Dental Implants – Panama City, FL

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Dr. Waheed or Dr. Panousis will begin by reviewing your medical history, discussing your needs, and carefully examining your mouth. If necessary, we will recommend preliminary treatments like tooth extractions, bone grafting, or gum disease therapy in order to ensure the success of your dental implants. From there, we’ll be able to create a custom treatment plan that includes significant information like timeline and cost estimates.

Dental Implant Surgery

Unlike many other dentists in the area, we proudly offer the entire dental implant process at the same location. This means that you’ll enjoy a consistent, convenient, and efficient treatment. Plus, you’ll have peace of mind knowing familiar faces at Baldwin Family Dental. First, we will numb your mouth so that your surgery is comfortable. We also provide sedation for those seeking a deeper sense of relaxation. Next, we’ll make a small incision on your gums to access your jawbone. Once the implant is placed, we will close up the gums and give you a protective cap to maintain your appearance and prevent potential issues during recovery.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

Once your dental implants are placed, you’ll begin a healing process called osseointegration. Dental implants are made of biocompatible materials that allow them to fuse to the jawbone, becoming a permanent part of the body. This is exactly what gives implants the ability to provide so many benefits, including strength, durability, and naturality. Osseointegration usually takes between 3 to 6 months. Once your implants are completely healed, you’ll come back into our office for a minor treatment. We will place abutments, which are small connectors that allow for the placement of your custom-made restorations.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

Once your dental implants have fully healed, all that’s left to do is to come into our office for your final restorations. We will create crowns, bridges, and dentures out of incredibly high-quality materials for the most natural and beautiful results. The restoration that you require will directly depend on your specific needs, including the number of teeth that you’re missing. After placing your permanent restorations, we will always check that your new and improved smile feels comfortable and meets all your expectations. Now you can leave our office with a complete, strong, beautiful, and healthy set of teeth!

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Stable support for dentures so that they don’t loosen or slip: If you’ve ever used a traditional denture before, then you’re likely aware of how frustrating it can be for it to slip or shift out of place throughout the day. With an implant denture, you never have to worry about a loose denture again!
• Be able to brush and floss normally: When you’re brushing or flossing your teeth, you can expect it to feel natural again. In fact, your routine is largely comparable to what it was before your tooth loss. Just make sure the gum tissue around your implant is getting the attention it needs to stay clean!
• Boost confidence in your appearance: Having a smile you hate to show off can really dampen your self-esteem and confidence. With a new tooth (or set of teeth) held in place with reliable dental implants, you can express yourself to the fullest extent. Because of how they are surgically placed, they even work to prevent facial sagging and hollowing of the cheeks!

Health Benefits

• Break down food without worry: Chewing food when you have missing teeth can be difficult, exhausting, and downright infeasible depending on what you eat. Dental implants are incredibly strong thanks to their integration with the jawbone, which allows you to eat hard and crunchy foods without any concern.
• A diet full of healthy options for better nutrition: Eating a balanced diet can be largely hindered by the number of teeth you have. Not only can you expand your diet to include fruits and vegetables conducive to oral and overall health, but you don’t have to spend time preparing them in ways to accommodate missing teeth.
• Stop changes in your tooth position: Teeth will naturally shift out of place once neighboring teeth are lost. This is the body’s way of compensating for the additional space. Unfortunately, it can also cause misalignment and put undue stress on your jaw joints. Dental implants are just one option that helps you counter this issue.

Long-Term Benefits

• The prevention of jawbone deterioration: After natural teeth are lost, the jawbone begins to break down over time. This can compromise its foundation, putting your remaining teeth at risk. Dental implants are the only solution that replaces the root, which sits directly inside the jawbone. This protects the long-term health of your existing smile.
• True longevity you can’t find elsewhere: Implant posts are built to last for decades and possibly the rest of your life when you take care of them every day. They also carry a very high success rate, averaging about 95% to 98% even after 10 years of use.
• Improve your overall health: There is a strong correlation between those who have all of their teeth and also maintain positive overall health throughout their lives. This makes dental implants a great investment not just for your oral health, but your whole-body wellness too!

