Are you a general practitioner who wants to take your practice to the next level by expanding treatment options? Perhaps you’re a dental professional who wants to improve your patients' quality of life with an affordable dental solution? Wouldn’t it be great if you could expand your offerings to attract new customers and retain current patients?

If you just nodded your head in affirmation to any of the above questions, then it may be time to seriously consider introducing dental implant treatment in your practice. The success rates and longevity of dental implants may present a win-win for both patients and dental practitioners.

In this article, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to help you provide patients with an affordable dental implant treatment option. We’ll explore different implants and weigh their pros and cons to help you make a more confident decision.

Table of Contents

The Changing Face of Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry has significantly evolved since dentures first became mainstream in the 1700s. Traditionally, complete and partial dentures have been used to help patients with tooth loss lead normal lives. However, these solutions come with a broad spectrum of drawbacks, including wearing out and changes to soft tissue which can affect fit and function.

Nevertheless, considering that the baby boomer population is continuing to age, the demand for lasting dental solutions has escalated. This, in turn, has compelled clinicians to look for more permanent tooth replacement options. Fortunately, rapid technological advancement in restorative dentistry has led to the development of dental implants.

Dental implants have been becoming increasingly popular ever since they were first introduced in the 1960s. Unlike dentures and fixed bridges, implants are known for their natural appearance and normal function. Also, they typically don’t require day to day and expensive maintenance associated with dentures. This, in turn, has encouraged many patients to choose dental implants over other tooth replacement solutions.

Thus, adding dental implant surgery to your selection of services may be instrumental in making your clinic more successful and profitable. It will improve the quality of life of existing patients who need permanent tooth replacement. Also, it’ll help you attract new clients who are looking for a permanent solution for tooth loss.

However, many clinicians are still skeptical about introducing dental implant surgery into their clinics. This is partly due to the need for additional education, equipment and instruments to carry out the treatment plans. In addition there will be need to provide your staff with specialized training to facilitate the procedure. The high upfront setup, training cost, and liability associated with dental implant surgery often dissuades many clinicians from offering it as a service.

Dentures with Dental Implants

Before we discuss whether dental implants are the correct choice for your clinic, let’s take a look at the different tooth replacement solutions available for patients. Typically, dentists can offer one of the following options to patients with damaged or broken teeth:

  • Complete dentures/partial dentures
  • Fixed partial dentures (bridges)
  • Dental implants

Dentures

Complete dentures are one of the most common and low-cost tooth replacement options. Simply put, a denture comprises a set of prosthetic teeth that rests on mucosal tissue and residual ridges. It mimics natural teeth and gingiva in appearance and provides patients with a non-invasive solution for tooth loss.

denture affordable dental soultion

Despite their affordability, dentures are associated with numerous drawbacks. They can interfere with a patient’s taste and ability to chew efficiently. This, in turn, could prevent patients from eating foods they normally would.

Additionally, if a denture doesn’t fit properly, it cannot adapt to the mucosa appropriately and will not have adequate retention for normal function causing the patient sometimes discomfort and lack of confidence in eating. Over time, changes to the oral tissues may occur which may affect the fit and teeth may become worn which affect overall function and and will need replacing.

Depending on the assessment of the patient’s current condition, treatment plans may include:

  • Complete dentures
  • Removable partial dentures
types of dentures

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures replace the entire arch of teeth (lower and/or upper) of the mouth. They consist of an acrylic base which resembles the color and texture of natural gingival tissue. Acrylic teeth are arranged in the base. Depending on the quality of the impression and processing of the acrylic, the adaptation of the complete denture to the mucosa may or may not be good. When quality records and manufacturing are lacking, the denture is often ill-fitting, and the patient may need the assistance of a denture adhesive to achieve sufficient retention for adequate function.

Complete dentures can also be supported and fixed to the jaw using dental implants for increased stability. If the denture is permanently affixed to the implants, the prosthesis may be known as a fixed-hybrid denture or implant supported denture. If the denture is to be removed by the patient for convenience and cleaning, the denture is known as an implant overdenture or an implant-retained denture.

