Implant Dentistry
Dental implants are artificial roots and teeth that are surgically place into the jaw bone. Implants are strong and durable, and are a great way to replace missing teeth. The teeth attached to the implants are very natural looking, and may improve your smile!
The process of getting dental implants includes developing an individual plan for your particular situation. Then, the titanium implant is placed into the tooth socket in the jawbone. The jaw will heal around it, which anchors it securely in the jaw. The healing time for this take about 6 to 12 weeks. Next, we will create a tooth that will fit perfectly into your mouth, and attach it to the post. You will receive care instructions when your treatment is completed.
Our implant services include:
Sinus lift augmentation — Often, the sinuses will enlarge following loss of the upper back teeth. This often will preclude placement of dental implants in the upper back areas of the mouth, since the sinus is an air-filled space and dental implants need to be anchored by solid bone. A sinus lift augmentation/graft is a surgical procedure that restores the sinus cavity to its original position and replaces the bone lost as a result of the enlarged sinus. This new bone graft typically takes nine to 12 months to heal before the dental implants can be placed into the grafted bone.
Autogenous bone grafting — Occasionally, areas where dental implants are ideally to be placed do not have sufficient bone quantity to securely anchor the dental implants. In these cases, it is often necessary to “borrow” bone from another area of your mouth to graft into the deficient area. The area of choice is usually the chin or the back of the jaw where your wisdom teeth used to be.
Implant site development — When a tooth needs to be removed due to infection, it is not uncommon to have lost bone from around the infected area. In these cases, various types of bone grafting can be done at the same time the tooth is removed to facilitate the placement of a dental implant at a later date.
Computer-enhanced treatment planning — We have special software on our computer that allows us to evaluate your dental CT scan in three dimensions for bone quality, bone quantity, and bone location. This allows the best possible placement of your dental implants. It also allows us to work closely and smoothly with your restorative dentist to ensure an ideal result where your dental implants are concerned.
Implant maintenance — Once your dental implant restoration is completed, it is important to keep the area clean and infection-free. Dental implants can accumulate plaque and tartar just as teeth can. Whether you have just one tooth replaced by an implant or several, a professional cleaning schedule will be necessary to keep your implants healthy. The time interval for these professional cleanings will be determined by your individual needs.
Mini Implants
A mini implant consists of a miniature-sized titanium implant that acts like the root of your tooth. On the top of the implant sits a retaining fixture that snaps into a corresponding fixture on your denture. The result is a more comfortable, stable denture that enables you to enjoy life without worrying about your teeth.
How are mini implants different from ordinary-sized implants?
With a regular-sized dental implant, there needs to be a certain amount of bone structure available to place the implant. With mini implants, less space is needed, which allows the use of a site that has less-than-adequate bone.
Placing mini implants is also often simpler and less time-intensive than placing full-sized implants. Full-sized implants generally require several months of healing before they can reliably support dental restorations, while mini implants can often support a denture right away.
The procedure for placing mini implants is usually simple and relatively pain-free, and the recovery time is often just a day or two. Modifications to the denture are made on the same day the implants are placed, so you can begin wearing it with your new implants right away.
Implants-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures are over-dentures fixed to the gums by mini implants. For patients with an uncomfortable or loose-fitting denture, stabilizing it with mini implants can be a more comfortable and functional solution.
Mini implants are placed in the jaw where they heal firmly in the surrounding bone. Attachments are placed in the underside of the denture that connect to the implants. When placed in the mouth, the denture snaps onto the implants, which keep it stable and secure.
What are the benefits of dentures supported by mini implants?
People who opt for implant-supported dentures are more confident when they talk, laugh, and eat in public. You’ll never have to worry about your false teeth slipping or falling out while you eat or are engaged in conversation.
Implant-supported dentures are far more comfortable because they are secure and feel like natural teeth. There is also less irritation of gum tissue. Pain and canker sores are common problems for patients with conventional dentures.
Implant-supported dentures look more natural than conventional dentures because less plastic is needed for retention. Wearing implant-supported dentures can also help your appearance in the long term by preventing jaw shrinkage and bone loss.
Patients with conventional dentures have difficulty speaking clearly. Slurred speech and clicking noises are common problems. Implant-supported dentures can help you relax and talk easily with a more clear and natural voice.
Best of all, with implant-supported dentures, there is no need to use denture adhesives.