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Replacing a tooth with a dental implant rebuilds both the root and crown. As a result, you’ll need a multi-step treatment process, which can take several months. You’ll have more time to pay for your new smile because you won’t have to come up with a lump sum. While every plan differs, you can expect your estimate to include:

• Preliminary Procedures: It’s not uncommon to need a little prep-work before your placement surgery, like gum disease treatment or tooth extractions.
• Placement Surgery: Sedation or anesthesia will be used to keep you comfortable during your placement surgery. Your implant dentist in Panama City can perform the entire process in-house, so you won’t have to pay specialist fees.
• Restoration: The type of restoration you need will affect the cost, such as a single crown or implant bridge.
• Materials: Although there are discounted materials, they can lower the lifespan of your investment.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

If you’re treating several teeth, each tooth isn’t replaced individually. Instead, a specific number of posts can be used to support a bridge or denture. You’ll need to pay for each part of the dental implant, which will include:

• Post: A titanium post is surgically placed into the jawbone to replicate a root.
• Abutment: Each post requires an abutment to attach the restoration.
• Restoration: Your restoration is made of high-quality material to match your natural teeth.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money  

Dental implants in Panama City may cost more initially, but they are the most affordable long-term because they can last for decades. You won’t have to pay for replacements every few years like traditional prosthetics. Not to mention, they’ll reduce your overall oral health expenses. As the only treatment to replicate the root, a dental implant will keep your jawbone strong to avoid needing costly procedures in the future.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Every dental insurance plan differs, but most policies can be used to offset the amount you’ll pay out-of-pocket. You can use your coverage to lower the cost of certain steps in your treatment, like the consultation, imaging, or restorations. After meeting your annual deductible, your annual allowance can be used to pay up to 80% of specific services.

Making Dental Implants Affordable 

Besides using your dental insurance, we offer multiple financial options to cover any remaining balance, including:

• Traditional Payments: We accept cash, checks, and credit cards.
• In-House Savings Plan: Enjoy discounted rates after an annual membership fee.
• Promotions: Ask us about any current special offers.
• Third-Party Financing: Pay for your dental implants using monthly installments through a third-party financing company.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

You’ll need to get plenty of rest right after your implant surgery, as you’ll need to allow the blood clot to form properly around the surgical site. To ensure this heals correctly, you’ll want to also:

• Avoid spitting; swallow your saliva or use a tissue instead
• Refrain from using a straw for drinking
• Stay away from smoking or using tobacco products
• Avoid touching the surgical site with your tongue or fingers

Common Side Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement

Most patients might experience the following symptoms during their recovery:

• Mild discomfort: While normal for most people, you can manage this by taking over-the-counter and/or prescribed pain medications.
• Intermittent bleeding: Try putting light pressure with a clean washcloth or gauze to control any minor bleeding. If this persists, notify our team right away for help.
• Inflammation: This can happen for the first 72 hours after your surgery, and you can use a cold compress to alleviate your symptoms.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

Since you’ll want to keep the surgical site undisturbed, it’s best to stick to a soft-food diet throughout your recovery. Your food choices should include options like:

• Scrambled eggs
• Yogurt
• Pudding
• Applesauce
• Pasta
• Soup (not hot)
• Mashed potatoes
• Ice cream

Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene

You should be able to brush your teeth like normal the day after your dental implant surgery. Just be sure to be careful when scrubbing around the surgical site. You can gently rinse your mouth with salt water, especially after meals, as this can wash away debris and disinfect the area. Also, be sure to avoid using mouthwash that contains alcohol, as this can aggravate the implant site.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

After receiving your new dental crown, bridge, or denture, the hardest part of the process will be over! It’s normal to feel some mild sensitivity when getting used to your restoration, but we’ll instruct you on how to manage your situation at home until your smile feels natural again. If you do notice any unusual symptoms, such as bleeding or swelling, make sure to visit us so that we can help resolve the issue as soon as possible.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

The lifespan of dental implants usually depends on the health and lifestyle choices of the patient. To ensure the implants last, it’s crucial that you brush twice, floss, and rinse on a daily basis. Attend your regular dental cleanings and checkups, and avoid chewing on anything particularly hard or sticky. With proper maintenance, dental implants can last for upwards of 30 years. That’s several times longer than traditional bridges and dentures.

Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

The jawbone doesn’t have very many nerve endings, and your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic before the procedure begins. You will also most likely be sedated, lowering your body’s ability to registry pain. Even though the surgery won’t be painful, your mouth may be sore for a few days afterwards. Take recommended over-the-counter and prescribed pain relievers as directed. Cold compresses can also help. If discomfort worsens instead of improving after two or three days, give us a call so we can help.

Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?

