Common Questions

Periodontal infection grows in "bursts of activity".

It is likely that you have been referred to us because your general dentist has noticed an increase in infection activity.

This infection eats away at the bone that supports your teeth (leading to tooth loss). If not treated, there can be a number of consequences. Please see the Consequences section for a list of these.

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Implants are the most natural replacement for missing teeth. The implant itself is a post that is placed into your jawbone and acts just like a tooth root. This post provides an anchor for your general dentist to place crowns, bridges or other restorations.

We are experts in the placement of dental implants. Dental implants begin with an evaluation to decide if you are a good candidate for this procedure.

For more detailed information, please see the section entitled "Dental Implants".

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Dental implants function much better than removable teeth, (e.g. partials or dentures). Patients comment that dental implants are so natural in appearance and function that it is like having their natural teeth back. Today’s advancements make implants function within 90% of the efficiency of natural teeth in terms of both bite and feel.

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The procedure can involve a significant investment, with fees ranging from approximately $3500.00 and up for a single tooth replacement (about the same as a conventional “3-tooth bridge”) to $5,000.00 and up for replacement of multiple missing teeth. However, the cost of non-treatment can be considerably more expensive. Continual bone loss occurs from the wearing of full dentures (plates) and partials. This progressive loss of bone can eventually cause nerve exposure, jaw fracture and a complete inability to function with regular dentures. Correction at this point may be very expensive and can involve extensive bone grafts, which may require hospitalization and an extended recovery period.

Placing implants before the bone loss becomes severe not only saves money in the long run, but also slows the bone loss process, increasing the likelihood of long-term success.

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Yes and no – sorry to be so vague, but some carriers pay for them, some don’t, and some pay a portion of the costs.

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The first phase of treatment, after a detailed evaluation and treatment plan, usually is the actual placement of the implants. This procedure is generally done in the doctor’s office during one visit. Through the implant healing period, you will probably wear your modified denture or a temporary denture or bridge and maintain normal activities without restriction. You will need to follow a modified, soft diet for the first couple of weeks.

The implant healing period can take from 6 weeks to 8 months depending on the quantity and quality of available bone.

The next phase, which usually starts 2-6 weeks after the first phase, your new replacement teeth are created and fitted. The third phase is usually completed within 4 to 8 weeks. Total treatment time for most implant cases will usually be 3-11 months. 

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Generally people are back at their normal schedule the next day. If that normal schedule requires a lot of physical exertion or speaking, you may want to reduce your schedule for 48-72 hours. 

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Implant placement usually does not result in much post-operative discomfort – usually the patient takes Tylenol or Advil for about 2-5 days. If more extensive treatment is needed, for example bone grafts or many implants, then the post-operative course may require more time and medication. Anesthesia during the

surgery should make the placement procedure pain-free. Depending on the complexity and number of implants being placed, the procedure can take between 30 minutes to 3-4 hours. 

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Generally speaking, if a person is well enough to undergo the treatment necessary for fixed bridgework or routine tooth extractions, the same person can undergo dental implant procedures. 

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The body completely accepts placement of dental implant material within bone: therefore, today’s dental implants meet with great success.

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They should last a lifetime. We know that dental problems mostly stem from improper home care or lack of treatment when needed. The same holds true for implants. With proper care and routine dental check-ups they should last a lifetime. 

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Presume that dental implants are natural teeth and treat them that way. Return for regular check-ups, brush and floss.

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Whether or not the dental implant can be placed immediately after extraction depends on the amount of available bone in the area. Placing the implant at the same visit helps preserve both width and height of bone and may prevent the need for placing bone grafts when bone naturally shrinks back after teeth are extracted. During the first year after teeth have been removed, as much as 40% of jawbone width can be lost.

Sometimes, infection from a tooth or periodontal disease has destroyed the bone to such an extent that it becomes necessary to do a bone grafting procedure prior to implant placement. If it is possible to place the implant at the same visit as the teeth are extracted, this can save at least three months in healing time compared to waiting for an extraction site to heal before the implants can be placed. 

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Patients are encouraged to continue their normal activities, even if it involves traveling out of town or even out of state during most of the time of their treatment process. Usually the longest period of time we recommend our patients to stay close to home is the time immediately following the implant surgery. Most people (age does not matter) are able to go about their normal activities in only 2-

3 days after their surgery. We do recommend staying close to town after this surgery for 21 days to insure that normal healing occurs.

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On your first visit to our office, you will receive a periodontal examination. You should experience little, if any, discomfort during this examination. If necessary, x-rays will be taken to further evaluate any loss of bone around your teeth.

Afterwards, your findings and options for treatment will be thoroughly explained. At that time the doctor will answer any questions you may have.

Our goal is that you leave with a complete understanding of your condition and the treatment needed to restore you to optimum oral health.

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Everyone deserves to keep their natural teeth for a lifetime. While periodontal treatment is not as costly as replacing natural teeth due to tooth loss, its cost can vary greatly depending upon your needs.

If you have dental insurance, this may provide full or partial coverage. Our office will contact your insurance company to learn what they will cover.

We feel that finances should never be an obstacle to treatment. For your convenience, we offer several payment options. We also have payment plans to suit your individual needs. Our insurance coordinator will be happy to answer any of your financial or insurance questions.

For more information see our Financial Policies or contact our insurance coordinator at (815) 744-7175.

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Periodontal disease is an ongoing infection which becomes inflamed. When this inflammation gets into the bone around your teeth, it then enters your blood stream. From there it travels to other parts of the body and contributes to many medical problems.

Recent research has found that patients with periodontal inflammation are more than twice as likely to have heart disease and stroke.

To learn more about the medical consequences of periodontal inflammation, please see the Consequences section.

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We keep ourselves up to date regarding equipment and periodontal procedures. You can be sure you will receive state-of-the-art care in our office.

Regarding sterilization, we believe that all procedures should be safe as well as comfortable. We use only the latest sterilization techniques. For more information on treatment techniques and sterilization see the section entitled "Procedures".

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Besides periodontal treatment and dental implants, we can perform a number of procedures, including:

• Crown Lengthening
• Gingival Contouring
• Ridge Augmentation
• Dental Implants

For more information on these procedures, please see the section entitled "Procedures".

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