General Implant Questions

We take most PPO instances. However, insurance companies consider dental implants to be cosmetic in nature and therefore do not typically cover more than a small amount towards things like teeth extractions, etc. Many of our patients will use their flexible spending accounts they have through work to help plan for the procedure. 

• A4 implant procedures are performed in bulk to receive special pricing from vendors.
• The dental office has a full-service dental lab and milling center for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• The entire A4 implant procedure is handled by one owner dentist, ensuring single-source responsibility and affordable fees.

We offer several payment options. Please note that when using any financing, all arrangements must be made prior to the date of surgery. Our third-party lenders offer no-interest loans and extended payment terms with lower payments for those who qualify.

• Proceed Finance: https://www.proceedfinance.com/patients/ 
  Code: 6836-1003-D6A3
• Lending Club:https://www.lendingclub.com/loans/personal-loans
• CareCredit: https://www.carecredit.com/go/CBG872
• Cherry: https://pay.withcherry.com/peninsula-dental-implant-center?utm_source=practice&m=27838

Initial deposit is due at the time of preoperative/consult visit. Balance is due at the time of surgery.

• Credit cards, debit card
• Cashier or bank checks 
• Wire transfers, 
• Third-party financing

 Yes, funds you withdraw from your HSA/IRA accounts to pay for dental implants. Please consult your tax advisor about tax consequences.  

In some cases, your procedure may be tax-deductible. Please talk to your tax advisor or visit the IRS website to learn more about Itemized Deductions for Medical Expenses.

1. High Performance Polymer (PMMA) bridge reinforced with Titanium metal bar
   1. Soft teeth material with strong metal core 
   2. Lighter with flexibility and shock absorption
   3. Biting surface of teeth material does wear and need replacement
   4. No temporary teeth needed, permanent bridge in 3-4 days
   5. Warranty – Three years but can last longer

2. High Strength Zirconia crowns reinforced with a thimble design Titanium metal bar
   1. Hard and Strong teeth with higher wear resistance and longer lifer
   2. Heavier with limited flexibility and shock absorption
   3. Temporary printed bridge for 4 months, then permanent zirconia teeth
   4. Warranty – Five years but can last longer

We use facial and intra oral scanners and your pictures to do a virtual smile design and show you photorealistic 3D rendering that shows your new smile.

Most patients experience only moderate soreness and report little pain regardless of the number of extractions. Any discomfort generally reduces in 3-4 days. Patients are cleared to fly or participate in moderate activity in as little as 24 hours after surgery.

To mitigate any potential pain, patients are prescribed medications prior to surgery.

In our experience, 90% of patients who have been told they are not candidates for traditional dental implant options are eligible for the A4 Implant Solution. 

When patients do not have enough bone we use special surgical techniques that use additional implants that cover the front, middle and back portion of the jaw bone. 

With the A4 Implant Solution, all the implants are connected to each other via a titanium metal bar that reinforces the teeth and distributes the biting forces among all the implants. This allows the implants to share the chewing forces of soft food while implants continue to heal  in the next 4-6 months.

In other cases with excessive bone loss, we add two additional implants all the way back (wisdom teeth area) where the bone is usually good.

Dental implants are generally successful, with a 90%-95% success rate over 10 years. However, success rates are affected by a lot of various factors such as age and gender, smoking habits, systemic diseases, and oral hygiene.

Most procedures are done under local  anesthesia and IV sedation.

Depending on the number of extractions, number of implants placed, the surgery lasts 3-5 hours and then impressions take another 2 hours.

Summary: Our dental office aims to alleviate patients’ fears and provide a comforting experience. We treat patients like family and strive to change negative perceptions of dental offices. In addition to local anesthesia, we offer IV sedation for a mild sleep-like state during procedures.

Usually a week before surgery, depending on your health conditions, typically antibiotics, pain medicines and antibacterial rinse are ordered 

Gums heal and shrink for up to six months after surgery. Gum shrinkage varies person to person. If the gap between underside of bridge and gum is excessive then pink gum material is added to reline the bridges. This is part of natural healing.

Your bridges are designed to keep a small gap between the underside of the bridge and the gum. Small particles of food will go under the bridge. The gap is needed to clean the bridge using floss or waterpik. After six months of healing if the gap is excessive then the bridge may need relining. 

After surgery before getting new teeth patients will have soup. After patients get A4 bridge they can eat various soft food items. A list of recommended foot items is provided after surgery. 

Annual maintenance appointment will include:

• Visual assessment of the patient, including examining for signs of inflammation, bleeding, mobility, or exudation around the implants. 
• Cleaning of your dental bridges
• X-Ray examination of your implants to determine whether changes have occurred in bone levels.

Due to the nature of the tissue attachment surrounding the implant(s), dental implants may be more susceptible to inflammation and bone loss when plaque accumulates. Proper maintenance such as brushing and flossing (waterpik works great) of the tissues will ensure the longevity of the implants. Your home-care can significantly influence implant success.