Denture Fabrication

Dentures can be divided into two categories based on the technique used for their fabrication. First, conventional dentures are created by making an impression of the edentulous arches and a interocclusal record, casts are made, a wax-up proposal is created which leads to a try-in. When all changes are made and approved, the denture is processed using traditional acrylic processing methods which vary greatly in their degree of quality and accuracy. Second is digital. Digital dentures are created using a digitized set of impressions and/or models and a digital interocclusal record to which a digital design proposal is created using a digital denture software program. A try-in may or may not be required based on the confidence level of the records from the clinician. The final digital denture is manufactured using either an additive technique (3D printing) or subtractive technique (milling).Removable Partial Dentures

Removable Partial Dentures

Removable partial dentures are used when a patient is only partially edentulous. Acrylic or metal frameworks serve as a base to support the number of prosthetic teeth that need to be replaced. Unlike a complete denture, a removable partial denture is secured by clasps, implants or other intra or extra-coronal attachments usually associated with crowns or bridges.

Fixed Partial Dentures (Dental Bridges)

A fixed partial denture (or bridge) generally comprises of two abutting tooth restorations connecting a prosthetic pontic in between thus replacing the missing tooth. It can be full cast alloy or porcelain fused-to-metal permanently cemented into place. Fixed partial dentures are the restoration of choice when only a single tooth (possibly 2 adjacent) is missing and the abutting teeth are strong enough to server as adequate anchorage for the bridge.

dental bridges

A disadvantage of fixed partial dentures is that the two abutting teeth will need to be reduced, thus sacrificing the normal state of the tooth to accommodate the restoration.

Dental Implants

Advances in dental implants have improved over the last 30 years and have become standard of care for tooth replacement. Combined with a connected prosthetic replacement tooth, the dental implants provide the most natural functional replacement and long lasting restoration of all dental restorations available today. In most cases, a patient enjoys a favorable esthetic outcome and is able to return to a normal quality of life with regards to what they normally enjoy eating. However, compared to other treatment options, dental implant surgery generally requires more training on behalf of the dentist and staff, additional equipment and costly restorative components, thus resulting in higher patient fees, but are becoming more affordable as competition for these treatments plans increase.

dental implants affordable dental solution

The implant is surgically placed to the patient’s bone and allowing several months for adequate osseointegratrion, the implant is finally restored with an abutment and crown.

A major benefit of dental implants is that they most closely replace the natural tooth in appearance and function. In many instances, the success rate of dental implants is 98%. In addition to fixed restorative solutions, dental implants are also used to support dentures or and multiple unit fixed prostheses.

In recent years, patients have become increasingly aware of affordable dental solutions involving dental implants. This has compelled clinicians to quickly adopt dental implant surgery at their practice.

6 Key Benefits of Dental Implants for Patients

Typically, a dental implant procedure requires multiple appointments spanning over several weeks or months. Nevertheless, many patients continue to prefer dental implants over other tooth replacement options.

Here are some of the advantages of dental implants:

1. Improved Comfort and Convenience

Dental implants permanently integrate into the bone and the restoration is fixed. Unlike unsecured dentures, implants offer the patient the stability in occlusion they enjoyed with their natural teeth and return to a quality of life they are used to in the things they eat.

2. Enhanced Esthetics

Restorations affixed to dental implants often have the natural appearance and “feel” of natural teeth and the permanent nature of implant restorations most often makes it easier for the patient to feel more self-confident.

3. Longer-Term Solution

A dental implant restoration is a permanent choice in dental rehabilitation. If appropriately maintained, the implant can potentially last a lifetime. Depending on the technique and material, the restored implant crowns may or may not endure as long as the actual implant and may need to be replaced at some point in the future.

4. Hassle-Free Maintenance

Maintaining dental implants is just as important and can be as easy as taking care of natural teeth. As long as a patient follows proper oral hygiene practices, their implants will continue serve the patient well.

5. Improved Oral Health

All else being equal, once the patient has been rehabilitated through implant treatment, chances are they have a fresh start with regards to their oral health understanding they need to continue or resume adequate oral hygiene to ensure the success of the implants and resolutions to previous dental problems.

6. Cost-Effectiveness

The upfront cost of dental implant surgery is higher than that of dentures and traditional fixed solutions. But many patients prefer this procedure because it may be more cost-effective in the long run due to the fact they are permanent and when properly maintained can avoid repeated re-treatments.

All of these benefits make dental implants one of the best options for tooth replacement today.

