Implant Overview

Implants are often the preferred way to  replace missing, decayed or weak teeth that they cannot be repaired.    They are especially useful to replace posterior (back) teeth.   Often there are no other back teeth available to make a bridge.  Without implants, people missing back teeth would have had to have some type of removable denture.  Now, people have a choice to place implants and really place teeth that look and feel very natural.  Hundreds of thousands of patients have dental implants placed each year.
  
Successful implant placement begins with a through examination.   Patients must be healthy.  There must be adequate bone to place the implant or the bone must be rebuilt (grafted).    Implants must be placed in the correct position and at the correct angle to allow us to place a natural crown.   In most cases, it is recommended that  the implant heal and attach to the bone (osseointregration) several months before we place a crown, bridge or denture that will attach to it. When the crown is placed, it will feel like a crown on a natural tooth.

 IMPLANTS USED TO REPLACE A SINGLE MISSING TOOTH

Missing front tooth to be replaced          Permanent crown cemented to post

with an implant

IMPLANTS USED TO REPLACE MULTIPLE MISSING TEETH

                    Multiple implants used to replace back teeth 

IMPLANTS USED TO REPLACE ALL TEETH

                This is cemented in place and feels like natural teeth,
                             (in place of a removable denture)
 

 IMPLANTS USED TO STABILIZE A DENTURE

Two implants placed, securing a             Four implants supporting a bar upon

denture with O-rings                            which the denture clips. This is a

                                                         very secure denture when seated.

BENEFITS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS
 
Implants help to preserve the jawbone after teeth are lost.   When the bone is preserved we do not see the loss of support to the lips and lower face that makes a person appear much older. 

Implants allow us to place fixed (cemented) restorations and crowns that feel and function much more like your own teeth.  Most patients tell me that they feel more natural than a removable denture.  This helps you to eat and speak similar to the way you did before your teeth were lost.