BREAST LIFT, REDUCTION
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a small screw made of titanium that is well tolerated by the body and takes the function of tooth root. The dental implant is inserted directly onto the bone of the jaw, which subsequently grows onto the surface to anchor it firmly. Under normal conditions, the healing process can take as little as 6 weeks. After this period, the tooth replacement in the form of a crown, bridge or denture is secured to the implant.
Our dentist will recommend an implant-borne dental replacement that is suitable for you individually.
Dental implants are a reliable solution...
...if disease leads to tooth loss. At any age, periodontitis, caries, or other diseases can cause tooth loss. Dental implants are then the ideal solution for your missing teeth.
...if an accident leaves you with missing teeth. Whether in sports activities or daily life - a small accident can cause tooth loss. In this case, too, dental implants restore lost function and appearance.
...if teeth are congenitally missing. For teeth that never grew at all, dental implants provide a solid foundation for replacement teeth.
Why it's important to replace missing teeth?
Having all of your teeth can make you more self-confident. You don't worry that people notice that you have teeth missing.
When teeth are lost, the area of the jawbone that held those teeth starts to erode. Over time, you can lose so much bone that your jaw will need a bone graft to build up the bone in your jaw before your dentist can place implants or make a denture that fits properly.
Tooth loss affects how well you chew and what foods you are able to eat. Many people who have missing teeth have poor nutrition, which can affect overall health.
The loss of teeth can change your bite, that is the way your teeth come together. Changes in your bite can lead to problems with your jaw joint, called the temporomandibular joint.
Losing teeth can lead to changes in your speech, which also can affect your self-confidence.
Benefits of implants
Who Is an Implant Candidate?
If you're interested in replacing your missing teeth, or a single missing tooth, dental implants may be an option for you. Not everybody, however, is a good candidate for implants.
A good candidate should have the following:
Some people may not be good candidates for implants. They include:
Our dentist can evaluate you to see if you would be a good candidate to receive implants.
Placing the Implants
Most implants are placed using a two-step process, although some newer implants can be placed in one step. What follows, is a description of how the two-step process works.
The First Surgery
You may be given antibiotics and pain medication to take before the surgery. Our dentist will use local anesthesia for the procedure and will offer you sedation if you want it.
To place the implants, the surgeon first will make an incision (cut) in your gums to expose the bone. He or she then will drill a hole in the bone for the implant, and place the implant in the hole. The surgeon probably will take an X-ray of the area to make sure the implant is where it should be. The surgeon will then stitch (suture) your gum closed over the implant. The time required for this procedure depends on the number of implants being placed and whether or not bone grafting is being done at the same time. In most cases, placing a single dental implant requires about one hour. You will feel some pain after this procedure. The level of discomfort depends on the person, but generally it has been described as relatively mild.
If the implant is placed in the front of your mouth, our dentist will give you a temporary denture or bridge so that you do not have to be without teeth.
After your surgery, our surgeon will give you antibiotics and pain medication. He also will give you instructions to follow.
These will include:
You will return to the surgeon 7 to 10 days later to have your stitches removed.
After the implant is placed in your jaw, you will have to wait several months for the bone to bond with the implant. This usually takes 3 or 4 months in the lower jaw and 5 or 6 months in the upper jaw. During this time, the head of the implant usually remains hidden under your gum.
The Second Surgery
After the implants have integrated (attached) with the surrounding bone, you are ready for the second surgery. After giving you local anesthesia, your surgeon will make a small incision in the gum to expose the implant. He or she will remove a protective screw from the implant and replace it with a metal healing abutment (collar). The healing abutment looks like a small metal cylinder that sits above your gums in the area where your tooth would be and maintains the space so that the gums heal correctly around the implant.
In a very small percentage of cases, the implants will not have successfully bonded with the bone. If this happens, your dentist either can remove the implants and immediately replace them with slightly wider ones, or remove them and allow the area to heal for several months before making a second attempt.
Our dentist will be happy to review with you the specific procedure that would be best suited for your individual situation.
Is the implantation procedure painful?
Since dental implants are usually inserted under local anesthesia, you should not feel anything during the procedure.
If you do feel any discomfort after implant placement, your doctor can provide you with solutions.
Success
Available studies indicate that surgical placement of root-form implants is successful more than 97% of the time. When these implants fail, the problems usually occur within the first year after surgery. After that, only about 1% of all implants fail each year.
A dental implant is a small screw made of titanium that is well tolerated by the body and takes the function of tooth root. The dental implant is inserted directly onto the bone of the jaw, which subsequently grows onto the surface to anchor it firmly. Under normal conditions, the healing process can take as little as 6 weeks. After this period, the tooth replacement in the form of a crown, bridge or denture is secured to the implant.
Our dentist will recommend an implant-borne dental replacement that is suitable for you individually.
Dental implants are a reliable solution...
...if disease leads to tooth loss. At any age, periodontitis, caries, or other diseases can cause tooth loss. Dental implants are then the ideal solution for your missing teeth.
...if an accident leaves you with missing teeth. Whether in sports activities or daily life - a small accident can cause tooth loss. In this case, too, dental implants restore lost function and appearance.
...if teeth are congenitally missing. For teeth that never grew at all, dental implants provide a solid foundation for replacement teeth.
Why it's important to replace missing teeth?
