About Dental Implants

Dental implants represent state of the art, standard of care in tooth replacement therapy, making it possible to store the mouth as closely as possible to its natural state and eliminating the need to cut down adjacent teeth for bridgework.

Replacing Missing Teeth With Dental Implants

Dental Implants have enhanced the quality of life for countless people throughout the world, improving overall health and well being and restoring the confidence that comes from a natural smile and appearance.

Dental implants are substitute tooth roots. They replace natural tooth roots in areas of the mouth where teeth are missing.  When failing teeth are still present, dental implants can often be placed at the very same time as tooth extraction.  Implants can replace single teeth, multiple teeth, and/or support full-arch restorations, allowing patients the fit, feel, and function of natural teeth, without the inconvenience or discomfort of removable partials.

Implants also play an important role in maintaining dental health. When teeth are missing, the bone that previously supported those teeth melts away, or deteriorates. This process is called bone resorption.

The impact of deteriorating bone from complete tooth loss includes collapsed facial profiles, lost lip support, increased wrinkles around the mouth and the appearance of a pointed nose and chin that are too close together.

Replacing missing teeth with dental implants stops further bone loss and serves to preserve bone, maintaining the integrity of the facial structure and providing a solid foundation for biting and chewing.

Replacing missing teeth with dental implants is a straightforward process involving teamwork between the surgeon who treatment plans and places the implant or implants, and the restorative dentist who fabricates the crown and bridge work supported by the dental implant(s). The implant is placed by the surgeon, a healing period ensues during which time the bone around the implant bonds to the implant, and a crown is then placed by the restorative doctor.

Timing from start to finish varies from patient to patient, but typically involves six to twelve weeks.