What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed in the jaw and used to build a tooth or a bridge upon. An implant can be used to replace a single tooth or all of your teeth. If you are missing a tooth, dental implants are far and away the best means we have available to replace the tooth, as they do not depend on using the surrounding teeth to support a dental restoration such as a conventional bridge or partial denture. They can help you eliminate the need to wear uncomfortable partial or complete dentures.

Dental implants are the most predictable means we have to replace your natural teeth. They are 95-98% successful. No restoration in dentistry can compare to this success long-term. While conventional bridges may only last 10-12 years on average, dental implants have the potential to last a person their entire natural life.

Implants look and feel like your natural teeth. They can be used to replace one tooth or all of your teeth and no one can tell the difference between your own teeth and dental implants. This will give you the confidence you desire when eating, speaking, and smiling. If you are missing all of your teeth and wear a denture, implants are a great way to secure your denture so that you can eat and smile with confidence. As a periodontist, I have had special training in implant placement and, along with your general dentist, can come up with the best treatment for you.

What can Dental Implants 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

What are the advantages of Dental Implants over Dentures or a Bridge?

Every way you look at it, dental implants are a better solution to the problem of missing teeth Dental implants have several advantages over conventional dental restorations such as a bridges or dentures. Some of them are as follows:

* 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.

Have you ever seen someone who has worn dentures for a long time? The wrinkles begin to show earlier; the lower lip can touch the nose when the denture is out of the mouth. The face looks “sunken in” and makes one appear older than his/her age. This change in appearance is mostly due to bone loss over time. Once a tooth is lost, it is a race against time to prevent bone loss. When a tooth is missing, you begin to lose bone in the area where the tooth was extracted. A dental implant can help to keep this bone around for a lifetime. If a bridge or dentures are placed, they do not help to keep bone around. With an implant, no one will ever know that you have a replacement tooth.

* Save your surrounding teeth: Dental implants do not rely upon the surrounding teeth for support. With a conventional bridge the surrounding teeth must be “ground” down and three crowns placed. However, with a dental implant, no surrounding teeth are touched and only one crown is necessary.

* Convenience When replacing more than one tooth, implants can be placed and restored like natural teeth which do not come in and out unlike partial dentures which do come in and out.

Dental implants can also be used to replace all of your teeth so you do not have to wear conventional dentures. 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.

Dental implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Since periodontists are the dental experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team. Not only do periodontists have experience working with other dental professionals, they also have the special knowledge, training and facilities that you need to have teeth that look and feel just like your own.

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. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing still apply!

After treatment, your periodontist will work closely with you and your dentist to develop the best care plan for you. Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy.

Where can dental implants be used?

Dental implants can be used anywhere you are missing a natural tooth or teeth. Implants are the best and most predictable way to replace missing teeth. They look and feel like natural teeth and do not cause damage to your surrounding teeth.

How long do they last?

Dental implants, once they have healed, have the ability to last you the rest of your natural life. Unlike dentures or conventional bridges which usually only last a few years before having to be replaced, dental implant restorations can last a lifetime. If you have a dental implant placed, you will understand why this is the treatment option of choice.

Is there any discomfort involved in placing dental implants?

Very little if any. Most people think that having a dental implant is an uncomfortable experience. People who have implants placed are always surprised at how easy the process is. Most implant patients tell me they have very little or no discomfort. Most patients do not even take any medication for discomfort afterwards, even though they are given a prescription if needed. I have had many patients tell me that placing a dental implant is easier than having a small filling placed.

Do they look natural?

Yes. A dental implant will look and feel like a natural tooth. No one will be able to tell the difference between your natural teeth and dental implants. In fact, you most likely will forget you have an implant since they look and feel natural.

Single Implant

If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it. A dental implant replaces the lost natural tooth and is an excellent option in this case.

Multiple Implants

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.

Full Mouth Implants

Are you tired of having your denture rubbing on your gums and worrying if it will come out of your mouth at any moment? Are you looking for something a little more stable that will help you eat, chew, and speak more naturally? If you are missing all of your teeth, there is a better alternative to complete dentures that are uncomfortable to wear, move around, do not let you eat what you want, and usually require “adhesive” to hold them in place. Implants are a great alternative. An implant-supported full bridge or implant-supported denture can replace dentures. Dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots.

 

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