Having all of your teeth can make you more self-confident. You don't worry that people notice that you have teeth missing.
When teeth are lost, the area of the jawbone that held those teeth starts to erode. Over time, you can lose so much bone that your jaw will need a bone graft to build up the bone in your jaw before your dentist can place implants or make a denture that fits properly.
Tooth loss affects how well you chew and what foods you are able to eat. Many people who have missing teeth have poor nutrition, which can affect overall health.
The loss of teeth can change your bite, that is the way your teeth come together. Changes in your bite can lead to problems with your jaw joint, called the temporomandibular joint.
Losing teeth can lead to changes in your speech, which also can affect your self-confidence.
Benefits of implants
- Feel - Because implants are imbedded in your bone, they feel more like your natural teeth than bridges or dentures.
- Convenience - You will not need to worry about denture adhesives or having your dentures slip, click or fall out when you speak.
- Nutrition - You will be able to chew better with implants. Chewing can be difficult with regular dentures, especially ones that don't fit perfectly. A regular upper denture also covers your palate, which can reduce your sense of taste.
- Self-esteem - Because implants are so much like your natural teeth, you will think about them less. Your self-esteem and confidence will be improved because you will not have to worry about denture problems or people noticing that you have missing teeth. Regular dentures also can affect your speech, which can make you less self-confident when talking with others.
Who Is an Implant Candidate?
If you're interested in replacing your missing teeth, or a single missing tooth, dental implants may be an option for you. Not everybody, however, is a good candidate for implants.
A good candidate should have the following:
- Good health
- Healthy gums
- Enough bone to anchor the implants in the jaw - Some people who have lost bone in their jaw still can get implants, but first the bone must be rebuilt using special procedures.
- Be committed to taking very good care of the implanted teeth and surrounding gums - Daily brushing and flossing are essential. Regular visits to the dentist for follow-up are also important.
Some people may not be good candidates for implants. They include:
- Young patients whose jawbones have not developed completely
- Pregnant women
- Heavy smokers - Smoking impedes healing in the mouth and can reduce the likelihood that implants will be successful.
- Alcohol or substance abusers
- Patients who have received high-dose irradiation of their head or neck
- People with chronic diseases or systemic problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, connective-tissue diseases, hemophilia and significant immune deficiencies, among others You still may be a good candidate for implants even if you have one of these conditions. It depends on the extent and severity of the condition.
- Patients who take certain medications such as steroids or drugs that suppress the immune system
- People who severely grind or clench their teeth - These habits can place too much pressure on the implants and increase the risk of failure.
Our dentist can evaluate you to see if you would be a good candidate to receive implants.
Placing the Implants
Most implants are placed using a two-step process, although some newer implants can be placed in one step. What follows, is a description of how the two-step process works.
The First Surgery
You may be given antibiotics and pain medication to take before the surgery. Our dentist will use local anesthesia for the procedure and will offer you sedation if you want it.
To place the implants, the surgeon first will make an incision (cut) in your gums to expose the bone. He or she then will drill a hole in the bone for the implant, and place the implant in the hole. The surgeon probably will take an X-ray of the area to make sure the implant is where it should be. The surgeon will then stitch (suture) your gum closed over the implant. The time required for this procedure depends on the number of implants being placed and whether or not bone grafting is being done at the same time. In most cases, placing a single dental implant requires about one hour. You will feel some pain after this procedure. The level of discomfort depends on the person, but generally it has been described as relatively mild.
If the implant is placed in the front of your mouth, our dentist will give you a temporary denture or bridge so that you do not have to be without teeth.
After your surgery, our surgeon will give you antibiotics and pain medication. He also will give you instructions to follow.
These will include:
- Don't spit, suck on straws or smoke. This can dislodge blood clots and slow healing.
- Eat only soft food to avoid injuring your gum tissues.
- Don't try to clean the implant area for the next one to two weeks, but clean the rest of your mouth normally. Our dentist may give you an antibacterial rinse to help keep the area clean.
You will return to the surgeon 7 to 10 days later to have your stitches removed.
After the implant is placed in your jaw, you will have to wait several months for the bone to bond with the implant. This usually takes 3 or 4 months in the lower jaw and 5 or 6 months in the upper jaw. During this time, the head of the implant usually remains hidden under your gum.
The Second Surgery
After the implants have integrated (attached) with the surrounding bone, you are ready for the second surgery. After giving you local anesthesia, your surgeon will make a small incision in the gum to expose the implant. He or she will remove a protective screw from the implant and replace it with a metal healing abutment (collar). The healing abutment looks like a small metal cylinder that sits above your gums in the area where your tooth would be and maintains the space so that the gums heal correctly around the implant.
In a very small percentage of cases, the implants will not have successfully bonded with the bone. If this happens, your dentist either can remove the implants and immediately replace them with slightly wider ones, or remove them and allow the area to heal for several months before making a second attempt.
Our dentist will be happy to review with you the specific procedure that would be best suited for your individual situation.
Is the implantation procedure painful?
Since dental implants are usually inserted under local anesthesia, you should not feel anything during the procedure.
If you do feel any discomfort after implant placement, your doctor can provide you with solutions.
Success
Available studies indicate that surgical placement of root-form implants is successful more than 97% of the time. When these implants fail, the problems usually occur within the first year after surgery. After that, only about 1% of all implants fail each year.
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