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Category: Cosmetic Dentistry

18Sep

Are you missing a permanent tooth? Do you have gaps in your smile? Do you wear dentures and experience some of the following problems:

  • Slipping and clicking while talking?
  • Irritation and pain when you chew?
  • Fear of eating in public?
  • Feeling or looking older than your age?

You may be a candidate for dental implants, an alternative to missing teeth. Implant dentistry uses your jaw to hold a tooth replacement or bridge, rather than anchoring it to a healthy, neighboring tooth. The results are natural-looking teeth implants that look, feel and function as your own!

Healthy teeth are a gift we often take for granted. Losing one or more teeth impacts our smile, our confidence, and our enjoyment of our favorite foods. Dental implants are technology’s way of taking us a step closer to a tooth replacement that feels secure and looks like our own.

What Is Involved in Getting Dental Implants?

Implants take several steps, but you will be able to continue your regular professional and social routines. Initially, the dentist will evaluate your mouth, teeth and jaw to determine whether dental implants are a good option for you.

For most patients, there are two surgical procedures involved. First, in the actual tooth implant placement, the implants are surgically inserted by an implant dentist into or atop the jawbone. Over the next three to six months, the implants are left alone, so that the anchor can bond to the bone, creating a strong foundation for the teeth to come.

Second, the new tooth or teeth are created and attached to the anchored dental implant. You now have teeth implants that might as well be your own: they look natural, are comfortable, and withstand the rigors of grinding and chewing. No one will know that your tooth has an artificial, man-made tooth implant root.

Dental Implants Are Not for Everyone

It’s true. Your current dental health will influence whether you’re a good candidate for a dental implants. Some medical conditions may interfere with normal healing, such as diabetes or heart problems. Finally, the supporting bone in your jaw must be healthy; if you clench your jaw or grind your teeth, the success rate for your dental implants will drop. Less success also is noted in smokers.

A complete examination and X-rays by your dentist will determine if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants. You must also commit to a strict schedule of flossing, brushing, rinsing, and check-ups to keep them healthy.

Proven Technology for a New Quality of Life

Technology gets the credit for this exciting alternative to missing teeth, dentures and bridges. Researchers noticed in the 1950s that titanium and some other materials formed a strong bond to the bone. That gave rise to the use of dental implants. Today, there are patients who have had dental implants for more than 25 years. Hundreds of thousands of tooth implants have been inserted, boasting more than a 90% success rate! Metal joint implants used in other parts of the body were actually developed from the success of dental implants.

It has been around for decades and people know it works. Schedule an evaluation with your dentist to determine if dental implants are right for you. Discover how they can improve your quality of life and put a genuine smile on your face.

By Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO

18Sep

If you have lost a tooth, it is likely that one of your options is to replace it with a dental implant. Before you decide a course of action, you should consider asking your implant dentist some simple questions:

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a titanium metal replacement for a root of a tooth that is surgically implanted in the jawbone by a specially trained implant dentist or oral surgeon. As the body heals for approximately two to six months after the surgery, the bone around the implant fuses to the implant through a process called osseointegration. After the healing phase is complete, the implants are used to anchor crowns, bridges, or dentures. Dental implants are the most natural replacement for a missing tooth.

What does the implant dentist do?

The process should begin with a thorough evaluation of the patient’s medical and dental history, and a full clinical examination of the entire mouth and missing tooth area by your dentist. The clinical exam should also include specific X-rays. After assessing the patient, a comprehensive treatment plan can be devised. From that point, implants are surgically placed in the jawbone under local anesthesia. The length of the healing time is based on the quality and quantity of bone, as well as the type of implant placed. After adequate healing is allowed to occur, the implant can be used to support a crown, bridge, or denture.

What happens if the dental implant fails to fuse to the jawbone?

If an implant fails to bond to bone, another implant can immediately be put in its place, usually of a slightly larger diameter. In situations where another implant cannot be immediately placed, the area is allowed to heal for a few months and then another one can be put in the same place.

How many implants should be placed?

This is a question that should be determined during the treatment plan. A good rule-of-thumb is to place one implant for each tooth replaced. Other decisive factors for the number of dental implants needed for success is the quality and quantity of the patient’s bone. Equally as important are the existing anatomy of the bone and the financial resources of the patient.

Placing enough implants to restore teeth is vitally important to the long-term success of the restoration. Simply stated, the most costly mistake is to have an implant fail because not enough implants are placed to support the teeth. If the number of implants is limited due to financial constraints of the patient, then the implant treatment should be avoided or the type of restoration must be altered.

When you are more knowledgeable about your implant treatment, you will be able to have more input to give your dentist and better your chances of a successful treatment outcome.

By Benjamin O. Watkins, III, DDS

18Sep

In spite of the tremendous reduction in dental cavities in the past 20 years, a missing tooth or teeth remain a problem in the adult population. The sheer numbers of tooth loss in people over 35 indicate many of us could benefit from dental implants.

Tooth implants have been part of many dentist practices for over 20 years. The success rate has been, and continues to be, over 95 percent.

Many people are now considering using implants to replace one tooth, or all their missing teeth. Many adults with missing teeth have partial or complete dentures and bridges, and they work fine.

However, conventional prostheses may not do for everyone – the patient may have trouble with a removable denture or is otherwise unable to chew. These are the very people who could stand to benefit most from as a few as two teeth implants.

How does the dental implant procedure work?

A root-form tooth implant is inserted into the upper or lower jawbone. After a healing period of a few months, posts are attached to each implant. Then a fixed bridge or overdenture is placed – the business end of the implant. Only the tooth part is visible.

For certain people, a single tooth replacement to bridge a gap is called for. Another patient might want to stabilize a lower denture.

The procedure is no more uncomfortable to the patient than a simple tooth extraction.

