Dental Implants...Tooth Replacement of the future has already arrived!
A Note from the Doctors:
This one page teaser on dental implants does nothing to convey our excitement over the possibilities and quality of life that dental implants allow patients. If you find any of this interesting or think that maybe you could benefit from a dental implant, please contact our office for a consultation.
Dentists have been working to refine tooth replacement with dental implants since the early seventies. Today, this technique has been developed to the point where it is a reliable and relatively economical alternative for replacing missing teeth, replacing conventional fixed bridges, and retaining "permanent" dentures.
38th Street Dental is involved extensively in dental implant restorations from single teeth lost to fracture or endodontic failure to the exciting discipline of "All On 4" permanent dentures.
Please click on the logos of our two favorite implant companies to visit their patient education sites and learn more about what we consider is the best dentistry has to offer!
38th Street Dental is involved extensively in dental implant restorations from single teeth lost to fracture or endodontic failure to the exciting discipline of "All On 4" permanent dentures.
Please click on the logos of our two favorite implant companies to visit their patient education sites and learn more about what we consider is the best dentistry has to offer!
Click logos to learn more!
Why would I need a dental implant?
Let's face it, life takes its toll on teeth and as good as dentistry has become, there are a number of conditions that cannot be restored and extraction of a tooth is necessary. In addition, there are many people that are born without certain teeth in their arches. This condition, called "congenitally missing teeth" is best addressed with the use of dental implants.
Some common causes of tooth loss are:
Root canal therapy failure
Root or crown fracture
Gum Disease
Failure of a fixed bridge
Loss of teeth can cause:
Shifting or drifting of the teeth
Changes in the bite
Excessive wear of remaining teeth
Fracture of remaining teeth
Changes in the jaw joint
Facial changes
Take a Look at How Implants Work!
What are the benefits of dental implants?
For decades, dentists have replaced multiple missing teeth with removable bridges or fixed bridges. These solutions have been okay for many patients, but take their toll on either the remaining dentitions that bear the forces of chewing carried by the bridge or on the jaw bone that caries the force placed on a removable bridge. Eventually, this can and does in many cases, cause loss of those teeth that supported the restoration.
Dental implants allow replacement of the root that was originally lost. The benefit of this procedure is that the neighboring teeth are not asked to carry two or three times the chewing force that they were designed for originally. Instead, the implant supported tooth completely assumes the role of the old tooth that was lost unfortunately.
Dental implants allow replacement of the root that was originally lost. The benefit of this procedure is that the neighboring teeth are not asked to carry two or three times the chewing force that they were designed for originally. Instead, the implant supported tooth completely assumes the role of the old tooth that was lost unfortunately.
What is involved in getting dental implants?
Because dental implants provide such a diverse array of solutions, there is not one set path to replacing teeth with implants. Generally speaking though, a patient would be seen for diagnosis and treatment planning here at 38th Street Dental. At this visit, we will examine the area in question and identify the best method for tooth replacement.
The next step is to visit with the surgeon that will place the dental implant. Oral Surgeons and Periodontal Surgeons are qualified to place dental implants using sedation and local anesthesia to ensure comfort. At the consultation with the surgeon, the patient will likely have a 3D CT scan to allow for "virtual case planning" on a computer. This is a relatively new diagnostic tool that allows us to actually place the implant in three dimensions and plan where the best place to locate the implants in the particular patient's mouth. We have been amazed and delighted at the amount of accuracy and predictability this technology lends to placement of dental implants.
After thorough case planning, the patient has their implant placed by the surgeon. Healing ensues and after a healing period of as little as two weeks to as much as six months, depending on the case type, the implant is uncovered using a minor procedure with little recovery time. The implant and patient are then ready for us to get started on the new tooth, teeth, or denture!
The next step is to visit with the surgeon that will place the dental implant. Oral Surgeons and Periodontal Surgeons are qualified to place dental implants using sedation and local anesthesia to ensure comfort. At the consultation with the surgeon, the patient will likely have a 3D CT scan to allow for "virtual case planning" on a computer. This is a relatively new diagnostic tool that allows us to actually place the implant in three dimensions and plan where the best place to locate the implants in the particular patient's mouth. We have been amazed and delighted at the amount of accuracy and predictability this technology lends to placement of dental implants.
After thorough case planning, the patient has their implant placed by the surgeon. Healing ensues and after a healing period of as little as two weeks to as much as six months, depending on the case type, the implant is uncovered using a minor procedure with little recovery time. The implant and patient are then ready for us to get started on the new tooth, teeth, or denture!
