Dental Implants

An artificial tooth root made of titanium, an implant is surgically placed into the jawbone to support tooth-replacement structures such as crowns, bridges and dentures. While the implant mimics the root of the tooth, the replacement structure looks and feels just like a natural tooth, providing patients with a permanent solution that replicates the fit and feel of natural teeth.

Benefits Of Dental Implants

• Enhanced Esthetics: Implants are placed within the gums. The crowns that are attached to them emerge in a manner similar to a natural tooth. This offers a more realistic and natural look compared to other alternatives.
• Reduction Of Bone Loss: When a tooth is lost, the supporting bone structure gradually recedes over time. Dental implants integrate with the jawbone and stimulate its preservation, allowing the bone to stay healthy and intact while maintaining natural facial contours and appearance.
• Preservation Of Adjacent Teeth: Other methods like fixed bridges must be anchored to adjacent teeth, unnecessarily sacrificing their quality and health. Dental implants are independent and do not rely on the support of other teeth, thus providing the ability to preserve the good teeth.
• Easier Eating: As the jawbone shrinks, chewing efficiency is reduced, making it difficult to eat certain foods. Dental implants can restore chewing efficiency comparable to that of natural teeth, allowing patients to eat their favorite foods with confidence and without discomfort.

The Dental Implant Procedure

All treatment begins with a thorough exam and consultation. Typically, the process can take from 3 to 6 months. In some cases, the process may take longer because additional treatments, such as bone grafting, may be required to build up the bone so it can support an implant. The procedure and time frame depends on several factors:

• Dental health
• Condition and quality of the jawbone
• Number of teeth involved

Dental implant restorations usually take place over a few appointments and involve several steps:

• The First Step: A dentist or oral surgeon will cut into the gum to expose the bone. One or more implants are precisely placed into the jawbone to mirror the location of the root of the missing natural tooth.
• The Second Step: After appropriate healing has taken place to allow for the implant to fuse within the bone, impressions of the teeth and bite are taken to custom-fabricate a connector post or abutment, and crown.
• The Final Step: At the final appointment, the oral surgeon reopens the gum to expose the implant. The abutment and crown are attached to the implant, completing the process.

Some patients may experience minor soreness after the dental implant procedure which can be treated with over the counter ibuprofen medication.

Dental Implant Results

Patients receive all the benefits of natural teeth with their dental implants. It is important to continue good oral hygiene with the implants to prevent bacteria buildup, which can cause gum disease or bone loss.

Dental Implant FAQs

Who Is A Good Candidate For Dental Implants?

Generally speaking, most people are good candidates for dental implants as a replacement for missing teeth. Some criteria include: over-all good health; healthy gums; enough bone to anchor implants into the jaw; commitment to good oral hygiene and regular trips to the dentist for check-ups. Patience is also another important factor as implants can take anywhere from 4 months to 1 year to be fully completed. Finally, it is ideal if patients are non-smokers (at least while the process is being completed), free from any diseases or disorders that impact the body’s ability to heal, and have no history of cancer treatment which included IV bisphosphonate therapy.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Dental implants are considered long-term replacements. As long as they receive proper care, implants can last 20 years and beyond.

Are Dental Implants Painful?

Most implant placement surgery is performed under local anesthesia. Once anesthesia is achieved, there should be no discomfort during the procedure. However, there will be noise from drills, etc. so IV sedation is also an option for more nervous patients. In the days following the procedure, there will likely be some manageable discomfort around the chin, cheeks or under the eye depending on where the implant was placed. Ibuprofen or other similar medications, as well as ice packs, are usually recommended to ease pain and minimize swelling.

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Additional Resources

• Mouth Healthy
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
• Medline Plus
• National Institutes of Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
• WebMD