Services

Most of us take for granted the work our natural teeth perform over the years. We seldom stop to appreciate how easily we bite into a dense, chewy bagel or enjoy a succulent ear of corn on the cob. We may talk, smile and laugh with confidense and our teeth may function pain-free for decades.

The Facts About Dental Implants

What Is Dental Implant Treatment?
Think of dental implants as metal anchors, usually made of titanium, that are surgicaly placed into the jawbone to hold permenant replacement teeth or dentures. through a process called "oesteointegration," the jawbone actually attaches itself to the implant over time, providing tremendous stability.

Implant treatment is usually performed by a general dentist, oral surgeon, prosthodontist, periodontist or a team of these doctors. To devise the best treatment plan for you, we first complete a medical and dental history and a thourough oral examination, including x-rays.

The procedure and follow-ups are often performed in the dental office using local anesthetic. Depending on your individual situation, other types of anesthesia may be used to ensure total and maximum comfort.

During surgery each implant is placed within the jawbone, serving as an anchor for the post which will eventually support the replacement tooth or teeth. Generally three to six months or more is then allowed for the bone tissue to grow around the implants and hold them securely in place.

Immediately after surgery we will give you specific post surgical instructions to assure the best possible healing process. In addition, we may prescribe pain medication and in some cases, antibiotics to aid in the healing process and help alleviate any discomfort. At this time you may be fitted with temporary dentures of natural-looking teeth to help you function as normal as possible. You should limit your diet to soft food and follow important oral hygiene instructions. Follow-up care is important during this time.

Once the jawbone has firmly healed around the implant a small post is attached to each implant. The post protrudes through the gum-line and serves as an anchor for the replacement tooth or teeth. This short procedure usually requires only local anesthesia. After your gums have healed, the replacement teeth or dentures are securely attached to the posts.

What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Because dental implants are crafted to replicate the structure of our natural teeth, they provide a highly stable support system for the replacement teeth or dentures. Other benefits include

• Prevent bone loss. Dental implants help prevent bone loss associated with loss of a tooth or teeth. Implants maintain bone levels and preserve tissue structure.
• Improved biting pressure. Healthy teeth are able to absorb over 500 pounds of biting pressure per square inch. If you have worn dentures for a long time, that pressure may be diminished significantly to one-tenth of the biting pressure of natural teeth. Dental implants can often restore the natural level of pressure matching that of healthy, natural teeth.
• Comfort and fit. Because your replacement teeth are anchored securely to the implants in you jawbone, they will not move like unsecured dentures can. When dentures are not secure enough, they will often cause sores in the mouth combined with an annoying clicking sound. Dental implants eliminate these problems.
• Longevity and reliability. With proper oral hygiene and care, scientifically tested and approved denial implant systems have been shown to last as long as 20 years or more with few complications.
• Increased self-confidence. Because dental implants function remarkably like natural teeth, most people who enjoy dental implants, experience a renewed sense of self-confidence once they realize they can again chew, talk, laugh and smile with confidence.

What Risks are involved?
Dental implant surgery has proved to be successful for hundreds of thousands of people over the years. Negative effects such as bleeding, infection, injury to the nerves or sinus cavity or incomplete healing of the bone around the implant resulting in implant failure, are rare. During the healing process it is possible that some patients will experience discomfort, swelling and inflammation of the gums, and other minor responses to oral surgery-may be present in varying degrees. If you have questions about your individual situation or would like to discuss "what is considered normal" in the healing process, we will be happy to address your concerns.

How Do I Know If I'm a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
If you face the loss of one or several teeth or if you are dissatisfied with dentures or other options available to you. you may find that dental implants arc right for you. Age is not typically a major factor. Successful dental implant surgery has been performed on young people as well as the elderly. During your initial consultation, we will help you decide. In general, we look for the following characteristics:

• General good health
• Healthy gums
• Sufficient underlying jawbone to support the implants
• A good attitude to ensure that you follow through with vital oral hygiene habits

What Type of Care is Required for Dental Implants?
The care you give to your dental implants makes a tremendous difference to the overall satisfaction you experience as well as to the longevity of the implant itself. With proper oral hygiene habits such as brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups-your implant will serve you well.