Implants
Despite improvements in dental care, millions of Americans suffer tooth loss -- mostly due to tooth decay, periodontal disease, or injury. For many years, the only treatment options available for people with missing teeth were bridges and dentures but today, dental implants are available. Success rates of dental implants vary, depending on where in the jaw the implants are placed but, quality of bone, medical conditions, in general, dental implants have a success rate of up to 98%. With proper care, implants can last a lifetime. A dental implant reproduces the form and function of a natural tooth, which consists of a root and a crown. The crown is the visible part of your tooth. The dental implant is a titanium screw which is replacing the root of the tooth . Once the implant heals and is osseointegrated, we place an artificial crown on top. The new crown is customized to match the color and the shape of the natural tooth that it’s replaced.
What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.
Improved speech. With removable appliances the teeth can move within the mouth causing changes in speech. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that teeth might move.
Improved comfort. Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort and incovenience of removable dentures.
Easier eating. Moving dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
Improved self-esteem. Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.
Improved overall oral health. Dental implants don't require involving other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your natural teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health.
Durability. Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
The Procedure
The first step in the dental implant process is the development of an individualized treatment plan. The plan addresses your specific needs and is prepared by a team of professionals who are specially trained and experienced in oral surgery and restorative dentistry. This team approach provides coordinated care based on the implant option that is best for you. We will give you a referral to an oral surgeon, who will analyze the amount of bone available and the best position by performing a CBCT.
Next, the implant which is a small post made of titanium, is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. Sometimes the tooth is extracted first, bone is grafted and after 3-4 months of healing the implant is placed. As the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post, anchoring it securely in the jaw. The healing process can take from 3-6 months. Most people who have dental implants placed say that there is very little discomfort involved in the procedure. Local anesthesia can be used during the procedure, and most patients report that implants involve less pain than a tooth extraction.
Once the implant has bonded to the jawbone, we will see you back in our office and we will take an impression. Based on the impression the lab will make a small connector post -- called an abutment – which will be attached to the post to securely hold the new tooth. A replacement tooth, called a crown, is then either cemented or screwed on the abutment.
Instead of one or more individual crowns, some patients may have attachments placed on the implant that retain and support a removable denture.