Most patients only need to take one or two days off work to get dental implants. If your job is physically demanding, you should probably take at least three to four days off, as heavy exercise can divert blood from the implant site and delay healing. The being said, every case is different. We will be able to give you a more specific recommendation based on your unique case during your consultation.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I’m Diabetic?

If your diabetes is under control, your odds of dental implant success are generally comparable to those of nondiabetic patients. Uncontrolled diabetes can slow down the healing process, making it harder for your implants to integrate with your jawbone. If you are interested in getting dental implants but have diabetes, talk to your endocrinologist or primary care doctor about getting your blood sugar levels under control beforehand.

Are Dental Implants Safe?

For most patients, the answer is yes; dental implants are generally considered a safe option for replacing missing teeth, assuming that the process is carried out by a trained expert. That being said, the state of your health will ultimately determine whether dental implants are truly a safe option for you. If you have gum disease or don’t have an adequate level of bone density in your jaw, such issues will need to be addressed before dental implants can be considered viable in your case.

What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?

Dental implants can fail due to peri-implantitis, which is an infection of the soft tissues around your dental implants. Over time, the infection will weaken the gums and the underlying bone; after a certain point, they will no longer be able to support your implant posts. Alternatively, the issue may be due to osseointegration not taking place as expected. If the implant posts can’t form a lasting bond with the jawbone, they will become unstable.

It’s worth noting that there are several risk factors that can increase the chances of dental implants failing, such as bruxism, missteps in oral hygiene, and certain health issues. Our team will make sure that you’re aware of these risk factors so that you can protect your newly rebuilt smile.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

If you smoke, the chances of your dental implants failing will be higher than normal. Tobacco products can result in a dry mouth, which can make you more likely to develop oral health issues that can put dental implants at risk, such as gum disease. Smoking can also have a detrimental effect on the healing process and make it harder for the implant posts to integrate with the jaw.

With all that said, it is often possible to get dental implants even if you smoke. To give yourself the best chance of success, you should plan on giving up smoking at least two weeks before your dental implant surgery. Once the implant posts are in place, you should plan on refraining from smoking for at least the next two to three months.

Will People Be Able to Tell That I Have Dental Implants?

Generally speaking, most people won’t be able to tell the difference between your dental implants and your natural teeth. The implant posts themselves won’t be visible since they will be inserted into the jawbone beneath the gums. Meanwhile, the final prosthesis will be carefully customized for your unique mouth so that it can blend right in with the rest of your smile. On top of that, since the implant posts will act as new tooth roots, you don’t have to worry about your prosthesis slipping at embarrassing moments.

Make At-Home Oral Hygiene a Priority

Your first line of defense against implant failure is a good at-home oral healthcare routine. Make sure that you’re brushing twice a day and flossing once a day to clean away infection-causing plaque and bacteria. It’s a good idea to invest in an electric toothbrush, especially if you have issues with dexterity. For an added layer of protection, use a non-alcoholic mouthwash to clean hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.

Eat a Healthy Diet

When it comes to your oral health, what you eat matters. Dental implants allow you to consume a wide range of foods, giving you the ability to enjoy a delicious and nutritious diet. However, be careful not to overindulge in hard, sticky, or extra sugary foods. These items can potentially damage your implants, plus they increase the risk of problems like gum disease and tooth decay. Instead, try eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin C to keep your jaw, teeth, and gums as healthy as possible.

Break Bad Habits

Dental implants have a success rate of 95% even after 10 years, but some bad habits can lead to their failure. Avoid using your teeth for anything other than speaking and eating. Don’t chew on nonfood items and do your best to avoid things like ice cubes that could crack your teeth. Additionally, it’s vital that you stop smoking or using tobacco products. Tobacco slows down the healing process and encourages infection. There are many cases of implant failure due to tobacco use because it weakens the strength of the gums.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Dental implants are durable and designed to last for over 30 years. That said, they are not indestructible. It’s up to you to protect them during sports or physical activity with a mouthguard. We have custom mouthguards that are comfortable to wear while also reducing the risk of dental injury. Additionally, if you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding), it’s important to wear a nightguard. This prevents abnormal wear and tear on your restorations while also relieving pressure on your jaw.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Last but not least, don’t forget to visit our implant dentist in Panama City for routine checkups and cleanings every 6 months. This gives us a chance to monitor your dental implants, catching any small problems before they become major issues. These appointments also allow our hygienists to clean areas of your smile that you couldn’t reach on your own, keeping your teeth healthy and beautiful. Additionally, this is a great time to ask any questions you may have about the maintenance of your implants.