Implants

What is an Implant?

A dental implant is a treatment option for replacing missing teeth. Implants are small titanium posts that replace the roots of missing teeth. Here they serve as the anchor for the “replacement teeth”. We decide if an implant is right for you by providing a thorough oral examination and discussing your health history – certain medical conditions can prevent you from being a candidate for dental implants. We’ll also determine if you need any additional procedures such as bone grafting or gum surgery to aid in the success of your implant. We do not place implants at our practice but will provide a comprehensive treatment plan/referral and coordinate the implant restoration with the specialist.  Once the implant is placed, healing will begin and the implant will become securely fused to the bone over time. Implants have several benefits:

• They stimulate the jaw bone when you chew.
• Preserving the jaw bone, keeping it healthy over a long period of time.
• They are strong, comfortable and secure as natural healthy teeth.

Single Implant Procedure

A single implant procedure begins with creating a channel in the bone to receive the implant. We then place the body of the implant into the prepared channel. Depending on the case of the patient, we may place a cover on the implant or a healing abutment to help shape the gums. It then becomes a waiting process for the implant to heal and become securely fused to the bone. Once secure, we schedule a series of appointments to fabricate your final restoration. Situations vary, but they usually include a final impression appointment and a final delivery appointment.  This implant crown prevents surrounding teeth from shifting and keeps you from having to reduce neighboring teeth. With proper home care and regular check-ups, your implant can be a long term solution for a long lasting smile.

Denture Secured Implants

When all the teeth in an arch are missing, an excellent treatment for replacing them is an implant retained denture. Depending on your situation the denture may snap on to the implants in your jaw, or clip to a bar that’s attached to the implants. These keep your denture secured while chewing but allows you to remove it for proper care and cleaning. Again, we place the implants into prepared channels and provide temporary dentures during your healing period. As the healing process ensues over the next several months, your implants will fuse to the bone. The next phase consists of a series of appointments to fabricate your permanent denture. Here we will take impressions and bite registrations. Our model will create a denture that precisely fits these implants as well as your bite. The denture “snaps in” and is stable in the mouth, making for a more comfortable talking and chewing process and are also removable for easy cleaning and check-ups.