Many of our patients are interested in getting dental implants to replace their missing teeth, but they worry about the costs involved. While dental implants are the best solution available for missing teeth, they are also the most expensive—but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth it. Below, we address some of the most common questions we hear about the cost of dental implants.
What do dental implants cost in Aliso Viejo, CA?
Answering this question can be complicated and confusing because there are a number of different factors involved. An implant-based restoration usually has three parts: the dental implant itself, a restoration (crown, bridge, or denture) that replaces the visible portion of your missing tooth, and an abutment piece that connects the two.
The cost of a single dental implant in Aliso Viejo ranges from $3500 to $6000, but that’s only the cost of the implant post. You’ll need to consider the number of teeth being replaced, the type of restoration you’re getting, and the material used to fabricate it. A single dental crown attached to a single dental implant will be considerably less than an implant-supported denture.
You’ll also need to factor in any supplemental procedures that are needed to prepare you for dental implant surgery. These may include tooth extractions, sinus lifts, or bone grafts to reconstruct the jaw, allowing a stable base of support for your dental implants.
All of this is to say that the best way to find out the cost of dental implants for you is to visit our office for a consultation.
Why are dental implants so expensive?
When you compare the cost of dental implants with the cost of a traditional bridge or dentures, it’s understandable that you might experience some sticker shock. Why do dental implants cost so much more? The answer is simple—a bridge or denture only replaces a tooth above the gumline, while an implant-based restoration replaces the root as well. This means there are more costs involved.
Not only do you need to pay for the implants in addition to the restorations, you’ll also need to pay for the surgery to place them—dentures and bridges do not require surgical placement. Then there are the additional appointments, imaging, and time spent planning your surgery.
Still, dental implants are a better option because they prevent bone loss in the jaw and they’re made to be a permanent, life-long replacement for the roots of missing teeth.
Does insurance pay for dental implants?
Dental insurance plans vary from one provider to the next, so we recommend contacting your insurance company directly to find out what they cover. It’s becoming more common for dental insurance providers to offer at least some coverage for dental implants, but often there are restrictions and requirements involved—for example, your restorations may be covered, but not the implants they attach to. In some circumstances, your medical insurance may also provide coverage for dental implants. We’re happy to help you understand your benefits and out-of-pocket costs.
Are dental implants worth it?
Dental implants are absolutely worth it! You’ll be overjoyed by your results—a complete restoration that looks, feels, and functions more like your natural teeth than any other option available. Dental implants prevent bone loss, which means a stronger bite, better overall oral health, and even a more youthful appearance.
Learn More About Dental Implants
If you have questions about dental implants or you’d like to schedule a consultation at Aliso Smiles, call 949-916-7800 to make an appointment.
Sleep apnea can have a dramatic impact on your overall quality of life, but you may suffer with it for years before you’re ever diagnosed. When you have obstructive sleep apnea, your breathing becomes shallow or pauses altogether while you sleep. This jolts your body out of deep sleep, but most people have no recollection of this occurring—even if it happens dozens of times throughout the night. Treating sleep apnea is important, but in order to treat it, you must first know the signs to look for.
Signs of Sleep Apnea
The most obvious sign of sleep apnea is snoring and pauses in breathing during sleep, but unless someone else observes these symptoms while you’re asleep, you’re unlikely to notice them yourself. You may, however, notice that you wake up gasping for air or feeling like you’re choking. This occurs because when you sleep, the soft tissues in your airway become relaxed and block the flow of oxygen.
Here are some other signs of sleep apnea that you should be aware of:
- A sore throat when you wake up
- Morning headaches
- A persistent feeling of exhaustion and sleepiness, even with eight or more hours of sleep
- Trouble focusing
- Mood disorders, including depression and anxiety
- Difficulties with school or work
If you’re experiencing any combination of these symptoms, you may need a sleep study to determine if you have obstructive sleep apnea.
