A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that a
periodontist places into your jaw to hold a replacement
tooth or bridge. 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.
Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling,
you may 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. If you are missing one or
more teeth and would like to smile, speak and eat again
with comfort and confidence, there is good news! Dental
implants are teeth that can look and feel just like your
own! 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.
What Dental Implants Can Do?
- 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 comfordiv.
Types of Implants in Use Today
- 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.
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.
- 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.
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. Your dentist and periodontist will work
together to make your dreams come true.
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. Click for more information about the
treatment options described below.
- 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.
- 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.