to raise a building in a particular area, and there exists a fault in the terrain? We can create complicated inclined foundation systems so to avoid that area. But it would be more logical to level the ground out first. The fundamental part of any structure is producing a firm base to build the foundations for a future building.
With single tooth implant placement, we face a similar problem. If there is a lack of bone in the correct position to install an implant, we can fill it with a bone graft, thus compensating for this loss. Briefly, the body's vital elements will form a bone of similar or higher density than the surrounding bone. This way, the screw can be placed with high precision, in the right place, and proper angle, which is essential for a long-term duration.
We must consider that a reliable and effective foundation placement is crucial for supporting the building. If this fails, it all comes down, regardless of the building's beauty.
Are Dental Implants Painful?
How painful are dental implants?
It is a painless and minimal surgery where we use local anesthesia. IV sedation is also available for surgery.
After the surgery, the reactions will vary from patient to patient. You can expect the following,
- Swelling during the first 2 or 3 days after the surgery
- You could feel mild pain during the early 48 hours after the surgery.
We provide all prescriptions for pain killers, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics.
If you use or need more potent painkillers such as Codeine, please bring them from home. Ketorolaco is the most potent painkiller a dental clinic can prescribe in Mexico.
We do not recommend heavy exercise or taking the sun directly during the next three days after the surgery. After those three days, you do any activity and enjoy your dental vacation in Mexico.
After the surgery, you will need to follow strict hygiene daily practice.
How Invasive Is The Surgery?
Placing a tooth implant into the jawbone or maxilla is a simple surgery.
With great care, the Maxillofacial surgeon drills a hole in the bone for the setting. The tooth implant surgery is a minimal procedure, usually painless for the patient. It is sometimes possible to place a definite tooth over the screw immediately. But, the most common method is to set a provisional tooth.
We can also do sinus lifts, bone grafts, and extractions during the same surgery session.
Once in place, the healing process begins, and with it, the osseointegration of the implant.
Bone cells grow by establishing solid bridges with the metal. This process takes between one and four months.
The implant will be set into the ridge of the bone, where you have better bone density.
We follow the same sterilization procedures as any dental clinic in the United States. We use AUTOCLAVE to ensure your hygiene safety.
Dental Implants Problems
With a 95% success rate, dental implants are the most prosperous procedure in modern dentistry. However, every patient is different, and problems may arise occasionally.
What are the signs of dental implant failure?
These are some of the common causes that happen when a dental implant fails,
- Infection. It could happen if you smoke after the procedure and don't follow the doctor's instructions, like taking the full round of antibiotics.
- Implant breakage. It is most unusual if we place the proper implant brands and sizes. The right number of screws to provide adequate support, especially on the All On Four treatment, is essential.
- Fibro-integration. On some rare occasions, a different tissue to bone grows around the titanium screw. It is known as fibro integration. It is painless, but it impedes the desired bone fusion. It has to be removed and placed again.
- Defensive reaction. The modifications that metal ions produce in our proteins trigger a defensive response. Sometimes it may cause rejection of the metallic agent. If it happens, the gums will begin to swell, and you will start to feel pain. Then the implant must be removed and allow time for bone healing. When an implant fails, there are ways to restore it.
Our body rejects foreign elements that invade it, and our system has several methods to detect them. When our body detects proteins foreign to our organism, it will try to act on them fast. The process allows us to defend ourselves against bacteria and viruses, although this mechanism is also responsible for rejecting bone grafts.
What happens when a dental implant fails?
There is absolutely nothing warrantied in the medical field, but there is a 5% chance of rejection of it in the case of dental implants.
If that is your case, then it needs to be removed. With proper placement, the titanium screw can remain in the mouth without discomfort for an indefinite period. Or, at least, that is the primary goal.
Your daily habits and oral hygiene is a crucial factors in your dental implant healing process.
People who smoke, people with bad hygiene habits, or people with chronic gum disease will have a higher risk of losing those implants after the placement. Click here to learn why smoking can damage your treatment.
