Dental Implants

     Your teeth are extremely important.  Please take a moment and think about it – they fill your smile, giving you social confidence; they allow you to speak clearly, and let you  eat and taste all the foods you wish.  The mouth and teeth are the portal to how we communicate with the world and how the world identifies us.   True “dental make-overs” are now possible and can have an enormous impact on your life. Implants  provide the foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like your natural teeth and in many cases provide a more youthful look.   

     A person who has lost their teeth can once again regain the ability to eat virtually anything.  Most importantly, dental implants eliminate jawbone shrinkage that occurs after the loss of even one tooth.

     We encourage you to make a consultation appointment today.  In most instances, the fee for consultation and on-site 3D Imaging (Cone Beam CT scanning) are included in the global implant fee.

What Are Dental Implants?

     Dental implants are titanium posts about the size of a tooth root,  that are  placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These  implants act as tooth root substitutes, permitting the attachment of tooth crown. The implant bonds to your bone, creating a strong foundation for these  replacement teeth.  

 

Implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.

The Implant Procedure

For most patients, the placement of dental implants is a simple surgical procedure which is usually performed with local anesthesia.   IV sedation or general anesthesia is also available  from our full scope office.

During the usual 3 month healing and integration process after placement, implants can either be buried or exposed – this will be discussed during your intital consultation.   You should be able to wear temporary dentures (if necessary) and eat a soft diet during this period.

After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, your dentist will complete the second phase – the dental crown, the bridge, or the implant stabilized denture.  Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily life.

Dental Implants Presentation

To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.

Dental Implants Presentation

Surgical Advances

In certain situations, Dr. Bosack and Dr. McKnight may be able to place implants at the same time as tooth extraction, which can minimize the number of surgical procedures necessary.  This possibility can be discussed at the time of your consultation.

 

What Types Of Prosthesis Are Available?

Dental implant placement is a team effort between an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a restorative dentist. Dr. Bosack and Dr. McKnight perform the actual implant surgery, initial tooth extractions, and bone grafting if necessary. The restorative dentist (your dentist) fits and makes the permanent prosthesis. Your dentist will also make any temporary prosthesis needed during the implant process. A single prosthesis (crown) is used to replace one missing tooth – each prosthetic tooth attaches to its own implant. A partial prosthesis (fixed bridge) can replace two or more teeth and may require only two or three implants. A complete dental prosthesis (fixed bridge) replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. The number of implants varies depending upon a variety of factors. A removable prosthesis (over denture) attaches to a bar or ball-in-socket attachments, whereas a fixed prosthesis is permanent and removable only by the dentist.

 

Why Dental Implants?

Dental implants can vastly improve your life. When you lose several teeth – whether it’s a new situation or something that you have lived with for years – chances are you’ve never become fully accustomed to missing such a vital part of yourself.

Dental implants can be your doorway to renewed self-confidence and peace of mind.

A Swedish scientist and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark, developed this concept for oral rehabilitation more than 50 years ago. With his pioneering research, Dr. Branemark opened the door to a lifetime of renewed comfort and self-confidence for millions of individuals facing the frustration and embarrassment of tooth loss.

Why Select Dental Implants Over More Traditional Types Of Restorations?

There are several reasons: A dental bridge sacrifices the structure of surrounding good teeth to bridge the space of the missing tooth/teeth. In addition, removing a denture or a “partial” at night is inconvenient. Dentures not supported by implants are often painful to wear, embarrassing when they slip out and severely limited the types of food that can be eaten.  Full upper dentures interfere with speech and taste.

Are You A Candidate For Implants?

If you are considering implants your mouth must be examined thoroughly and your medical and dental history reviewed. If your mouth is not ideal for implants there are ways of improving the outcome, such as bone grafting, which may be recommended.

What Type Of Anesthesia Is Used?

The majority of dental implants and bone grafting can be performed in our office under local anesthesia.  IV sedation and general anesthesia are also available.

Do Implants Need Special Care?

Once the implants are in place they will serve you well for many years if you take good care of them and keep your mouth healthy. Good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and keeping regular appointments with your dentist is key to the long term success of dental implants.