Dental Implants – Evanston, IL

The Closest Replacement
To Your Natural Teeth

Older man and woman smiling after dental implant supported tooth replacement

Tooth loss has many causes, including gum disease, severe tooth decay, facial trauma, and more. When you lose your teeth, your whole life is affected. Not only does tooth loss impact your smile, but it also affects how you eat and speak. It can affect your digestion and your nutrition. It even damages the health of your jawbone. When you are faced with tooth loss, Winning Smile Dental Group can help you turn back the clock with dental implants from your Evanston, IL dentist.

Why Choose Winning Smile Dental Group for Dental Implants?

  • In-Office Dental Implant Placement & Restoration
  • In-House Periodontist with 45 Years of Experience
  • Saturday & Evening Appointments Available

What is a Dental Implant?

Animated dental implant supported dental crown

A dental implant is a small titanium post that is placed below your gum line and into your jawbone to naturally fuse with it through a process called osseointegration. This provides stimulation and blood flow to the area to keep it from deteriorating and offers an unwavering foundation for your new tooth/teeth to be attached to.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

A dentist explaining how dental implants work in Evanston

If you weren’t already aware, placing dental implants is a unique, multi-step process. The procedure thus spans several months at a time. That said, implants’ benefits make this wait worth the time and effort! We at Winning Smile Dental Group happen to know, as we perform your treatment. Our dentists, after all, are highly experienced at restoring smiles. Still, perhaps you’d like to learn more about how dental implants work in Evanston. In that case, keep reading to discover the four steps of implant placement.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

A dentist describing how dental implants work in Evanston

To start, Dr. Baima will review your oral health and medical history to see if you qualify for implants. Doing so is necessary, given that treatment success depends on having a fairly healthy mouth. Your future teeth could fail early otherwise.

If you suffer from prior dental issues, our team will address them before implant placement. Preliminary procedures could include gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, or bone grafting.

Once all this “prep work” is out of the way, we’ll map out the rest of your treatment. In particular, our office will walk you through the procedure timeline, cost, etc.

Dental Implant Surgery

Dentists performing a dental implant surgery

As mentioned before, Winning Smile Dental Group does implant surgery right here in our Evanston office. This set-up means you don’t need to drive across town to see an outside specialist. Furthermore, it lets our team have easy access to your dental records.

The surgery itself is pretty straightforward. First, Dr. Baima will numb the affected area so it doesn’t feel pain. From there, he’ll make a small incision in the gums that allows room for the implant. Next is the actual placement, followed by the closing of the gums and the addition of a protective cap.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

A 3D illustration that shows how dental implants work in Evanston

After the implants are placed, they’ll slowly fuse with your jawbone via osseointegration. This fusion can take 3-6 months, so you’ll need to be careful. If you aren’t, poor hygiene, bad oral habits, and other factors could delay or ruin your restorations’ stability.

You’ll return to our office for a minor abutment surgery when the implants have fully fused. This step will connect small metal pieces to your new teeth, ensuring they stay in place. While you heal from the surgery for a few weeks, your final restoration will be crafted from dental impressions of your mouth.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

A young woman with a dental implant

For the last step of implant treatment, you’ll attend a final dental visit to have your restoration placed. (Based on your needs, this prosthetic might be a crown, bridge, or denture.) Once it’s fitted, our team will check to ensure your bite is comfortable. Assuming everything looks good, you’ll then be ready to enjoy your newly rebuilt smile.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Male dental patient smiling after getting dental implants in Evanston, IL

Dental implants have quickly become the treatment of choice for people who are missing teeth, with about 500,000 new implants being placed every year. It’s not hard to see why; dentures and dental bridges still have their uses, but dental implants have many unique advantages that can improve your health and your overall quality of life on a daily basis as well as in the long term. At your dental implant consultation, we can explain the benefits of the treatment so that you can decide whether it’s truly your best option.

