Dental Implants in Lebanon, PA
Healthy Replacement for One or More Missing Teeth
If you have lost a tooth or have multiple missing teeth, dental implants are a healthy, long-term solution for tooth replacement. The implant consists of three parts: the titanium implant post, the abutment, and the crown. These parts work together to replicate the appearance and function of a natural tooth and tooth root.
At Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery, we offer implant-based restorative treatments to help patients achieve a complete and healthy smile. If you have missing teeth or need to replace existing teeth, contact our oral surgery office in Lebanon, PA, to schedule an appointment with Dr. Balaci, Dr. Forbes, or Dr. Murphy.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Choosing to replace a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth with dental implants is an ideal option for achieving the closest possible function and aesthetics of natural teeth. They provide numerous benefits that cannot be obtained by choosing a removable prosthesis, including:
Protect Other Teeth
In some prosthetic methods, it is necessary to grind down healthy teeth to cement a fixed bridge or rely on adjacent healthy teeth to support the weight of the bridge. Choosing dental implants mitigates both of these problems by inserting the prosthetic directly into the jaw. This also prevents jaw bone atrophy that occurs from tooth loss.
Natural Results
These replacement teeth restore the overall look, feel, and function of the rest of the natural, healthy teeth in your mouth. Once teeth are replaced with dental implants, most patients say that it would be difficult to determine which teeth are implants and which teeth are natural if they didn’t already know.
No Special Care
Unlike removable prosthetic options, dental implants integrate into your jaw bone and make it easier to speak, sing, eat, brush, and clean. Because maintenance of your dental implants is no different than your healthy teeth, brushing and flossing can be done without making any special adjustments.
Preserve Your Smile
Dental implants are strong and stay in place unlike removable dentures or tooth-supported replacement options, which may fall out or loosen over time. Having a dental implant inserted prevents neighboring teeth from shifting into the open space and preserves your smile alignment.
A Long-Term Solution
With proper care and good oral hygiene, a dental implant can last a lifetime without being replaced. Other prosthetic options, such as dental bridges or removable dentures, typically only have a lifespan of 5 to 7 years before needing to be replaced.
We only use implants made from safe and durable materials to ensure the most optimal, long-term results.
Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?
If you are missing one or multiple teeth, you may be a great candidate for dental implants. If you’ve experienced jaw bone loss or require a more solid foundation for your implants, we can use bone grafts to help rebuild the jaw.
Certain risk factors, such as regular nicotine use, a history of or pre-existing medical conditions, a history of periodontal disease or bone loss, or if you are under 18 years of age, may prevent dental implant placement. If you are interested in finding out if you are a candidate for dental implant placement, we encourage you to contact our office in Lebanon, PA, to schedule a consultation.
Types of Dental Implants
Dr. Balaci or Dr. Forbes will work with you to choose the right type of implant. There are several options, each customizable to fit your specific needs.
- Single Implants. One dental implant can replace one missing tooth, whether it is a canine, front tooth, or molar.
- Implant-Supported Bridge. Traditional bridges rely on existing teeth for support, whereas an implant-supported bridge uses a dental implant to hold the replacement tooth.
- Immediate Implants. After extracting a tooth, we can insert an implant post into the empty tooth socket. This reduces the number of appointments needed to restore the tooth.
- All-on-4® Treatment Concept.Multiple implant posts secure a fixed prosthesis, completely transforming your smile for long-term, fully functional results.
Dental Implant Surgery
Before your procedure, you will undergo an initial consultation, receive a comprehensive oral examination, and review your complete medical and dental history with one of our surgeons. We will take 3D scans of your mouth and determine the right type of anesthesia for your implant placement.
Two procedures must be performed to place dental implants properly. During the first procedure, the titanium implant screw is inserted into the jaw bone. After placement, you will undergo a period of healing while the implant integrates with the jaw, creating a solid anchor to support the abutment and crown. Once the implant has fully healed with the jaw, the abutment is screwed into the center of the implant and the custom-made crown is placed on top.
How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?
The cost of dental implants varies for each patient. We take several factors into consideration, including the number of implants you need, if you require bone grafts or tooth extractions, your dental insurance, and the type of anesthesia you select. Prior to treatment, we go over each of these items with you and will provide a cost estimate upfront. To find out how much dental implants would cost you, contact our office to meet with an oral surgeon.
Denture Replacement With Dental Implants
Dentures are a quick way to restore the appearance of missing teeth. However, traditional dentures are limited in their functionality, and many patients find them uncomfortable. If not professionally fitted, dentures can cause sores or slip when speaking. Because there is nothing to stimulate the jaw bone, dentures leave you susceptible to jaw bone loss, which can cause sagging facial features.
