Dental Implants
As people’s life expectancy continue to increase, and while regular dental care such as brushing, flossing and cleanings allow us to maintain healthy smiles, sometimes our teeth won’t always last. Whether you have lost one or more teeth from disease or injury, dental implants can restore both your oral health and smile. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, over three million people in the United States have implants, a number growing by half a million annually.
A dental implant is essentially a synthetic root of a tooth that is surgically placed within a jawbone. The material is normally composed of titanium that allows for a strong and safe bond to bone. This is the same material used in other replacements including knees and hips. Depending on your doctor’s recommendation, implants can be removable or permanently attached. Permanent implants are more table and feel more natural.
Non-smokers who have good oral health and sufficient bone in their jaw, along with healthy gums are ideal candidates for dental implants.
One or More Implants
Because of their versatility, implants can be used to support one or multiple teeth. For just one missing tooth, one implant must be used along with one replacement tooth. For multiple missing teeth that are adjacent, a few strategically placed implants will support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). If you don’t have any natural teeth, a complete bridge or denture can be permanently fixed with a strategic number of implants.
Advantages over Dentures or Bridges
Traditional dentures and bridges are normally not fixed to the jawbone, and therefore can be unstable or even fall out your mouth. Thus, smiling or eating with confidence can be difficult. Not only do implants look and feel more natural, but they provide a stronger biting force and act more like normal teeth. In addition, by not relying on neighboring teeth for support, implants do not compromise your natural teeths’ health. Further, bridges are expected to last only seven to ten years at most while dental implants normally last a lifetime.
Post Treatment Care
You should treat your replacement teeth the same as your natural teeth. They need the same brushing and flossing routine, and also the same number of dental exams. The more attention and care you give your replacements, the longer they will last.
Our State of the Art Implant Services
Sinus Lift Surgery:
Sinuses often enlarge following the loss of the upper back teeth. This makes placing dental implants in the upper back areas of the mouth difficult since sinuses are air-filled cavities and dental implants must be surrounded by solid bone. A sinus lift surgery/graft is a surgical procedure that restores the sinus cavity to its natural size, and replaces the bone that has been lost from the enlarged sinus. The new bone will normally take nine to twelve months to heal where dental implants can be effectively fixed.
Autogenous Bone Grafting:
Sometimes the areas needed for your dental implants may not have enough bone quantity to support implants. For these particular cases, we may “borrow” bone from other areas of your mouth and graft it to the required area. Typically, it is borrowed from the back of the jaw or chin near where your wisdom teeth once were.
Implant Site Development:
When you have an infection in your mouth and a tooth needs to be removed, it’s not uncommon to have bone loss surrounding the infected tooth. In these cases, various types of bone grafting can be done (when the tooth is removed) to facilitate placing a dental implant at a later date.
Computer-Enhanced Treatment Planning:
Our special computer software allow us to evaluate your dental CT scans in 3D for bone quality, quantity and location. This allows us to place your dental implants at the best and safest location(s). In addition, it allows us to work alongside your restorative dentist for a harmonious treatment plan for your new dental implants.
Implant Maintenance:
After your dental implant restoration is completed, keeping the area clean and infection-free is vital. Just as natural teeth, dental implants can also accumulate plaque and tartar. Thus, it’s important to regularly visit for a professional cleaning to keep your implants healthy.
Please contact us if you have any questions on a past or potential future procedure.