Day-to-Day Benefits

Woman with dental implants in Evanston, IL  smiling on couch

You’ll use your dental implants every day to eat your favorite foods, speak with your friends and family, and show the world a dazzling smile. As you do, you’ll be able to enjoy these benefits of dental implants:

  • No Diet Restrictions: Traditional dentures only restore about 25% to 50% of your regular chewing ability. In contrast, dental implants have up to 80% to 90% of the chewing power of natural teeth, letting you eat virtually anything you want.
  • Easy Maintenance: If you’re tired of taking care of dentures, you’ll be glad to know that dental implants are much simpler to maintain as they can be brushed and flossed like regular teeth.
  • Confident Smiles: Your new teeth will look like a natural part of your mouth, and they won’t move at all when you’re chewing, speaking, or smiling. This makes it easier to be confident about your grin on a daily basis.

Health Benefits

Bearded man with dental implants in Evanston, IL smiling

Your mouth (and potentially the rest of your body) will benefit from dental implants thanks to them acting as new tooth roots. Health-related advantages you’ll notice include:

  • Better Nutrition: Dentures make it harder to eat all the different foods you need to stay healthy.
  • Jaw Strength: The jawbone starts to deteriorate once it no longer receives stimulation from teeth that have been lost. Dental implants provide this much needed stimulation to keep the jawbone healthy.
  • Improved Oral Health: Since dental implant maintenance is so simple, it’s much easier to keep them clean and avoid the plaque and tartar buildup that could lead to gum disease. Furthermore, filling in empty space in your mouth with a dental implant will stop your other teeth from drifting out of place.

Long-Term Benefits

Senior woman outside with dental implants in Evanston, IL

Your dental implant will continue to help you for many years to come thanks to the following advantages:

  • High Success Rate: Dentists have been placing dental implants for decades now, and thanks to advancements in dentistry, the procedure has a 95% rate of success.
  • Long Lifespan: Your dental implants can potentially last for decades or even a lifetime, whereas a regular denture or bridge would need to be replaced every few years. As such, getting dental implants could save you time and money in the long term.
  • Youthful Appearance: By helping you maintain your jawbone, dental implants can help prevent the sunken, aged look that often occurs after tooth loss.

Indications of Dental Implants

Woman sharing smile after dental implant tooth replacement

There are several different traits that make a good candidate for the procedure, including having a dense enough jawbone, good oral health, and no medical conditions that impact the immune system. During your initial consultation, we will examine your mouth and medical history to determine if you’re a good fit for implants. If so, we may suggest one of the following restorative plans to help rebuild your smile.

Missing One Tooth

Animated dental implant supported dental crown

For a single missing tooth, we can place one dental implant below the gumline that will anchor a customized dental crown to fill the gap in your arch. This will keep your remaining teeth aligned and reduce your risk of developing additional oral health problems down the road.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Animated dental implant supported fixed bridge

To replace consecutive missing teeth with dental implants, all we need to do is attach the bridge to two implants placed on either side of the gap in your arch—no alterations to your healthy teeth are necessary.

Missing All of Your Teeth

Animated dental implant supported denture

Instead of relying on natural suction and denture adhesive to stay in place, an implant-retained denture is secured to four to eight dental implants. This prevents any slipping or shifting that you may experience with traditional restorations.

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Man discussing cost of dental implants with dental office team member

There’s no set price tag for the dental implant procedure because it’s customized to fit each of our patient’s unique needs. We’ll only be able to calculate the cost after we examine your mouth and facial structure and determine what type of implant-retained restoration you need. Once we do, our friendly team can discuss payment options with you. We accept dental insurance and offer additional financing through CareCredit. Read on to learn more about the cost of dental implants in Evanston and the factors that go into this long-lasting treatment.

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

an oral surgeon performing a dental implant placement procedure

Other than the dental implant procedure itself, you may also need to factor in the prices of preliminary services you might require, such as bone grafting, tooth extraction, or gum disease therapy. This is because you need to have healthy gums and jawbone density for your restorations to work. Though these procedures will add to the overall cost of your implant process, they are essential for ensuring the success of your treatment.

