What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a permanent replacement for a missing tooth. Dental implants have three parts:
Implant: An implant is a titanium post or screw that is placed into the jaw bone. Bone will grow onto the surface of the implant to hold it firmly in place. Once stable, the implant can then be used as an anchor to attach a crown.
Abutment: An abutment is a connector that attaches the dental implant to the crown
Crown: A crown is an artificial tooth made to match your natural teeth. It is typically made of porcelain or zirconia.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
A Permanent Solution
- Unlike dentures that are taken out every night, dental implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth. You don’t have to worry about your teeth becoming loose or falling out.
Provides Comfort
- Dental implants look, feel, and function like natural teeth. You can feel confident talking, smiling, eating, and interacting with other people.
- Allows more food options
- Dental implants perform just like real teeth, allowing you to go back to enjoying the foods that you use to eat.
Avoids damage to other teeth
- Previous methods of replacing missing teeth would result in damage to the neighboring teeth. With a conventional bridge, the adjacent teeth on either side of a missing tooth are ground down to support the bridge. Removable dentures connect to the remaining teeth resulting in eventual overload and additional tooth loss. Implants are supported by bone, like a natural tooth, with no effect on the neighboring teeth.
Maintains jaw structure
- When teeth are lost and not replaced, the bone that was supporting the teeth begins to naturally break down. This is called atrophy. This bone loss can affect the support for the neighboring teeth or make it more difficult to hold in dentures.
- Over time atrophy of the jaws reduces support for the cheeks and lips resulting in an older appearance.
- Implants transmit chewing forces directly to the jawbone. This helps stimulate bone growth and avoids atrophy.
What are the steps in treatment for dental implants?
Diagnosis and decision making
Your dentist and surgeon will work together as a team to come up with the best solution to replace your missing teeth. At your consultation you should expect to discuss your medical history, any medications you take, and undergo a brief health review. Your surgeon will perform a physical exam.
It is essential that the implant be placed in the correct position and with the right angulation. We use the latest in 3D imaging technology to ensure accuracy. 3D imaging allows your surgeon to assess your available bone and therefore precisely plan the position of your implant.
Surgery
Each surgery takes place in a private surgical suite at one of our four locations. This comfortable, personalized setting allows for safe and efficient treatment. All surgery is performed under appropriate anesthesia to maximize your comfort. In most cases procedures are performed under local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, or intravenous sedation. Please see our anesthesia options.
Healing phase
Dental implants are usually not ready to be immediately used. Time is necessary to allow for your bone to grow tightly around the implant, locking it firmly in place. This process often takes several months. Your surgeon will periodically check the progress of your healing. An x-ray will be used to verify that your bone has healed around the implant.
In some cases, you may need an additional surgery to place an abutment. This minor procedure allows the implant to be tested to ensure that it is firmly in place. You will then return to your dentist for a crown.
Restoration
Your dentist will fabricate a crown to match the look, feel, and function of a natural tooth. This crown will be attached to the implant with an abutment. The dental implant can then be used just like your previous tooth.
Maintenance
It’s important to take care of your dental implant. Dental implants should be brushed and flossed twice daily, just like a natural tooth. We recommend that you see your dentist every 3-6 months for an examination and professional cleaning.
What if I don’t have enough bone or tissue to support an implant?
Your surgeon will carefully assess whether you have enough bone to support a dental implant. Tooth loss leads to bone loss. When a tooth is removed, the surrounding bone begins to naturally break down. The longer you wait to replace a missing tooth, the more bone is lost. Certain diseases can also lead to bone loss.
Our surgeons can use various techniques to rebuild and strengthen the bone where it was once lost. We use the latest in regenerative medicine to rebuild the tissue and bone necessary to support a dental implant.
How long do dental implants last?
If properly maintained, a dental implant is designed to last a lifetime! Studies have shown a high implant survival rate over time. Like any other medical device, dental implants can fail if not properly maintained.
It is important to:
- Clean your teeth regularly. Dental implants need to be cleaned just like your natural teeth. Brush and floss twice daily.
- See your dentist frequently. We recommend that you see your dentist every 3-6 months for a professional cleaning and examination. This allows your dentist to ensure that your implant is functioning properly.
- Avoid harmful habits. It is important to take care of your implants. Don’t chew hard items such as ice, nuts, or hard candy which can damage the implant crown. Grinding or clenching your teeth can also result in damage.
- Avoid tobacco. Patients that use tobacco are more likely to experience implant loss, infection, and bone loss around implants.
Preparing for Dental Implants
For patients missing one or more teeth, dental implants are a popular treatment option. By working closely with your oral-maxillofacial surgeon, you can find a long-lasting, effective solution that will improve your smile and even give you more confidence in your appearance. Benefits of dental implants include:
- A natural appearance that looks like the surrounding teeth.
