Dental Implants

Background

Implants are an effective alternative to dentures that offer the look and stability of natural teeth. Titanium posts are permanently implanted within the jawbone to act as an anchor for artificial teeth, providing patients with an option that look, feel, and function like real teeth.

Advantages

Traditional dentures, bridges, and partials lack the stability and reliability of dental implants. Ill-fitting dentures can lead to irritation and mouth sores, difficulty eating and speaking, and slippage. Additionally, these alternatives require special cleaners and adhesives, and can be easily lost resulting in costly replacements.

Since implants look and operate like natural teeth, you care for them as you would natural teeth with daily brushing and flossing. Individuals no longer have to worry about poorly fitting dentures, or misplacing them because implants are securely anchored within the bone like natural teeth.

Assessment

A visit with our surgical staff will be sufficient to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants. Medical staff can perform radiological imaging and perform and examination to assess if implants are the right option for you.

Procedure

The practitioner surgically implants titanium posts into the jawbone below the gum line, which mimics the tooth’s root. Normally, the posts are allowed time (3 to 6 months) to safely secure to the bone, while your family dentist has your new prosthetic teeth made. Patients typically wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time.

Once the posts have bonded with the bone, a second procedure is performed to uncover the posts and affix your artificial teeth. The posts will not be visible, and your new teeth will work and appear like your original teeth, helping to preserve the natural contours of your face. Dental implants usually take six to eight months from beginning to finish to place.

Additionally, recent innovations in dental implant placement have provided practitioners with options to forgo a second surgical procedure to uncover the posts, as well as extract teeth and place artificial crowns in a single visit. Talk with your surgeon to determine if this is an option for you.