When an implant s placed jawbone, we need to wait for the natural body reaction, and in some cases (5%), the dental implant cannot bond with the bone. That is implant failure.
Are Dental Implants Worth It?
Yes, they are. When people miss teeth, a dental implant is a permanent solution and a straightforward treatment.
People with missing single or multiple teeth or numerous restorations with crowns or bridges can benefit from dental implants. People with complete sets or partial dentures can also help from full mouth dental implants.
When you lose a tooth, it may feel uncomfortable at first. However, missing a tooth can develop later bone problems. WHEN YOU MISS A TOOTH, YOUR BONE WILL START TO RECEDE; it is a natural reaction from the body. Dental implants will help keep your bone healthy and preserve the adjacent teeth' integrity.
When your implant is placed and rehabilitated, you restore your bite's function while you regain your aesthetics.
Dental implants are artificial "roots." These are posts made of Titanium that will bond to the bone and becomes a substitute for lost teeth. Once rehabilitated, dental implants will improve your biting functionality. You will restore your confidence and quality of life.
With dental implant restorations, you will improve your aesthetics and functionality. They are the only long-lasting solution to restore a tooth or a full mouth.
Dental Implants Vs Bridge
A conventional bridge requires reducing the adjacent teeth' surface. It is the way a tooth-supported bridge works.
An implant bridge doesn't touch the nearby teeth. There will be no need to adapt them to support it. Leaving them intact is better for preserving the tooth's long-term integrity.
Single dental implants allow easier teeth access, improving oral hygiene. Titanium implants can be rooted within the jawbone to support a restoration.
The implant bridge will look and feel like a regular tooth. If you are missing more teeth and need more implants, you might need the All-On-4.
What Are Mini Dental Implants?
Snap-In Dentures Vs. Implant Dentures, How are they different?
Both systems use different types of dental implants.
The All-On-4 requires regular size implants. The mini implants are for the Snap In Dentures.
The Mini Dental Implants are helpful as temporary devices for oral rehabilitation. We can load a Snap In Denture on top if we set from six to eight minis per arch. It is an excellent treatment for people with thin bone problems.
A denture adapted with O-Rings is designed to get retained to the mini implants. The Snap-On Dentures are tailored, palateless dentures that anchor or "snap" to the head of the mini dental implants placed into your bone.
What Is The Osseointegration Process?
After the placement of the implants, the Osseointegration begins.
It is a natural body process where the bone cells grow around the implant and bond to the bone. They will fuse.
The implants are the foundation for mounting any restoration, from a full-arch Prettau bridge to a single crown on top of it.
Why the waiting period?
It is because of the osseointegration process. It will integrate the implant and the bone; they will bond together. They will give you a steady foundation and a secure anchorage in your bone.
The chemistry behind the Osseointegration
Metals in contact with body fluids capture oxygen. They oxidize and undergo a process of ionization.
The oxidation causes the outermost atomic layer of the metal to suffer changes that alter their junction with the next tier of atoms that are not oxidized. So, what happens is that they detach themselves and lead to the oxidation of the following molecules. Also, repeating the process of ionized metal release means these ions are unstable.
They bind to host proteins to restore stability, creating a metal-protein complex wrongly recognized by the body as an invading antigen. As with any bacteria or a virus, it triggers the immune system to defend itself against it. Lymphocytes begin to multiply to fight against the supposed invader. Besides steel, the so-called "stainless steel," which also oxidizes, contains 14% nickel, 18% chromium, 2% manganese, and 3% molybdenum — too many ions. Titanium does not do this. Its first layer of atoms oxidizes, but this does not alter its strong binding to the second layer of atoms.
They remain stable in position. As a result, no ionized atom is detached, making it invisible to the biological defense systems. Tissues such as bone repair their injuries without perceiving the aggressor and establish concrete bridges with this hidden object. It is a fortunate fact as it allows us, humans, to use this metal for various medical purposes; one is dental implants. Thus, the term 'rejection is erroneous, as the body cannot reject something it cannot detect.
