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Dental Implants:
Teeth That Look
and Feel Like Your Own
A dental implant is an artificial tooth
root that is placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth,
bridge or denture. Dental implants are an ideal option for
people in good general oral health who have lost a tooth
or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some
other reason. While high-tech in nature, dental implants
are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework,
since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.
The spaces created from tooth loss may lead to esthetic
concerns, difficulty in chewing and poor fitting partials
or dentures. If you are missing one or more teeth and would
like to smile, speak and eat again with comfort and confidence,
dental implants may be the answer. Dental implants are teeth
that can look and feel just like your own. Dental implants
are so natural-looking and feeling; you may forget you ever
lost a tooth.
What Dental Implants
Can Do?
- Replace one or more teeth without affecting
adjacent teeth.
- Support a bridge and eliminate the need
for a removable partial denture.
- Provide support for a denture, making it
more secure and comfortable.
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Endosteal (in the
bone): This is the most commonly
used type of implant. The various types include screws,
cylinders or blades surgically placed into the jawbone.
Each implant holds one or more prosthetic teeth. This
type of implant is generally used as an alternative for
patients with bridges or removable dentures.
-
Subperiosteal (on
the bone): These are placed on top of the jaw with
the metal framework's posts protruding through the gum
to hold the prosthesis. These types of implants are used
for patients who are unable to wear conventional dentures
and who have minimal bone height.
-
Esthetic: Dental
implants look and feel like your own teeth. Since dental
implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they
prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompany
bridgework and dentures. No one will ever know that you
have a replacement tooth.
-
Tooth-saving:
Dental implants don't sacrifice the quality of your adjacent
teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are
not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth
are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to
your oral health.
-
Confidence: Dental
implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with
comfort and confidence. They are secure and offer freedom
from the irksome clicks and wobbles of dentures. They'll
allow you to say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures
and messy pastes and glues.
-
Reliable: The
success rate of dental implants is highly predictable.
They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement.
Are You a Candidate
for Dental Implants?
The ideal candidate for a dental implant
is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your
jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates
have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease.
What Is Treatment
Like?
This procedure is a team effort between you,
your dentist and your periodontist. Your periodontist and
dentist will consult with you to determine where and how
your implant should be placed. Depending on your specific
condition and the type of implant chosen, your periodontist
will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs.
-
Replacing
a Single Tooth: If
you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown
can replace it. A dental implant replaces both the lost
natural tooth and its root.
-
Replacing
Several Teeth: If you are missing several
teeth, implant-supported bridges can replace them. Dental
implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and
some of the roots.
-
Replacing
All of Your Teeth:
If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant-supported
full bridge or full denture can replace them. Dental implants
will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of
the roots.
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Sinus
Augmentation: A key to implant success
is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant
is to be placed. The upper back jaw has traditionally
been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place
dental implants due to insufficient bone quantity and
quality and the close proximity to the sinus. Sinus augmentation
can help correct this problem by raising the sinus floor
and developing bone for the placement of dental implants.
-
Ridge
Modification: Deformities in the upper
or lower jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which
to place dental implants. To correct the problem, the
gum is lifted away from the ridge to expose the bony defect.
The defect is then filled with bone or bone substitute
to build up the ridge. Ridge modification has been shown
to greatly improve appearance and increase your chances
for successful implants that can last for years to come.
What Can I Expect
After Treatment?
As you know, your own teeth require conscientious
at-home oral care and regular dental visits. Dental implants
are like your own teeth and will require the same care.
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 Cosmetic
Non-Cosmetic
Autogenous
Allogenic
Surgical
Non-Surgical
Periodontal
Sinus Augmentation
Ridge Augmentation
Intravenous (IV) Conscious Sedation
Oral
Sedation
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.
Having trouble? Please make sure you have version
7 of the Flash browser plugin in order to correctly view this presentation.
This software is available as a free
download.
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