Dental Implants

Think of dental implants as metal anchors, usually made of titanium, that are surgically placed into the jawbone to hold permanent teeth or dentures. Through a process called "osteointegration", the jawbone actually attaches itself to the implant over time, providing tremendous stability.

If you face the loss of one or several teeth or are dissatisfied with dentures or other options available to you, you may find that implants are right for you. Age is not typically a major factor; successful implants have been performed on young people as well as the elderly. During your consultation, we'll help you decide. In general, we look for the following characteristics:

general good health
healthy gums
sufficient underlying jawbone to support the implants
a good attitude to ensure that you follow through with vital oral hygiene habits.

Implant treatment is performed by your general dentist, oral surgeon, periodontist or a team of these doctors. We complete a medical and dental history and a thorough oral examination including x-rays.

During surgery, each implant is placed within the jawbone to serve as an anchor for the post that will eventually support the replacement tooth. Generally three to six months or more is then allowed for the bone tissue to grow around the implants and hold them securely in place. Immediately after surgery, we will give you specific post-surgical instructions to assure the best possible healing. We may prescribe pain medication and, in some cases, antibiotics to help the healing process and alleviate any discomfort. At this time, you may be fitted with temporary dentures or natural looking teeth to help you function as normally as possible. You will also need to limit your diet to soft foods and follow important oral hygiene instructions. Follow up care is important during this time.

Once the jawbone has firmly healed around the implant, a small post is attached to each implant. The post protrudes through the gumline and serves as an anchor for the replacement tooth. This short procedure usually requires only local anesthesia. After your gums have healed, the replacement teeth or dentures are securely attached to the posts.

Because dental implants are patterned after the structure of your natural teeth, they provide a highly stable support system for replacement teeth or dentures. Other benefits include

Improved biting pressure. Dental implants can often restore the amount of pressure that can be withstood to nearly the same level of healthy natural teeth - over 500 lbs. of biting pressure per square inch.
Comfort and fit. Dental implants eliminate the problems that can occur with dentures - slipping and sliding, mouth sores, clicking sounds.
Longevity and reliability. Dental implant systems have been shown to last as long as 20 years or more with proper hygiene and care.
Increased self confidence. Most peope who get dental implants feel they can again chew, talk, laugh and smile with confidence.

Dental implant surgery has proved successful for hundreds of thousands of people over the years. Negative effects are rare. During the healing process, discomfort, swelling, and inflammation of the gums-normal reponses to oral surgery- may be present. We would be happy to address your concerns at any time.

Dental implants require a time commitment and dedicated oral hygiene routine - brushing, flossing, regular dental visits - to make a difference in your overall satisfaction and the longevity of the implant itself. Implants also require a greater financial investment than that of a bridge or denture. Many people discover that the end results make dental implants worth the investment.