Dental Implants – “natural” tooth replacement

Missing teeth can negatively affect many things, including your other teeth, jaw joints, eating habits, speech, appearance, and even your health. When a tooth is lost, the jaw bone that previously surrounded the tooth root disappears. When all of the teeth are missing, the facial structures collapse as the jaw(s) deteriorate over time.

The “gold standard” for tooth replacement today is implant treatment. Dental implants are substitute tooth roots. They form a stable foundation for permanent replacement teeth that look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth. In fact, once treatment is completed, patients cannot tell the difference between their implant tooth and their natural teeth.

The benefits of implant treatment can improve the quality of your life in numerous ways.

Dental Implants:

• Are the closest replacement possible to natural teeth
• Help maintain the health and longevity of surrounding teeth
• Allow for superior long-term esthetics and function
• Are stable replacement teeth for eating and smiling with confidence
• Maintain the integrity of facial structures
• Restore lost lip support and can minimize wrinkles around the mouth
• Eliminate the pain and frustration of ill-fitting partials and dentures

What’s involved?

The placement of an implant generally is a three-part process that takes several months.

1. An oral surgeon surgically places the implant(s) into the jaw bone, leaving the top of the implant slightly above the top of the bone. A screw is inserted into the implant to prevent gum tissue and other debris from entering.

The gum is then secured around the implant with stitches, where it will remain undisturbed for approximately 3 – 6 months while the implant fuses with the bone, a process called osseointegration. There may be some swelling and/or tenderness after the surgery, so pain medication is usually prescribed to control this. You will be asked to avoid chewing in the area of the new implant and to eat a diet of soft foods, cold foods, and warm soup during the first week of healing.

2. After the implant has completely fused to the bone, we will see you back in our office to take a highly accurate impression of it. This impression is then sent to a dental laboratory for fabrication of the abutment (i.e., the post that attaches to the implant and holds the crown in place) and final crown.

3. Two weeks after the impression is sent to the laboratory, we will see you back to attach the abutment to the implant and then cement the crown on top of this. You will be able to chew normally on your new implant and crown in just 24 hours.

Who is a candidate?

If you are in good general health, with healthy gums and a jawbone that can support an implant, this treatment may be an option for you. In fact, your health is a more important factor than your age. Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, or leukemia, may interfere with healing after surgery. If you use tobacco, you are at greater risk for gum disease, which can weaken the bone and tissues needed to support the implant.

Meticulous oral hygiene is critical to the success of the implant. You will need to spend a little more time caring for the implant and making sure the area surrounding it is particularly clean. If your overall health is good and your teeth and gums are in good shape, we can determine if you are a suitable candidate for a dental implant.