Implants

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants are an ideal option for people with 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 surrounding teeth for support. Dental implants are so natural looking and feeling that you will forget you ever lost a tooth. You know that your confidence about your teeth affects how you feel about yourself, both personally and professionally. Perhaps you hide your smile because of spaces from missing teeth. Maybe your dentures don't feel secure. Perhaps you have difficulty chewing. Under proper conditions, such as placement by a periodontist and diligent patient maintenance, implants can last a lifetime. Long-term studies continue to show improving success rates for implants. Dental implants can replace one or more teeth without affecting bordering teeth, support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture, provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable.

Placement of the implant
Whether you have a bone graft or not, the dental implant must be surgically placed in your jawbone. This is done in the comfortable setting of your dental office under local anesthetic. During the surgery, your gum is cut open to expose the bone where the implant is going to be placed. Then a hole is drilled in the bone to allow placement of the implant. Once the implant is securely placed in the bone the gum tissue is positioned into its original location and sutures are placed to hold the gum tissue together. The sutures are typically removed two weeks after placement.

Bone growth

Once the implant is placed bone integration begins, this is a process where the bone begins to fuse with the dental implant. This process typically takes between 5-6 months. This time allotment allows for a thorough healing and a strong foundation for the dental implant.

Placement of abutment and implant crown

Approximately at the 6-months from the time of the implant placement the area is reopened and a healing abutment is placed to allow the gum to properly heal around the restoration. This healing abutment is screwed into the implant and the tissue surrounding the implant is contoured for the implant restoration. The healing abutment will remain temporarily for approximately 4 weeks. Once the healing abutment is removed an impression for a custom abutment and implant crown are taken of the area. The abutment and crown typically take approximately 3 weeks for the lab to fabricate.

The following locations provide implant procedures...
(Note: All of our Dental Health locations provide the full range of general dentistry procedures.)