Dental Implant

Dental implants are a long-lasting and natural-looking option for replacing missing teeth. They are the only tooth replacement solution that offers benefits to your overall oral health and the only option that has the potential to last a lifetime. Dental implants are designed to mimic both the appearance and function of your natural teeth. The implant screw acts as a tooth root and maintains your jaw bone function and health. The prosthetic crown is designed to perfectly match your other teeth.

If you are interested in dental implants or have an upcoming dental implant placement, we encourage you to watch the videos below. Each testimonial features a patient talking about their experience with dental implants at our office. Whether they had a tooth extracted and needed an immediate replacement or they replaced a long-time missing tooth, you can hear all about their experience as a patient. These videos are a great resource for preparing yourself for your own surgery and understanding the type of high-quality care you can expect.

At Oral Surgery Hawaii, we offer dental implants at our offices in Honolulu, Aiea, and Kaneohe, HI. Dental implants allow patients to restore their missing teeth with permanent, natural-looking replacement teeth. Rather than resting on top of the gums, dental implants replace the entire tooth, from the root to the crown, preventing bone loss, dental shifting, and other oral health issues. Dental implants are incredibly secure, allowing patients to eat the foods they enjoy as if they never lost a tooth.

A dental implant is a small post that is inserted into your empty tooth socket to replace missing teeth. These posts will be used to hold your permanent replacement teeth in position, allowing you to eat, speak, brush, and floss your teeth normally. A dental implant is the closest replacement option to a natural tooth. In fact, many patients forget that they have implants at all after they have finished the recovery process.

HOW DENTAL IMPLANTS WORK

Each dental implant typically has three parts: the post, the abutment, and the prosthetic crown. The post will be surgically inserted into your jaw to replace the root of your tooth. Each post is made of medical-grade titanium, a metal that bonds with your jaw naturally and promotes bone regeneration. After the post is placed, an abutment will be attached to the top of it. The abutment is a connector piece between the implant post and your new replacement tooth (or teeth). Your crown, bridge, or another prosthesis will be custom-made to look just like a healthy natural tooth, and it will be virtually impossible to distinguish your implants from your natural teeth.

Dental implants can be used to support one or more missing teeth — a single implant can be used to replace one tooth, or two or more implants can be used to support a multi-tooth bridge or permanent denture. If you need a tooth extracted, our practice uses advanced techniques to place your implants during the same procedure, minimizing the need for bone grafts or other procedures. We also offer 3D scanning services that allow your doctor to plan your treatment without the need for impressions or other time-consuming appointments.

Your dentist and your oral surgeon will work as a team to place your dental implants. Your surgeon will place the post and abutment piece, and once the surgical site has healed sufficiently, your dentist will create and place your new crowns.

Dental implants are quickly becoming one of the most popular options for tooth replacement, and for good reason — they offer patients a variety of benefits that no other tooth loss solution offers. Some of the benefits of dental implants include the following:

• Improved ability to eat the foods you enjoy
• No uncomfortable removable parts
• A beautiful, natural-looking smile
• Prevention of dental shifting
• Prevention of bone loss
• Can last a lifetime (with an extremely high success rate of over 98%)

Patients love the freedom they have to eat, speak, and smile confidently with dental implants. With no uncomfortable dentures slipping or difficulty eating, dental implants can drastically improve a person’s quality of life.

Dental Implant Cost

At Oral Surgery Hawaii, we offer dental implant procedures at costs that are competitive for the Hawaii region. Our offices in Honolulu, Aiea, and Kaneohe, HI, accept a variety of payment methods and insurance plans for your convenience. We also accept monthly payment plans through CareCredit^® for patients who prefer not to pay everything upfront.

The exact cost of your dental implant can vary depending on your insurance coverage, the number of teeth you need to have replaced, the need for additional procedures such as extractions, and other factors. No two patients are alike, so it’s important to see an oral surgeon and receive a full consultation, where your surgeon will be able to give a more accurate estimate of your costs.

