Dental Implant Procedure

Benefits

Dental implants have given countless patients many amazing benefits.

• You will smile again
• Improved appearance
• Improved comfort
• Improved speech
• Eat better, enjoy more foods, better nutrition
• Convenience
• Improved self-esteem

Dental implants are also a great value for your investment.  You will be getting a product that you will be using 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks of the year, probably for many, many years of your life.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Implants

Am I a candidate for dental implant/s?

If you are missing one or more teeth, then you may be a candidate for dental implants. A candidate for dental implants should be in a good state of health. You should inform your dentist of any systemic illness or condition that may adversely affect healing. Conditions such as diabetes may not prevent you from having dental implant surgery provided that the disease is being treated successfully. Any concerns that you may have regarding your medical history should be discussed with your dentist at the consultation appointment.

A candidate for dental implants should have enough high quality bone to support the implant(s). When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone begins to change and may slowly disappear. This slow process is called resorption. If the amount of resorption is slight, then a dental implant may be placed into the bone. However, if the amount of resorption is too great, there may be insufficient bone available to support the implant and bone grafting may be required prior to implant surgery. At the consultation appointment, a complete examination will be performed and you will be informed of the condition of your bone and the options you have with regard to dental implants.

What is the success rate of dental implants?

This depends very much on where the implants are placed and what they will be called upon to do. The best case scenario is the placement of implants in the front portion of the lower jaw. Here success can be as high as 98-100%.According to figures that we have today, the success of implants in the front part of the upper jaw are anywhere from 90-95%. Success rates of implants in the back part of the upper and lower jaw can be in the 85-90% range.

Why have dental implants become so popular?

As our lifespan increases, the need for some type of permanent dental replacement system becomes very important to our overall health. Dentures and removable bridges have obvious problems: They are loose and unstable. Implants can provide people with dental replacements that are both functional and esthetic. The demand was always there, we just needed the tools to fulfill that demand.

How long after a dental implant is placed can it be used to anchor my new teeth?

The protocol that was originally developed clearly states that we must wait four months before we can begin to construct the new dental prosthesis that will be supported by the implants. In recent years, however, there has been a movement within the profession to sort of speed up this process. Today we believe that it is possible in selected patients to accelerate the healing time. We are even loading implants in very specific situations right away.

Does it hurt to have dental implants placed?

The actual procedure to surgically place a dental implant is done under local anesthesia and is generally not at all painful. When the anesthesia wears off about three or four hours later, you might expect some discomfort. The level of discomfort is quite different from patient to patient, but most patients do not have significant problems. Some patients do have varying degrees of pain or discomfort which may last for several days. Swelling and black & blueing may also develop.

Do I have to go without my teeth & while the implants are bonding to my jaw bone?

Once again, the original protocol called for patients to go without wearing their dentures for at least two weeks after implant placement. Over the years, this has been modified considerably and in most situations, patients leave the office wearing their teeth the day the implants are placed. Every patient and procedure is evaluated separately and there might occasionally be a recommendation that a patient go without their prosthesis for a short period of time.

What Exactly Does the Dental Implant Procedure Involve?

First, you will need to discuss your options with your dentist.  Together, it will be decided if you are a good candidate for dental implants.  We will then take a complete dental history, x-rays, and complete a thorough oral examination.  If you are a candidate for implant surgery, the procedure is as follows:

1. Surgical placement of the implant(s) into the bone. This is usually done right in the dentist’s office, with a local anesthetic. After surgery, there is a healing period of approximately four months. During this time, the implants fuse to the bone by a process known as ‘osseointegration’.

2. Next, there is a minor surgical exposure of the top of the implant, whereby the dentist will attach the post to the implant.  The function of the post is to become the support for either one tooth or a set of teeth. This is a short procedure that usually requires only local anesthesia.

3. The last phase is the restorative phase.  The dentist will take impressions and then make a prosthesis that will attach to the implants.  This will require several visits.  Once completed, your mouth will be restored to natural looking, strong teeth.

Tobacco is a major contributor towards dental decay and ultimately leading to tooth extraction.  If you cannot do without tobacco then make sure you follow a strict oral hygiene routine like brushing teeth atleast 2 times a day, flossing the teeth.  Carry out dental bleaching and recontouring whenever your dentist asks you to, it can reduce the severity of dental decay in future.  Preventive Dentistry is always better than curing a dental disease.