Services:
- Treatment Methods
- Prophylaxis (Teeth Cleaning)
- Bruxism Treatments
- Scaling and Root Planing
- Bite Adjustment
- Osseous Surgery
- Gum Grafting
- Frenectomy
- Crown Lengthening
- Bone Grafting
- Sinus Augmentation
- Guided Bone and Tissue Regeneration
- Dental Implants
- Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery
- Oral Cancer Exam
- Canine Exposure
Dental Implants
Dental implants are placed in areas where a tooth is lost or is missing. Once a surgeon places an implant, another dentist places the crown making it a procedure that usually involves two different dentists.
What is a dental implant?
The implant is equivalent to the root of the tooth and does not include the crown. It is made of a titanium alloy and has the shape similar to a screw.
Dental Implant Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.
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Can everyone get an implant?
At a minimum, in order for an implant to be placed in the missing tooth space, there has to be adequate bone for the implant to go into. Here are some reasons why a patient may not be a good candidate for a dental implant:
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Active Periodontal Disease
- Below the age of 18
- Missing tooth space is too small
- Missing too much jawbone
- Chronic sinus problems or previous sinus surgery (upper back teeth)
- History of grinding teeth
What does placing a dental implant involve?
As with any surgery, a comprehensive medical and dental history is performed. During this initial appointment, current X-rays will be needed as well as impressions of your teeth to make a cast. Once it is determined that you are a candidate for an implant, a surgery appointment is made. The average time to place an implant could be more or less than one hour depending on the patient's situation and the number of implants being placed.
Can I have an implant immediately after my tooth is removed?
Again, this depends on the patient's presentation. Once a tooth is removed the socket often times is filled with a bone graft and time is needed for the bone graft to heal. Once the bone has healed, the implant can be placed. On the other hand, an implant can be placed immediately after a tooth is removed in situations where the surrounding bone is adequate and the socket is not near a vital structure such as a blood vessel or nerve.
Anxious about getting an implant? Read more