One of the services we proudly offer at our office is dental implant placement and restoration. A dental implant is simply a replacement for a missing tooth root. Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth or they can serve as support for replacing a full arch. Dental implants also serve as a means to preserve existing bone and even help secure a loose fitting denture. Since they rarely need to be replaced, they also happen to be a very cost effective option.
When it comes to implants, the most important thing by far is treatment planning and case selection. First it must be determined if you are a good candidate. Patients who are smokers or are diabetics have much lower success rates. X-rays are used to determine If enough good bone is present to support an implant and than the proper implant is selected for the bone that is available. When not enough bone is present other procedures such as grafting and sinus lifts may be required. Once that is decided, the procedure begins by having the patient take an anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drug one hour prior to treatment. The dental implant placement only takes a few minutes and is done under local anesthesia. In some cases the implant may be restored immediately, but we typically wait three months to allow full bone integration before a final crown is placed. Patients are usually amazed at how comfortable they felt both during and after the procedure.
Even though a dental implant will not decay, it’s important to remember that it should be cared for just as a normal tooth would. That means keeping up with brushing and flossing to make sure the area stays clean and free of any buildup. This will not only keep your implants looking great, but also help maintain the surrounding structures strong and healthy.
Over the last several years, implants have become a routine procedure in our office and we take every measure we can to ensure that our patients have the most pleasant and comfortable experience. We can talk you through each step, or even provide you with headphones so you can relax and watch TV while we get to work! Two of our awesome patients, Mike and Linda, can tell you a little more about the experience.
If you feel like dental implants aren’t for you, that’s okay too. We are more than happy to discuss all your options at length so don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions!