Dental implants can replace dentures with healthier, long-term results. All-on 4® treatment concept is a life-changing procedure that involves attaching a fixed denture to four dental implant posts. You will regain full functionality of your new teeth, which are custom-made to feel and look natural in your mouth. Contact our practice to learn more about denture replacement in Lebanon, PA.
Types of Anesthesia
The anesthesia or sedation method used for your surgery is dependent on the type of procedure being performed as well as your personal preference. Some types can be combined for stronger sedation.
Hear From Dental Implant Patients
These patients can tell you about their firsthand experience undergoing dental implant treatment at our office.
Reviews From Our Dental Implant Patients
"Hi, my name is Vince, and I became associated with Dr. Balaci several years ago when I lost two of my upper teeth playing basketball. The teeth I lost are the two teeth immediately behind the eye tooth, so it was very uncomfortable. Dr. Balaci successfully placed two implants, and then fabricated two crowns, which he placed on top of them. I’m extremely satisfied with both of the teeth. In certain respects, they’re better than the originals, if you will. You know, there are really a lot of things that I like about Dr. Balaci. First and foremost, he’s an excellent surgeon. Second of all, he’s a nice guy. He clearly explained the options that were available to me when I first came in, and I also want to comment on the staff. The staff here are friendly, courteous, and also very competent technicians."
"Hi, my name is Ron. I’m from Berks County. I’ve had a series of implants performed by Dr. Balaci. He’s performed excellent. I came in here with some bridges that had been deteriorating with the abutments, and we removed those teeth and installed implants, and it’s been a great experience because once they’re in, I have no problems with them. The doctor himself has done a fantastic job. The staff has been great, and has helped me a great deal. I do have some other friends that are patients here. I have friends, of course, in Lebanon, and my sister’s in Myerstown. They’re all fairly local and it’s convenient to travel. I can’t say enough about Dr. Balaci’s performance, and the follow-up with the staff has been a very rewarding experience."
"I came to Dr. Balaci’s office for an extraction, a bone graft, and dental implant. I was having some pain in my tooth, so I came to Dr. Balaci for the implant. My procedure went great. Dr. Balaci makes you feel very comfortable. He’s very good at what he does, and I knew I could trust him with what I needed done. The staff is very friendly, very knowledgeable. Since the procedure, everything has been great. I would absolutely give Dr. Balaci’s office a five-star rating. If anyone in Lititz needed oral surgery of any type, I would definitely recommend Dr. Balaci’s office."
"I had a couple teeth giving me trouble, and he extracted them. Later, as that healed, bone grafting and then some implants. Dr. Balaci, you can tell, he is one super nice guy. He takes time to know his patients and really cares about his patients. My recovery was much easier than I thought it would be. Three of them are completely done, and one, I'm waiting to put the tooth on now. I can't even tell where the implants are anymore. The staff here is very nice and very good to work with. If anyone's looking for a dental implant in Lebanon, Hershey, Cleona, I would recommend them to go to Dr. Balaci."
"Hi, I’m Bill. I came in to Dr. Balaci’s office to get a dental implant done. I had heard from various people that Dr. Balaci does excellent work so I came here immediately. He did an expert job on getting my implant procedure done. I work in the area so I travel around. I meet all of other people in various towns, in the Exeter area as well as Reading and Muhlenberg, and I am glad to talk Dr. Balaci up for his skills in doing implants. Dr. Balaci is the best, as far as I’m concerned, at doing implants. The procedure was painless to me, and I’m happy with the result."
Frequently Asked Questions: Dental Implants
How long does a dental implant procedure take?
Dental implant placement takes about 1 hour per dental implant. This time can vary depending on the number of implants you need and the type of implant used.
Is there a cheaper alternative to dental implants?
Traditional dentures and bridges are often cheaper upfront, but these options do not yield the natural-looking, fully functioning results of dental implants. A dental implant is the only restorative option that prevents jaw bone deterioration, and you will not need to replace your implant every few years like you do with removable appliances. While removable options are cheaper in the beginning, they can lead to costly bone repair surgery and maintenance down the line.
Are you put to sleep for dental implants?
Many patients undergo IV sedation for implant placement, which will render you into a semi-conscious state. This is different from general anesthesia, which renders you completely unconscious. For simple implant placement or immediate placement following extraction, sometimes only local anesthesia is necessary.
Where can I get dental implants near Lebanon?
Our team Balaci Oral and Facial Surgery provides the full scope of oral surgery services to patients in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, and nearby areas. If you live in or around Lebanon, we invite you to contact our office and find out how dental implants can benefit your smile.
Improved Oral Health and Confidence Starts Here
We look forward to being a part of your journey to a healthier smile, improved confidence, and overall better living.