Dental Implants

Dental implants are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. Patients with dental implants can smile with confidence.

What Are Dental Implants?

The implants themselves are tiny titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Small posts that protrude through the gums are then attached to the implant. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth.

Who Can Have Implants ?

Implants are possible for people of all ages and may solve very different problems for very diverse patients. Consider the young athlete who loses a front tooth in a sporting event and the older person who is having trouble holding a lower denture in place. Both are prime candidates for implants.

The two main priorities for successful implantation are adequate healthy bone in the intended area and adequate general health to support healing of the implant site and successful acceptance of the implant. At this time, both of these factors may be assisted by advances that have been made in modern medicine and surgery. People with significant medical histories whose conditions are being successfully managed are often excellent candidates for implant surgery. In the final analysis, all decisions about any particular patient can only be made after full consultation involving proper examination and X-Rays and coordination with medical practitioners when necessary.

In cases where insufficient bone exists, modern grafting techniques often make it possible to develop adequate support for intended implants. Further information on this subject may be found in the section on bone grafting.

In order to find out if you may be a candidate for implants and to get answers to questions that you may have about your particular case, please call 973-376-1144 to arrange for a consultation.

What’s Involved In Implant Surgery

Simply stated, implant placement is just the opposite of tooth removal. Unlike tooth removal, the intended site is never in pain or infected at the time of placement. This, along with the fact that the procedure is very carefully controlled, makes most dental implant surgery more comfortable than most tooth removal.

Almost all cases are done by numbing the area with local anesthesia only. For those patients who require sedation, that service is available based on medical conditions and after a full discussion with the doctor. In either instance the procedure is completely painless. The time that it takes to place implants varies according to the location and number of implants to be placed. In general, one implant placed in an uncomplicated site takes less than one hour from start to finish.

At the completion of implant placement, the implant (often referred to as a fixture) is topped with a small screw-in cover that is close to the gum level and does not present any irritation or annoyance. This is how the implant is left for a period of three to four months. The time is dependent upon the firmness of the bone in which the fixture is placed. During that time, periodic visits will be scheduled to monitor the fixture site. At the end of that period the implant will be tested for firmness and if satisfactory, the patient will return to the treating dentist to have the tooth or teeth made. The rate of successful acceptance of implants is well above ninety percent.

Dental Implant Overview

For a brief narrated overview of the dental implant process, please click the image below. It will launch our flash educational MiniModule in a separate window that may answer some of your questions about dental implants.

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