You’ll also need to consider the price of dental implant surgery. The final cost can be influenced by several factors, such as the location in your mouth and the kind of sedation used (if any). Fortunately, our team can perform the entire implant procedure in-office, which can save you time, money, and headaches for a stress-free process.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

an example of dental implant parts in Evanston

Several variables can influence the overall cost of your treatment and will need to be considered regarding your dental implant(s), including:

  • The number of implants – The more metal posts you’ll require, the higher the value of the procedure.
  • Size or material – Some dental implants can be made of zirconia and can either be shorter or longer than average, which can influence the final price.
  • The type of restoration – Certain tooth-replacement options cost more than others, such as the difference between a single crown and full dentures.
  • The brand of dental implant – Our team only uses the highest-quality dental materials from trusted brands to construct durable, lifelike, and long-lasting dental implants.

How Dental Implants Can Pay For Themselves

a patient smiling with her dental implants in Evanston

While other tooth-replacement options like dental bridges and dentures may seem more cost-effective, you’ll want to remember the benefits you’ll experience with dental implants. These are the only restorations that completely rebuild missing teeth from the roots up, which means they can also help preserve your jawbone and youthful facial shape. The implants themselves can also last a lifetime with proper care, meaning you won’t have to worry about getting adjustments or replacements as frequently as other traditional restorations. This can save you more money in the long run!

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

a dentist explaining the cost of dental implants in Evanston

Although most dental insurance companies won’t cover dental implants, there are some exceptions to look into. In some cases, providers may cover portions or percentages of your treatment, such as your initial consultation and the restorations. For this reason, you’ll want to verify the details of your policy before jumping on board with the procedure. Our staff can also help you navigate your plan to help you make the most of your benefits.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

a patient smiling with their new dental implants in Evanston

Other than relying on dental insurance to afford dental implants, you can also explore alternative financing options to help minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. Our team is happy to be partnered with CareCredit—a third-party financier that can split the overall cost of your dental care into monthly installments with little to no interest attached! You’ll be able to restore your smile without having to empty your wallet in the long run.

Maintaining & Caring For Your Dental Implants

Dental implant care in Evanston

Proper dental implant care in Evanston means doing more than just brushing your teeth and flossing each day. While at-home oral hygiene is important, there are other steps you must take if you want to ensure your investment. Because dental implants are a costly endeavor, it’s in your best interest that you listen to the recommendations of your dentist and practice the following tricks to keep your new smile firmly in place for a lifetime.

Making Oral Hygiene a Priority

Man brushing teeth in Evanston

Brushing your teeth and flossing will become crucial components of your everyday life once you start wearing dental implants. These oral hygiene habits will ensure to keep your new teeth looking and feeling their best. Although these teeth cannot decay, natural ones that exist nearby can, and you are still susceptible to gum disease, so adopting and maintaining good dental habits will be the first step in your journey with permanent prosthetics.

Eating a Healthy Diet

Woman eating foods in Evanston

Too much sugar and starch can leave you not only with a larger waistline, but you’ll also notice a negative impact on your smile. Decay and gum disease can easily arise over time if you do not pay attention to the foods you are eating. Instead of stocking up on chips, cookies, and other sugary and starchy items, try incorporating more nutrient-rich foods like leafy greens, lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy.

Breaking Bad Habits

Broken cigarette in Evanston

Biting your fingernails, eating ice, smoking, chewing on inanimate objects, and using your teeth as tools are all guaranteed ways to find yourself at the emergency dentist’s office. You’ll need to stay away from these unhealthy habits if you want your dental implants to remain in place. Otherwise, you’ll be left to visit your implant dentist to discuss what is known as dental implant salvage to try and improve the future of your smile.

Protecting Your Dental Implants

Woman holding a mouthguard in Evanston

No matter your age, protecting your dental implants is important. Whether you enjoy playing contact sports, frequently ride your bike, or enjoy a long run with your friend or spouse, wearing a customized mouthguard is important. Although it might seem silly to wear one while out for a run, you never know when you might trip and fall. A hard hit to the ground could cause your dental implants to loosen or become damaged. With a mouthguard, though, you can better protect your teeth from serious harm.

Scheduling Regular Dental Checkups

Patient seeing dentist in Evanston

Seeing your implant dentist is just as important as any of the other recommended tips and tricks. These visits allow us to examine your natural and artificial teeth for damage or decay. From there, we can make appropriate recommendations that will improve the state of your smile and ensure that your dental implants have the best chance for a healthy future.