What Are The Steps For A Dental Implant Procedure?
* To read a detailed explanation of the All On 4 implants step-by-step, please click here.
If you are coming down for your treatment in Cancun, dental implant surgery requires the same attention you could receive back home. For the treatment success and your safety.
These are the steps to get your dental implants in Cancun at our clinic,
Complete CAD-CAM digital diagnosis.
Our specialists will make a complete treatment plan aided by CAD/CAM x-rays. We only use digital technology in our clinic, in-house laboratory, and milling center.
The surgery
The 3D X-rays will show us the amount of available bone the patient has. We will create surgical guides to place the implant where the patient has a better bone density and width.
Let the bone bond with the implant.
After the dental implant is placed, a healing process takes place. This process is called Osseointegration, which takes around four to six months. It is when the bone fuse with the titanium post.
The prosthetic rehabilitation.
Once fused, it will provide a stable structure that we can place on top a restoration, from a single crown to a full-arch Zirconia Prettau Bridge.
With the abutment, we will keep the porcelain crown secured to the dental implant. If you are only replacing one tooth, the replaced top will be matched for the rest of your teeth. If you plan to have full-mouth dental implants, the complete set of teeth can be designed any way you want.
The aftercare
If you maintain proper oral hygiene and don't smoke, you can trust to be on the 95% success rate implants have.
You can also have the dental implants placed right after a surgical extraction during the same session.
Dental implants provide a solid foundation to support on top of a porcelain or Zirconia crown. This treatment replaced a missing tooth.
Dental Implants treatment steps resumed,
- A small titanium post is inserted into the missing tooth’s bone socket.
- The jawbone will heal and grow around the implanted post, securely anchoring it into your jaw.
- After the surgery, you will return home with a healing denture. The Osseointegration waiting time takes around four to six months; it is the time when the bone bonds with the titanium screw.
- Six months later, a connector post is attached to the head of the implant (abutment); the dentist will make impressions of your teeth and bite. We will build your new tooth.
- A replacement tooth, or crown, is then attached to the implanted connector post.
Am I A Candidate For Dental Implants?
People with healthy gums and good bone structure, volume, and narrowness are good candidates for keeping the implants sturdy and in place.
Most people are good candidates for dental implants, depending on the density, as long as you have enough bone. You can always use a bone graft or a sinus lift if you lack some bone.
The success rate of this procedure is around 98%, and anyone healthy enough for a routine dental extraction can have this type of surgery.
The cases where each case will need evaluation before the surgery are,
- Heavy smokers
- People that have gone through radiation therapy to the head or neck area
- People suffering from chronic diseases
- People with heart disease and diabetes
To be sure, take a panoramic X-ray back home and send it to us. We will send a free pre-diagnosis. Plan your dental vacation to Cancun!
Dental Implants Aftercare
Wash your mouth with a Waterpik
With proper care, dental implants are meant to last a lifetime.
After dental implants, your daily oral habits must improve,
- You will need to brush three times a day.
- You will need to floss and water floss with devices such as a Waterpik
- You need a checkup with the dentist every six months.
Dental implants should be treated and cleaned as if they were your natural teeth. They need the same care as real teeth.
The aftercare of your dental implants is your sole responsibility.
Dental implants, once rehabilitated, will look and feel like a natural tooth.
Can I Replace All Teeth with Implants?
The All On Four is divided into two stages.
Replacing all teeth with implants is possible with treatments like the All On Four. The All On Four is a technique where four, five, or even six dental implants will lock a palateless full-arch bridge on top.
The prosthetic on top can be a Zirconia Prettau Bridge, a Composite Bridge, and even Snap On Dentures.
Click here to learn about the All On Four treatment in Cancun, Mexico.
Last updated, August 19th, 2022.