implantology
Is Dental Implants right for you? Are you a candidate for Implants?
What are my tooth Replacement Options?
What are the advantages of a single-tooth implant over a bridge?
Do Implants Need Special Care?
Why Dental Implants?
Once you learn about dental implants, you finally realize there is a way to improve you life. When you lose several teeth - whether it's a new situation or something you have lived with for years - chances are you have never become fully accustomed to losing such a vital part of yourself.
Dental implants can be your doorway to renewed self-confidence and peace of mind.
Dental Implants are changing the way people live
When teeth are lost you may not feel comfortable eating, speaking or smiling. Missing teeth can affect your "bite" as well as your ability to speak and chew. Their loss can increase the burden on your remaining teeth and can cause muscle pain in your jaws and headaches. And of course, losing a tooth can affect your appearance.
Implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that teeth appear natural and the facial contours will be preserved.
Patients with dental implants can smile and eat with confidence.
What is a Dental Implant ?
The best way to describe a dental implant is to compare it to a real tooth. A natural tooth consists of a root and a crown. The part of the tooth that you see and eat with is called the crown. Beneath the crown is the root, which anchors the tooth through the gum tissue to the jawbone. When you lose a tooth, you lose both the root and the crown. To replace a tooth, we first have to replace the root.
Essentially, a dental implant is a new root.
The implants themselves are small titanium cylinders that are surgically placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes. The bone bonds with the titanium by phenomena known as Osseo integration. When this process is complete (it can take four month or more) a strong foundation has been created for artificial teeth. Small posts that protrude through the gums are then attached to the implant. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth.
Implants help preserve facial structure, preventing bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.
Surgical Procedures
For many patients, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. Usually, the office procedure to place a dental implant takes about an hour for one implant and no more than two or three hours for multiple implants. The placement process consists of the following steps:
If indicated, you will be given medication such as antibiotics prior to the surgery. Then, a local anesthetic will be administered to numb the areas where the implant/s will be placed.
After you are comfortable, a small incision is made into the gum tissue, revealing the bone into which the implant will be placed. Using special instruments, a socket is created carefully, avoiding damage to the bone.
The titanium implant is then inserted into the socket. Finally, sutures will be used.
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| Missing tooth | New socket |
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| Implant Placed | Implant Crown |
Healing time following surgery varies from person to person and is based on a variety of factors that include hardness of bone. The second procedure is usually very minor and involves placing an extension (healing collar) to the implant to facilitate the final restoration. In some cases, implants may be restored immediately after they are placed.
For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. You will be able to wear temporary restorations and eat a softer diet during this time.
After the implant has bonded to the jawbone and the healing collar placed, you will be ready for your new teeth.An impression of the implants will be fabricated. Then posts or attachments can be connected to the implants. The teeth replacements are then made over the posts or attachments.
The entire procedure usually takes three to eight months. There are many cases that can take less time and the specifics of your situation will be discussed with you.
Most patients do not experience any major disruption in their daily life.
Is Dental Implants right for you? Are you a candidate for Implants?
If you want new teeth that look and feel as though they are really part of your mouth, implant dentistry may be the right choice for you. To help you decide, we ask that you undergo an evaluation that includes:
A consultation to determine your specific needs.
A thorough review of your medical and dental history.
A dental examination which will include dental x-rays and models of your teeth.
A periodontal examination to determine whether there is disease in your gums and whether there is enough firm tissue to surround an implant as well as whether the height and width of your jawbone is adequate to hold an implant.
Special computerized panoramic and/or tomography x-ray studies.
If you are missing one or more teeth and choose to have it or them replaced, several treatment options are available.
A "flipper" is a removable plastic tooth that is inexpensive but fragile and temporary.
A fixed bridge is cemented into place using crowns or "caps" on the teeth adjacent to the open space for support. Crown placement usually requires removing or reducing the outer layer of the tooth. In some cases, a "Maryland" bridge, a fixed bridge that does not need crowns, is glued onto the back of the teeth adjacent to the space so that minimal tooth structure is removed.
Full dentures or "plates" are the traditional solution for people who have lost all their teeth in one or both jaws. The success of a full denture depends upon the individual's jaw size and shape, his or her oral habits, and his or her adaptability. Some people adapt well to full dentures, while others are not able to adapt. Dental implants can be used to provide support for the replacement of one tooth or all of an individual's teeth. After years of research and clinical trials, implantology dentists can now provide this option in addition to the traditional treatments just described. Implant-supported teeth can be cemented, screw-retained, or removable and can be made attractive, stable, and comfortable for almost any patient.
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| Flipper | Fixed Bridge |
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| Maryland Bridge | Dental Implant |
What are the advantages of a single-tooth dental implant over a bridge?
A dental implant provides several advantages over other tooth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning like a natural tooth, a dental implant replaces a single tooth without sacrificing the health of neighboring teeth. The other common treatment for the loss of a single tooth, a tooth-supported fixed bridge, requires that adjacent teeth be ground down to support the cemented bridge.
Because a dental implant will replace your tooth root, the bone is better preserved. With a bridge, some of the bone that previously surrounded the tooth begins to resorb (deteriorate). Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact.
In the long term, a single implant can be more aesthetic and easier to keep clean than a bridge. Gums can recede around a bridge, leaving a visible defect when the metal base or collar of the bridge becomes exposed. Resorbed bone beneath the bridge can lead to an unattractive smile. Additionally, the cement holding the bridge in place can wash out, allowing bacteria to decay the teeth that anchor the bridge.
Do Implants Need Special Care?
Once the implants are in place, they will serve you well for many years if you take care of them and keep your mouth healthy. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and keeping regular appointments with your dental professionals.