Types of Dental Implant Restorations

The type of dental implant you’re going to use for a patient depends on the number of teeth that need to be replaced. Dental implants can be broadly categorized as:

  • Single tooth implants
  • Multiple implant bridges
  • Implant-retained overdentures
  • Implant-supported dentures (fixed-hybrids)

Single Tooth Implant

A single tooth implant consists of one implant, abutment, and a crown. You can use it to replace a single damaged or missing tooth. It’s also recommended when a patient has multiple missing teeth that aren’t situated adjacent to each other. However, the cost of placing multiple single tooth implants can quickly add up.

single tooth implants affordable dental solution

Multiple Implant Bridge

This type of dental implant restoration is similar to a fixed bridge. The only difference is that implants are used instead of natural teeth to abut the bridge. Depending on the number of restored teeth and implants potentially, it may be more affordable alternative to using multiple single tooth implants.

implant supported bridge

Implant-Retained Overdenture

Implant-retained overdentures offer an affordable alternative to securing a complete denture. This may involve the conversion of existing complete denture where implants have been placed and secured with a removable attachment. This allows the patient to conveniently remove and clean below the denture. It also restores much of the stability lost as well as allowing the patient to enjoy much of the previously lost quality of life regarding what can or cannot be eaten with a regular denture. Implants placed in support of the complete denture may be standard implants, or an even more affordable option, small diameter implants.

implant retained denture

Implant-Supported Denture

An implant-supported denture (fixed hybrid denture) is permanently affixed to a full arch complete denture. These most often replicate the appearance and contour of natural gingiva and can still be cleaned underneath and around the implants. These functionally offer the best alternative to all of the implant-denture restoration options. Depending on a mandibular or maxillary restoration, the number and position of implants may vary. The material from which these final restorations vary from acrylic to ceramic and zirconia. Some may include internal metal support structures or bars for additional strength.

Dental implants can be divided into two categories, namely:

  • Conventional or standard dental implants
  • Mini dental implants (small diameter implants)

What Are Mini Dental Implants?

Typically, a standard dental implant has a diameter between 3.2 mm and 6 mm. A mini dental implant or small diameter implant, on the other hand, has a diameter of between 1.8 mm to 3.0 mm.

mini dental implant patient

Mini implants are smaller diameter implants, making them suitable for a wide range of patients who aren’t ideal candidates for conventional dental implants, such as individuals with potentially poor bone density or resorbed ridges.

Mini implant placement is minimally invasive and doesn’t involve multiple surgical procedures, unlike standard implant surgery. It can be completed in a single visit. More importantly, the simplicity of mini implants and their placement make it more affordable. “Minis” are becoming increasingly popular among the more edentulous, active senior population. They can leverage the benefits of dental implants while being more affordable and generally requiring fewer visits.

Why Consider Mini Implant Placement?

In many respects, mini dental implants present an easy entry into implant placement and can quickly expand your treatment offerings with profitable options. Begin by getting trained to perform mini implant placement in your office. For instance, Sterngold offers numerous online and in-person mini dental implant courses to guide you through the surgical procedure. These courses are generally CE eligible and are offered in various formats to suit your needs.

Sterngold’s MOR Starter Kit comes with all the tools needed to perform mini dental implant treatment, as well as a comprehensive marketing tool kit to announce the treatment to your patients.

When Should You Recommend Dental Implant Surgery?

recommending an affordable dental solution to patient

For most patients, dental implants can be instrumental in improving quality of life and self-confidence. As a dental practitioner, only you can identify the right candidate for dental implant surgery. Here are a few factors you should consider before recommending dental implant treatment to a patient:

Medical History

Carefully evaluate all aspects of the patient’s overall health and medical history to determine whether dental implant surgery is safe for them and they would be a good dental implant candidate. Identify whether the patient is suffering from comorbid conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorder or other disease or infections that would normally be contraindicated if present. This includes smoking. Certain medications may also interfere with implant healing and will result in implant failure. These disorders, overall health and lifestyle factors might delay or prevent healing and interfere with the success of the final and permanent integration of the implant with the bone.

Bone Quality, Quantity and Density

The success of dental implant surgery is based on the process of osseointegration. It refers to the fusion of a dental implant with the bone. This, in turn, means a patient must have enough quality bone and bone density to support a dental implant. In some cases of healthy patients, bone grafts are indicated to improve the implant site which can make the process slightly longer and more invasive.

Ready to Implement an Affordable Dental Implant Solution?

Ready to add implants to your practice? Contact Sterngold today to explore your training and product options.