Dental Implants

Dental Implants

If you are self-conscious because you have missing teeth, wear dentures that are uncomfortable or don't want to have good tooth structure removed to make a bridge, talk to Us to see if dental implants are an option for you.

Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to blend in with your other teeth. They are an excellent long-term option for restoring your smile. In fact, the development and use of implants is one of the biggest advances in dentistry in the past 40 years. Dental implants are made up of titanium and other materials that are compatible with the human body. They are posts that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw, where they function as a sturdy anchor for replacement teeth.

There are generally three phases to getting an implant:

First, the dentist surgically places the implant into the jawbone.

Next, the bone around the implant heals in a process called osseointegration. What makes an implant so strong is that the bone actually grows around it and holds it in place

Finally, it’s time for the placement of the artificial tooth/teeth. For a single tooth implant, your dentist will customize a new tooth for you, called a dental crown. The crown will be based on size, shape, color and fit, and will be designed to blend in with your other teeth. If you are replacing more than a single tooth, custom-made bridges or dentures will be made to fit your mouth and your implants. If you are interested in dental implants, it's a good idea to discuss it carefully with your dentist first. If you are in good general health this treatment may be an option for you. In fact, your health is more of a factor than your age. You may be medically evaluated by a physician before any implant surgery is scheduled.

Advantages of Implants

• Next best thing to healthy, natural teeth.
• Built to last. Dental implants are a long-term solution
• Enjoy life without worrying about your teeth!
• Retain your natural face shape, and smile.
• Protect healthy bone and teeth
• Speak easy.
• Eat your favorite foods
• Keep teeth in place
• More predictable than other repair and restoration methods

What are the Treatment Options for Dental Implants?

Dental implants can support a variety of dental restorations:

Single tooth replacements: one implant and one crown replace a single tooth.

Multiple tooth replacements: multiple missing teeth can be replaced with multiple implants supporting fixed bridgework. For example, a three-unit bridge to replace three teeth in a row will be comprised of two implants and three crowns; or multiple implants can support an even greater number of false teeth. Usually four to eight implants are needed to replace a full arch (jaw) of teeth (10 or more crowns) using fixed bridgework.

Combinations of fixed and removable bridgework: implants support a section of fixed bridgework, to which a removable section is attached.

Over-dentures: where two or more implants provide stabilization of a denture (set of removable false teeth). Over-dentures are now considered the standard of care for those who have lost all of their teeth in one or both jaws.

Am I a candidate for Dental Implants?

That's not something you can determine for yourself. You'll need to have a complete exam so that your dentist can see how much bone volume and density you have in the area of the missing tooth, since a certain amount of bone is needed to support an implant. But even if your bone is deficient, simple bone regeneration techniques that have been used successfully for years can usually improve the health of your tooth-supporting bone enough to make you a candidate for implants.