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.
There are three parts to what is described as an implant: 1- the dental implant itself (which is inserted directly into the bone); 2- the abutment (the piece that connects the implant device to the third part, 3- the overlying crown or denture (prosthesis).
Today’s dental implants are made of titanium, a metal that is bio-compatible and offers strength and durability as well as a unique property that allows it to fuse directly to bone (osseointegration).
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 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.
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 making it hard to notice 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, this is 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.
✓ 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 an excellent tooth replacement option for nearly everyone.
Dental implants can be used when:
- A single tooth is missing – instead of a bridge
- Several teeth are missing – instead of a bridge or partial denture
- All teeth are missing – instead of dentures
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 we, periodontists, have experience working with other dental professionals, we 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 us will work together to make your dreams come true.
What is the preliminary process to receive dental implants?
If you feel that dental implants could be a viable option for you, schedule a consult with us for an examination. Also, schedule an appointment with your dentist to assess your bite (occlusion), which is important to the success of implant restoration.
An x-ray of your jaw will be needed. A general review of these x-rays will allow us to carefully inspect for any additional teeth or areas in the bone that require treatment.
A panoramic radiograph will show all of the upper and lower jaws’ bone and teeth. We could also use these x-rays to assess the height of available bone and the relation and position of other anatomic structures.
If your case requires a more accurate x-ray in order to diagnose, analyze and decide a treatment plan for your possible implant surgery, you may be referred to a radiologist to obtain a CT Scan x-ray. CT Scans provide very detailed, three-dimensional images that can accurately measure the height and width of available bone, as well as locate the nearby anatomic structures that we must be aware for the planning of your dental implant surgery.