- Reduced risk of cavities, since titanium implants do not decay.
- Enhanced stabilization of adjacent teeth.
- A long-lasting solution, able to last a lifetime if correctly cared for.
Dental Implant Process
An oral surgeon is an indispensable part of the dental implant process. Thanks to their training in dentistry, surgery, and internal medicine – including 4-6 years in a surgical residency program – an oral surgeon has the specialized knowledge of the jaw and face to determine if dental implants are right for you.
The first step when considering implants is a comprehensive exam, including X-rays and even 3D images of your jaw. This way, an oral surgeon can evaluate whether implants are needed and if your jaw will support them. At this point, assuming that the oral surgeon believes implants are right for you, they will work with you to create a specialized treatment plan, considering your medical history and specific needs.
Dental implants are a multi-step procedure that will require multiple appointments. The steps are as follows:
- Implant Placement – Your surgeon makes a small incision in the gum to expose the jawbone and then drills a hole using a special tool. Next, the dental implant is gently screwed into the jawbone until it is secure.
- Abutment Attachment – Once the dental implant has osseointegrated with the jawbone, your surgeon will reopen the gum to expose the implant and attach the abutment.
- Replacement Teeth – After securing the abutment to the dental implant, the replacement tooth is placed onto the abutment. The result is a complete, natural-looking smile you can enjoy for a long time
This process involves numerous procedures requiring expert knowledge of facial and cranial structure. In most cases, it also necessitates general or localized anesthesia, another area where the extra training of an oral surgeon is a huge advantage. In addition, an oral surgeon can let you know about the potential risks associated with the procedure, such as infection at the implant site. By following the advice of the oral surgeon and practicing good oral hygiene, such risks can be avoided or easily mitigated.
Your Next Steps
By consulting closely with a team of dental professionals, you could be on your way to a healthier, brighter smile in a matter of months. This is possible thanks to the specialized training that an oral surgeon undergoes.
Dental Implants & Bone Grafting Explained: When You Need Them & Why
If you suffer from missing teeth or chronic dental issues, it’s not just your smile that is affected—your entire health can be impacted. This includes your speech, diet, and lifestyle. You might experience pain, fatigue, or even the potential for increased wear and damage to other teeth. But the problem can often go even deeper. When a tooth is missing and not replaced, the loss does not stop there. 25% of people lose their supporting jawbone structure within the first year after tooth loss.
What Is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting helps rebuild the damaged jawbone while simultaneously promoting new growth. Taken from either organic or synthetic material, bone grafting is a common first step for many dental implant surgeries. There are several types of oral bone grafting surgery, and which type you need depends on the location of the new bone, the severity of the bone loss, and the structure of your face.
Different Types of Bone Grafting Procedures:
- Socket Preservation — this procedure is performed immediately after tooth extraction and involves the placement of grafting material into the socket.
- Sinus Lift—If a tooth loss occurs near the thin, bony area near the sinuses, a lift might be necessary to create a thicker and sturdier base for an implant to be eventually placed.
- Ridge Augmentation — may be performed in one area after a tooth extraction or the entire ridge may require more height/width.
- Nerve Repositioning—This procedure involves repositioning the inferior alveolar nerve and is usually a last resort.
Once your graft has fully healed, you can choose from several options to replace your tooth. However, many patients choose dental implants for their extended durability, comfort, and quality.
What Is A Dental Implant?
Dental implants are advanced artificial tooth roots that serve as a permanent and secure base for prosthetic teeth. Think of them as a foundation meant to improve the quality of your jawbone and offer you a lifetime of improved oral health.
Dental implants are made up of three parts—the implant, abutment, and crown. They live beneath the gum and support the prosthetic tooth on top. This design allows them to look, feel, and act like natural teeth, making them the go-to for patients facing tooth loss. Here are even more benefits to dental implants:
- Improved Facial Structure
- Stabilizes Adjacent Teeth
- Enhanced Speech Capabilities
- Reduces the Risk of Cavities
Dental Implant Procedure Steps:
Like all other medical procedures and surgeries, an initial consultation is necessary to determine if you are the right candidate for an implant. Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will complete an oral exam, take X-rays, and discuss your goals.
The actual procedure will take about 30-60 minutes. After the surgery, the following 3-6 months are the most crucial. This healing phase is known as osseointegration. During this time, the implant fuses to the bone permanently. You’ll have to be placed on a soft foods diet and avoid any activity that could damage or shift the implant.
The final stage in the implant procedure is tooth restoration. This occurs after the mouth has fully healed and a prosthetic tooth is attached to the implant. You can expect to wait anywhere from 6 months to a year for this step.
Losing a tooth can be a difficult and painful experience, both physically and emotionally. However, our oral and maxillofacial surgeons can skillfully repair your smile and any discomfort you might feel.
Dental Implants