The success of the new dental implants is due to osseointegration, the meshing of implant and bone. The properties of the implant are such that a chemical and mechanical bond is formed. The jawbone actually grows into the implant. This contributes to the stability and comfort of the implant – and a patient rediscovering the joys of steak and fresh apples.

Give your dental implant dentist a call. Or find one using our search form above. Tooth implants might work for you.

18Sep

Dental implantology has made huge strides in just the past 20 years – but the concept is anything but new.

The idea of a tooth replacement anchored permanently into the jaw has been around since antiquity. Archeologists know the ancient Egyptians tried to implant precious stones into the jawbone where teeth were lost. Half a world away, Mayan ruins in Mexico turned up jawbones with tooth implants carved from seashells.

Tooth loss is one of humankind’s most common afflictions – and permanent replacement one of dentistry‘s fondest dreams. If you have a missing tooth or teeth, you probably understand why.

Fast-forward now from the Third Dynasty to today’s dental research labs. Three major research advances – all in the past 15 years – combined to make dental implants practical and workable in a wide range of patients.

Tooth implants substitute the rooting of 32 individual teeth with a few metal anchor posts onto which snaps either an overdenture or a fixed bridge. Investigators found that posts made of the metal titanium were strong, non-toxic over years in the mouth, and biologically compatible.

The next critical discovery was the concept of “osseointegration” – in which the healing jawbone actually grows into the dental implant post. This union is capable of sealing harmful bacteria out of the bone tissue.

Credit the computer revolution with the final critical breakthrough: Computerized Tomography (CT) can be used to develop a model of the jawbone’s surface. This eliminates the need for preliminary surgery required to make impressions of the jawbone. For certain patients CT imaging can make tooth implant surgery a one-step procedure.

Teeth implants aren’t for everybody. But research technicians have expanded its potential beyond the dreams of – well, certainly Ramses II.

18Sep

Q. What is a dental implant?

A. A dental implant is a permanent artificial tooth replacement.

Q. Who should you see about getting dental implant surgery?

A. When getting a dental implant, you should select a dentist or dental team with in-depth knowledge and prior experience with all aspects of the treatment. It is important to know that dental implant treatment consists of two components: a surgical phase and a restorative phase.

Traditionally, a dental surgeon, like an oral surgeon or a periodontist, performs the dental implant surgery. A general dentist, or prosthodontist and laboratory technician perform the restorative component. However, as implant dentistry has become more sophisticated, sometimes a dentist who specializes in restorative dentistry conducts the entire procedure.

Q. How long has dental implant technology been available and what is the success rate?

A. The technology has been around for decades. In fact, some patients have had dental implants for more than 40 years. Hundreds of thousands of dental implants have been inserted with more than a 90% success rate. All other metal implants in the body (including hips and knees) are the result of the dental implant technology.

Q. Are there different types of dental implants?

A. Yes, several types are available. The American Dental Association considers both the endosteal and the subperiosteal implants to be acceptable. An important factor for selection is to determine whether your jawbone can adequately support the implant. Most dental implants placed today are endosteal root form fixtures (similar to a man-made tooth root).

Q. Is dental implant surgery available for a single missing tooth?

A. In the case of a single missing tooth, dental implant surgery is used to place a dental implant in the jawbone area of the missing tooth. The dental implant will serve as a replacement for a tooth root and an individual crown. The total apparatus is referred to as a single-tooth implant crown. Once in place, the dental implant crown will look, feel, and function like a natural tooth. They are cleaned and flossed just like natural teeth, and best of all, they do not require any special tools to clean around them like bridges. Although a dental implant will not decay, they require impeccable oral hygiene.

18Sep

The endosseous system of dental implants, currently the most popular system used in dentistry today, has been utilized to replace missing teeth for over thirty years. Dental implants are very successful. Dental implants are made of titanium, an inert metal that bonds with the bone and forms a very tight union. Dental implants have a 90% to 95% success rate and once placed and restored, can last for an indefinite amount of time.

Although rare, dental implant complications do occur. If the bond between the dental implant and the bone breaks, or the dental implant itself breaks, it may have to be removed. If so, it may be possible to replace the failed dental implant, either at the same time or after doing a bone grafting procedure.

There are two main reasons for dental implant complications are:

  1. Infection of the implant surface can result in disintegration of the bond between the implant and the bone. Eventually, the dental implant may have to be removed. To avoid infection at the time of dental implant placement, sterile operating techniques are recommended and most implant surgeons prescribe antibiotics after surgical implant placement.
    The oral bacteria that causes periodontal disease can also affect implants. Around implants, this infection is called peri-implantitis. Just as with the natural teeth, meticulous oral hygiene that includes brushing and flossing, combined with periodic professional cleanings are critical to prevent peri-implantitis.
  2. Excessive loading: If the forces on the dental implants are too strong or not in the right direction, the implant components can break or the bond between the implant and the bone can disintegrate. The bite on an dental implant has to be properly designed.

There are certain risk factors that may increase the risk of dental implant complications. Smoking, for example, halves the success rate of dental implants and is the number one risk factor for dental implant complications.

Also, persons that have a diminished healing ability such as people with uncontrolled diabetes may have an increased risk for dental implant complications. To reduce the risk of dental implant complications, and to prevent serious health complications from surgery, a thorough medical evaluation is required before dental implant treatment.

To reduce the risk of dental implant complications, make sure that the dentist that places the dental implants and the one that restores the dental crown on the dental implant have plenty of experience with dental implant procedures.

The success of dental implant treatment is dependent on the expertise of the dental team and the patient’s ability to control plaque. With proper dental implant design and follow-up maintenance, you could enjoy the benefits of dental implant treatment for a lifetime.

By Laura Minsk, DMD

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