8 - 2019 - Ballantyne Family Dental

The technology behind dental science is continually growing and improving the way that people’s smiles look. Dental implants have quickly become the go-to option for patients wanting to enhance their smiles and fill in areas of missing dentition. Implants can replace both the top portion of the tooth as well as the roots. This creates a secure anchor for restorations like crowns, bridges and dentures.

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is often made of titanium. The implant’s post is embedded deep into the bone of the jaw where it is able to osseointegrate (fuse) with the surrounding bone structure. Osseointegration can take anywhere from six months to a year depending on the individual’s ability to heal from the procedure. Implants are durable and long-lasting, with the majority of them lasting for decades without showing any signs of damage or wear. Your implants can hold onto crowns, bridge work as well as dentures to keep them from falling out of place.

How Much Do Implants Cost?

The cost of implants will vary depending on how many restorations you’ll need and the specific type of restoration needed for the top of the implant. In general, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 for one dental implant. This does not often include the cost of the crown, bridge or new denture that is going to need to be made to be placed on top of the implant. To determine how much the implant is going to cost you, we advise you to come in for a consultation appointment where we can determine how many implants you may need and the cost of the entire treatment.

Ways to Easily Afford Your Implants

Being able to easily afford your dental care can be difficult, especially if you do not have insurance. We offer a loyalty program that allows our customers to easily save money on the dental work that they will need. Along with offering this loyalty program, we happily take Care Credit. Care Credit is a medical-based credit card that allows you to pay for your dental care in small installments each month. We offer an interest-free period for the work being done in our office.

If you’re interested in dental implants and want to learn more about the procedure, please call Ballantyne Family Dental in Charlotte, NC today and we will be able to answer all of your questions.

Veneers are a great way to totally transform your smile. They can be used to cover imperfections like cracks, gaps, spaces, uneven teeth and discoloration. Veneers are often made of porcelain, allowing them to look and feel completely natural. Your veneers are incredibly thin, but are durable and resistant to cracking and breaking. If you’ve never had veneers before but are thinking about getting them, you may be wondering about how long they’ll last and if certain factors can cause them to fall off or break.

How Long Will Veneers Last?

Most veneers can easily last for 10 years or longer before showing any signs of wear. Once the veneers have shown signs of wear, it’s important to have them replaced fully. In order to place the veneers, your front teeth will need to be filed down to the point of affecting the look of the teeth. This is why you’ll need to have new veneers made for you as soon as the old ones are removed.

Can They Fall Off?

Veneers are permanently adhered to the front of your teeth. However, they aren’t necessarily permanent in nature. They can and will eventually need to be replaced with new veneers. Rarely will veneers fall off on their own. Certain factors will contribute to the veneers falling off of the front teeth and needing replacement. These include biting onto pens, pencils and other hard objects as well as using your front teeth to open packaging. If a veneer falls off, it can easily be cleaned and adhered back onto the front teeth.

How to Maintain Your Veneers

The best way to maintain your veneers is to make routine trips into the dental office. We can check on your veneers and make notes of any signs of wear or damage. If you have a veneer that has fallen off, do not throw it away. Keep it and bring it with you so that we can attach it back onto the front teeth. If you lose a veneer, a new one is going to need to be made for you and may take some time before you can come back in. You can expect many years of good wear with your new veneers.

If you’re interested in veneers and want to know more about this cosmetic procedure, call our office so that we can schedule an appointment for you to come in.