Learn About Dental Implants in Wichita

What Are Dental Implants and How Do They Work

Dental implants are replacement tooth roots made from titanium, a metal that bonds well with bone. When you lose a tooth due to decay, disease, or injury, a dental implant offers one way to restore your smile. The implant itself is a small post that a dentist or oral surgeon places directly into your jawbone where the missing tooth used to be. Over several months, the bone grows around the implant in a process called osseointegration, which means the implant becomes firmly anchored.

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Once the implant is secure, your dentist attaches an abutment—a connector piece—to the top of the implant. Then a crown, which is a fake tooth that looks and feels like a real tooth, gets attached to the abutment. This three-part system (implant, abutment, crown) works together to replace your missing tooth completely.

Unlike dentures that sit on top of your gums or bridges that rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants stand alone. They don't need support from other teeth, which means they don't damage healthy teeth nearby. Because implants replace the tooth root as well as the visible part of the tooth, they also help preserve your jawbone. When you lose a tooth, the bone underneath begins to shrink over time. Implants slow or stop this bone loss because they provide stimulation to the jaw, much like natural tooth roots do.

The implant process takes longer than other tooth replacement options—usually between 5 and 8 months from start to finish. This extended timeline allows your body to heal properly and ensures the implant becomes strong enough to support a crown that you'll use for eating and speaking every day.

Practical Takeaway: Understanding that dental implants replace both the root and crown of a missing tooth helps you see why they last longer and work more like natural teeth than other replacement options.

The Dental Implant Procedure: What to Expect

The dental implant procedure happens in stages, and knowing what each stage involves can help you feel more prepared. Before any work begins, your dentist will take X-rays and may use a CT scan to map out your jawbone. This imaging helps your dentist plan exactly where to place the implant and ensures you have enough bone to support it. At this initial consultation, your dentist will also review your medical history and any medications you take, since certain conditions and drugs can affect how well implants work.

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The first surgical stage is implant placement. Your dentist or oral surgeon will make a small cut in your gum to expose the bone underneath. Using special drills, they create a hole in the bone sized to fit the implant snugly. The implant post is then screwed into this hole, and the gum is stitched closed over the top. This surgery typically takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how many implants you need. Most patients receive local anesthesia, which means the area is numb but you remain awake. Some practices offer sedation if you prefer to sleep through the procedure.

After implant placement, you'll need time for healing. For the first week, you may experience swelling, bruising, and discomfort similar to what you might feel after a tooth extraction. Over-the-counter pain relievers and ice packs can help manage these symptoms. Your dentist will give you specific instructions about what you can eat—typically soft foods for the first few days—and how to keep the area clean without disturbing the surgical site.

The waiting period, called the osseointegration phase, lasts 3 to 6 months. During this time, the bone fuses with the implant. While this is happening, you might wear a temporary tooth or denture so you don't have a visible gap. At the end of this healing period, your dentist will check that the implant is secure and take new X-rays to confirm successful integration.

The second surgical stage involves placing the abutment. This is a much smaller procedure than the initial implant placement. Your dentist reopens the gum slightly to expose the top of the implant and screws the abutment in place. The gum then heals around the abutment, taking about 2 weeks. Finally, your dentist takes impressions of your tooth and surrounding teeth to create a custom crown that will match your natural teeth in size, shape, and color.

Once the crown is ready—usually within 2 to 3 weeks—your dentist cements or screws it onto the abutment. At this point, your implant restoration is complete, and you can use your new tooth like any other tooth to eat and speak.

Practical Takeaway: The implant procedure takes multiple appointments spread over months, so plan your schedule accordingly and follow your dentist's instructions carefully at each stage to promote proper healing.

Costs and Payment Options for Dental Implants in Wichita

Dental implants in Wichita typically cost between $3,000 and $6,000 per tooth, though prices can vary based on your specific situation. A single implant with crown and abutment at the lower end of this range might cost around $3,500, while a more complex case with bone grafting could reach $8,000 or more. If you need multiple implants, some dental offices in Wichita offer package pricing that reduces the per-tooth cost.

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Insurance coverage for implants varies significantly. Many traditional dental insurance plans do not cover implants because they are considered cosmetic or elective procedures. However, some plans cover 50% of the crown portion after you meet your deductible and annual maximum. A few plans may cover implants if they are medically necessary due to an accident or disease. The only way to know what your plan covers is to review your policy documents or call your insurance company directly.

Wichita dental offices offer several payment approaches to make implants more manageable financially. Many practices accept payment plans that let you spread costs over 12, 24, or 36 months with little or no interest. Some offer in-house financing programs where you pay the dental office directly rather than through a third-party lender. Credit cards designed for medical and dental expenses, such as CareCredit, are accepted by many Wichita dentists and allow you to pay over time.

Some patients explore using money from health savings accounts (HSAs) or flexible spending accounts (FSAs) if they have these through their employer. These accounts allow you to set aside pre-tax money for medical and dental expenses, which can reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

When comparing costs among Wichita dental practices, ask what is included in the quoted price. Some offices bundle the implant, abutment, and crown together, while others price each component separately. Ask whether extractions, bone grafts, or temporary teeth are included or charged separately. Getting detailed written estimates from multiple practices helps you compare true costs.

Practical Takeaway: Contact both your dental insurance company and local Wichita dental offices to understand what costs you might face, then explore payment options that fit your budget before committing to treatment.

Who May Benefit from Dental Implants

Dental implants work well for people who have lost one or more teeth and want a restoration that functions and feels like a real tooth. Most adults in good general health can consider implants, though certain conditions require careful evaluation or modification of the treatment plan.

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Good candidates for implants typically have sufficient jawbone density to support the implant post. During your consultation, your Wichita dentist will assess your bone using X-rays or CT scans. If you have experienced significant bone loss—which can happen years after losing a tooth—you might need a bone graft before implant placement. Bone grafts involve adding bone material to rebuild the jawbone, typically taking 4 to 6 months to integrate before implants can be placed.

Healthy gums are another important factor. Implants are anchored in bone, but they depend on healthy gum tissue around them to prevent infection. If you have untreated gum disease, your dentist will likely recommend treatment before implant placement. Once you have healthy gums, you can proceed with implants.

Certain medical conditions require discussion with your dentist. People with uncontrolled diabetes may have slower healing and higher infection risk, but controlled diabetes does not prevent implants. Patients taking blood thinners need to coordinate with their physician before the surgical phase.