At San Antonio Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates (SAOMSA), we know that our patients have questions when it comes to their tooth replacement options, especially dental implants.
Below, you’ll find the answers to some of the questions our team hears most often. This list is by no means comprehensive, so please feel free to give our knowledgeable dental team a call. We’ll answer any questions we can, and schedule a dental implant consultation to ensure you fully understand your tooth replacement options.
What are COAR implants?
COAR stands for Complete Oral Arch Rehabilitation. This implant-supported full denture system uses the best quality materials and innovative methods to support a full top or bottom denture or both arches on just four to six dental implant posts each.
How Long Do They Last?
Traditional full dentures will last between five and seven years with proper care before they need to be replaced. COAR implant-supported dentures can last a decade or longer without needing to be repaired or replaced. In fact, many patients are able to use the same COAR implant retained dentures throughout their lifetime.
What is the COAR Implant Process?
Traditional dental implant-supported dentures rely on the placement of implant posts evenly spaced across the jawline. The COAR implant process utilizes the naturally dense part of the jaw in the front of the mouth to support the entire row of replacement teeth. This offers a few benefits compared with traditional dental implant restorations.
First, the dental implant surgery is less invasive and can be completed more quickly with less strain on patients’ jaws. Second, patients are less likely to need preparatory procedures like soft tissue or bone grafting.
In addition, the less invasive placement process and reduced need for preparatory surgeries have opened up implant-supported dental restoration to more patients than in the past.
Why Should an Oral Surgeon Place Implants?
More and more general dentists are placing dental implants today, and many of them have completed the advanced training they need to do great work. However, for every dentist who puts forth the necessary effort to complete advanced dental implant training, it seems there are several who don’t invest that effort.
Oral surgeons have years of advanced training that enables them to safely and effectively perform surgical treatments that have high success rates. The SAOMSA team is happy to work with your general dentist, so you have a seamless treatment process from start to finish.
What is the Healing Process for Implant-Supported Dentures?
Following the surgical placement of dental implant posts, a protective cap is attached to them. This cap allows the gum tissue to heal around the post while maintaining the necessary space to attach the restoration.
For three to six months following the procedure, patients will undergo a process called osseointegration. This is the key to successful COAR implant-supported dentures.
Osseointegration is a fancy term for the process by which the implant post fuses with your jawbone to mimic the lost root systems of teeth, which leaves patients with whole, healthy smiles.
What is the Cost of Implant-Supported Dentures?
The cost of COAR implant-supported dentures varies dramatically. The first consideration is how many implant posts you’ll need, whether you need replacement of an upper, lower, or both arches of teeth, and which types of sedation or anesthesia you elect.
An individual implant post can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000, but we will work with you to find the right implant denture in the right price range to fit your needs and budget.
Does my Insurance Cover this Procedure?
The SAOMSA team has years of experience processing and filing both medical and dental insurance claims, and we will work with you to maximize any available coverage. In the past, dental implant procedures have not been covered, but more insurance providers than ever are offering partial coverage for these treatments.
We will also be happy to work with you to find financing that puts your COAR tooth replacement plan into your budget.
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