Consequences of Untreated Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea makes it difficult for patients to live their lives to the fullest. Getting eight hours of restorative sleep each night is important for our overall well-being. Without it, you feel lethargic and irritable; you may struggle to concentrate at work and find your performance slipping. The sleep deprivation caused by obstructive sleep apnea even puts you at a higher risk of a car accident.
There are long-term health consequences of sleep apnea as well. Increased risk of heart attacks, type 2 diabetes, and strokes are all associated with sleep apnea. It’s also believed that sleep apnea increases blood pressure and the level of stress hormones in the body. It’s no wonder why patients with sleep apnea feel so lousy all the time!
Best Sleep Apnea Treatment
The good news is that there are effective treatments available for sleep apnea. Although you’ve likely heard of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines, dentists have another sleep apnea treatment available that many patients find more comfortable and less cumbersome to wear every night—oral appliance therapy.
Oral appliance therapy is similar to a mouthguard or night guard, but its purpose is to engage the muscles in your airway to keep the soft tissues from relaxing and blocking your breathing. These oral appliances are easy to wear and keep clean, and they’re also much easier to bring with you when you travel than a CPAP machine. If you have only mild to moderate sleep apnea, we recommend oral appliance therapy before CPAP therapy.
Learn More About Sleep Apnea
Do you think you might have sleep apnea? Have you been diagnosed already, but you find sleeping with a CPAP machine uncomfortable? Contact us today at 949-916-7800 to schedule an appointment for a consultation.
The temporomandibular joints, or TMJ, perform the important function of connecting each side of your jaw to your skull. You might not think about these joints very often, if at all, but you use them frequently—when you eat, yawn, talk, or simply shift the position of your jaw a bit, your TMJ act as sliding hinges to allow these movements. Given how often you use them, it’s easy to see how dysfunction in these joints can cause a great deal of discomfort.
Defining TMJ
First, it’s important to clarify that TMJ is shorthand for the temporomandibular joints. Everyone has TMJ, but not everyone has TMJ disorder—this is the term used to describe dysfunction in these joints. To make things even more confusing, TMJ disorder is often referred to as TMD.
TMJ disorder can be placed into one of three categories. These include:
- Myofascial pain – This is pain that originates in the muscles surrounding the TMJ, rather than the joints themselves. Teeth grinding and jaw clenching are common causes.
- Internal derangement of the joint – Derangement can be caused by an injury to the condyle, a dislocated jaw, or a displaced disc.
- Arthritis – We’re all familiar with how arthritis attacks joints in the knees and wrists, but it can also affect the temporomandibular joints.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder can be difficult to diagnose because it shares symptoms with a number of other conditions. A patient may suffer from chronic headaches for years before realizing that these headaches originate in the TMJ. Some signs that you might have TMD include:
- Headaches and migraines
- Facial tenderness, especially around the jaw and cheeks
- Earaches or feelings of fullness in the ears
- Tightness in the jaw
- Popping and clicking when eating or opening your mouth
- Locking of the jaw
- Pain when eating
Causes of TMJ Disorder
Treatment for TMJ disorder begins by determining the underlying cause. If, for example, your TMD is caused by arthritis, we will work in collaboration with your rheumatologist to help alleviate your symptoms and treat the root cause of your pain.
TMJ disorders caused by injury often require a different approach than TMD that involves myofascial pain, which is the most common type of TMD. When TMJ pain comes from the muscles surrounding the joints, it’s often because of a teeth grinding or jaw clenching habit, also known as bruxism. Bruxism usually occurs during sleep, so many patients don’t even realize they’re grinding their teeth or clenching their jaws, but Dr. Patel can look at your teeth and identify signs of these habits.
Bruxism and the TMJ pain associated with it can be treated with a custom nightguard, which has the dual purpose of relieving pressure on the temporomandibular joints and physically preventing you from grinding your teeth.
Learn More About TMJ Disorder Treatment
If you suspect you have temporomandibular joint disorder and would like to meet with Dr. Patel for a consultation, contact us today at 949-916-7800 to schedule an appointment at Aliso Smiles.