INVESTING IN DENTAL IMPLANTS

The cost of dental implants can be a major deciding factor for many patients, and it’s important to understand some of the financial and personal benefits of dental implants before making a decision. A few of the reasons why dental implants are a good long-term investment are listed below:

• Implants can last a lifetime with proper care, unlike removable dentures and bridges, which may need to be replaced after years of wear.
• Dental implants have no removable parts for bacteria or germs to get trapped under, preventing decay and other oral health problems.
• The posts that replace the roots of your teeth will stimulate your jaw bone, preventing bone loss and dental shifting.
• Dental implants allow you to eat and smile as if you never lost your teeth, which is valuable for your health and happiness.

DENTAL IMPLANTS IN HONOLULU, AIEA, AND KANEOHE, HI

At Oral Surgery Hawaii, dental implants are one of our specialties. Drs. Craig Yamamoto, Blake Kitamura, Eva Kiezik, Thomas Yamamoto, and Michael Hironaka are all experts at placing dental implants. Our staff loves seeing the results our dental implant patients get from treatment. To learn more about your treatment options at our practice or to schedule a consultation, feel free to contact one of our offices. Our staff members will be happy to help you.

Full-arch restoration is a life-changing treatment for patients who currently wear dentures, but who would like a more long-term solution. Traditional dentures can feel cumbersome, slip around, and cause sores. It can be embarrassing to remove dentures in social settings, and dentures do not prevent bone loss.

Dental implants can support a fixed denture, which fully restores your ability to eat, smile, and speak. The fixed denture is custom-made to feel and look natural in your mouth. If properly cared for and cleaned, your replacement teeth can last a lifetime. Contact us to learn about denture replacement in Aiea Honolulu, HI, if you wear dentures and are ready for a longer-lasting, healthier alternative.

WHO CAN RECEIVE DENTAL IMPLANTS?

If you are healthy enough to undergo a minor dental surgery and recovery period, you are likely a candidate for dental implants. When teeth are missing for an extended length of time, bone loss can occur. Implant placement may not be possible if there is not enough jaw bone, but a bone grafting procedure may be able to prepare you for dental implants. To know for sure whether or not you can receive dental implants, you should discuss your health situation with an oral surgeon or other dental professional.

DO I NEED BONE GRAFTING TO RECEIVE IMPLANTS?

Not every patient will need a bone graft to receive dental implants. Some patients have adequate bone density to receive their implants without a graft. At Oral Surgery Hawaii, your oral surgeon will evaluate the condition of your jaw bone using advanced 3D scanning technology to determine whether you will need bone grafting or other additional procedures before receiving implants.

HOW LONG IS RECOVERY FOR DENTAL IMPLANT PROCEDURES?

Recovery is different for each person, and your exact recovery time may be longer or shorter depending on the number of implants you need, the condition of your jaw bone, your age, and other factors.

The reason dental implants are so secure is that they bond with the bone beneath your gums just like a natural tooth root. This process of osseointegration can take between three and six months to complete. Even though a soft food diet may be necessary for a month or more, most patients are back to their normal routines within a week or so. We suggest that patients take it easy for a few days after their procedure.

IS THERE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Most patients will undergo local and/or IV anesthesia, allowing them to sleep painlessly during surgery. As with any surgical procedure, some discomfort can be expected during the healing period. You may experience some minor pain during the first few days, but your oral surgeon will provide you with a prescription for pain medication if necessary. At Oral Surgery Hawaii, our staff will do everything possible to ensure you are comfortable.

WHERE CAN I GET DENTAL IMPLANTS NEAR ME?

Dr. Craig Yamamoto, Dr. Blake Kitamura, Dr. Eva Kiezik, Dr. Thomas Yamamoto, and Dr. Michael Hironaka are all trained and experienced at placing dental implants. Oral Surgery Hawaii has offices in Honolulu, Aiea, and Kaneohe, HI, for your convenience.

OTHER QUESTIONS?

Give one of our offices a call, and our staff will be happy to help you with any questions you have.