Dental implants are surgical-grade root devices that support permanent tooth prosthetics that are manufactured to last a lifetime. These artificial roots are anchored in the bone beneath the gums where they become fused into the jaw. A crown is mounted atop the implant for a long-lasting and natural looking smile. Many dentists and patients prefer dental implants because they offer the same function as natural teeth and also help prevent bone atrophy in the jaw. Dental implants may be used to replace a single missing or damaged tooth or to restore an entire smile.
Shelburne Implant Dentistry
Implants for Missing Teeth or Loose Dentures
What are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
- Dental implants support replacement teeth similarly to the way a tooth root supports natural teeth.
- Dental implants can be used to replace a single lost tooth or many missing teeth.
- They provide an alternative to ill-fitting dentures which wobble, click, slip and slide around the mouth.
- Dental implants can restore your chewing efficiency so you can eat most foods with confidence and without pain.
- Dental Implants can prevent embarrassment about missing teeth, spaces, and ill-fitting dentures.
- You’ll be able to speak with confidence and enjoy your favorite foods.
- Implants are not subject to cavities or temperature sensitivity.
- Implants eliminate the need to compromise the adjacent teeth, in comparison to a conventional bridge which requires the slight removal of tooth structure. (The teeth are required to be shaved or ground down slightly).
Helping to restore the look and feel of natural teeth
Standard Diameter Implant Overdentures “snap on denture’
An implant overdenture is a standard denture that is held in place by a few implants and clips. Denture clips and attachments are designed to allow the denture to ‘snap’ into place, holding it against the forces that would cause the denture to move, such as the tongue or sticky foods.
Attachments have two pieces. The top portion is held inside of the denture and is inserted and removed when the denture is taken in and out. The bottom portion is held inside the implant.
Standard implant sizes are for patients who have jawbone structure to accommodate an implant that’s greater than 3.0mm in diameter. Standard surgery involves placing 2-4 implants in the mandible and 4-6 implants in the maxilla.
For patients with jawbone loss, smaller implants have been designed to accommodate these patients.
Narrow Diameter Implant Overdenture
Narrow implants have been designed for patients who have significant jaw bone shrinkage. These implants are usually under 3.0 mm in diameter and are usually placed with minimally invasive surgical techniques. These implants usually cause less irritation to the gums and tissues during the healing process. Narrow implants are also called ‘mini implants’ because of their narrow size. These implants are used for denture stabilization. This is a great option for the elderly who want to stabilize their denture.
Fixed Implant Bridge
Some patients want teeth that do not come out of the mouth. They are motivated to have something non-removable. This prosthesis is known as a fixed implant bridge and is totally supported by implants, not resting on gum tissues and completely immobile.
Nowadays, we utilize four tilted implants known as the NeoArch. This results in a full set of teeth firmly attached and supported by dental implants that only the implant dentist can remove.
Did you know…
that approximately 30 million people live with no natural teeth in one or both jaws? But more and more dental patients are opting for dental implants as a means of tooth replacement. The American Academy of Implant Dentistry reports that 3 million people currently have dental implants – a number that is rapidly growing by about 500,000 per year. Modern titanium implants were first developed in the 1950s, but archeologists have determined that ancient Egyptians and Mayans were the first cultures to implant artificial teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions
An Implant is an artificial replacement for the root of a tooth. Dental implants are used as anchors to hold individual crowns for single tooth replacement, as part of a bridge to replace multiple missing teeth, as part of multiple bridges to replace all the teeth, or as anchors for denture attachments, clips, bars and other prostheses.
Dental implants are currently the very best method for replacing missing teeth. The treatment has been around for over 50 years and is well proven to be the most successful long-term solution.
The amount of discomfort you will have depends on the procedure you are having done. Placing a single dental implant into a healed site is much less uncomfortable than having the tooth removed. In general, people have very little discomfort after the procedure.
Dental implants are not teeth. They don’t decay. They don’t need root canal treatment. They don’t feel hot, cold or sweets. An implant is basically a titanium screw anchor holding up a prosthesis. Your gums must maintain a seal around this prosthesis in order to keep oral bacteria from getting under the gums and causing an infection called peri-implantitis. It is estimated that up to 40% of implants will develop peri-implantitis which is the implant version of periodontal disease or periodontitis.
Just like with teeth you can develop recession of the gums and loss of attachment around an implant. This may necessitate further treatment such as gum grafting or other periodontal treatments. Proper oral hygiene and regular professional cleanings are required just like with teeth.
Smoking, osteoporosis, diabetes and other medical conditions can cause and accelerate peri-implantitis. So will your implants last a lifetime? Maybe. No one can guarantee that.
Each patient’s treatment needs are different and unique, your treatment coordinator will discuss the cost of your individual dental treatment plan. The cost of treatment with most Implants is comparable to other restorations involving fixed bridgework.
In our office, we love providing our patients with excellent care while keeping costs affordable for them. We offer dental implant treatment including surgical placement and crown placement for well below what most dental offices will charge. This is because we have efficient protocols in place that reduce costs to our patients.
You may qualify for dental implants if you have missing, broken or severely decayed teeth and are in relatively good overall health. The only way of determining your eligibility for implants is to consult with an oral care provider to identify whether you have adequate bone support and healthy gums that will support the new tooth structure.
The placement of dental implants is a multi-step process that typically takes between 6 and 9 months to complete. It begins with a surgical procedure during which a titanium rod is placed where a previous natural tooth root once was. The gums are sutured shut over the implant, where is will stay for several months while it heals and begins fusing with the surrounding bone. Due to the nature of implant placement and its average procedure time of between 1 and 2 hours, you’ll be sedated and/or anesthetized for the duration of the treatment. At the conclusion of the healing period, you’ll return to be fitted for permanent crowns and have them placed.
It is normal to experience some discomfort, including bruising and swelling following a dental implant procedure. However, inflammation and pain may be managed with over-the-counter medications, hydrocodone, or codeine. You may be asked to eat only soft foods for approximately 2 weeks until the surgical site heals.
