Dental Implants

Lansing, Michigan

Dental implants are often a reliable, comfortable and cost effective option.

An ancient art refined, the use of dental implants is becoming routine. With over 3 million successful restorations, the procedure itself is quite easy and predictable. Considering the alternatives, implant dentistry can be a conservative option. Find out how implant tooth replacement can improve your quality of life.

What are Dental Implants and what can they do for me?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to hold a replacement crown or bridge in place. The treatment can be more conservative than traditional bridgework, since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support. Dental implants restorations are so natural-looking and feeling that you may forget you ever lost a tooth. Dental implants can be the best solution to the problem of missing teeth. Since dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they can prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompanies bridgework and dentures. No one will ever know that you have a replacement tooth. Some of the benefits are:

Cost effective: Because only one tooth is replaced rather than the three teeth of a bridge, dental implant tooth replacement can actually cost less than the traditional bridgework.

Tooth-saving: Dental implants do not sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. Your own teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your oral health!

Comfort: Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence. They are secure and messy pastes and glues.

Reliable: the success rate for dental implants is highly predictable. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement.

Am I a candidate for dental implants?

The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant. The best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease. Smoking is detrimental to healing but is not an absolute reason for eliminating a patient as a candidate. Dental implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Your dentist can determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure.

What is treatment like?

Depending on your specific condition and the type of implant chosen, your dentist will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs. The total time for treatment can range anywhere between six weeks to over a year depending on the complexity of treatment. It will be important for you to work as a team with your dentist to reach your treatment goals.

What can I expect after?

As you know, your own teeth require conscientious at-home oral care and regular dental visits. Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing still apply!

Dental Implants can replace a single tooth, many teeth or all teeth. If the bone is initially insufficient, then grafting procedures may be utilized.

If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and one crown can replace it. The dental implant replaces the root and the attached crown replaces the visible tooth. In addition to looking and functioning like a natural tooth, a dental implant replaces a single tooth without sacrificing the health of neighboring teeth. The other common treatment for the loss of a single tooth, a tooth-supported fixed bridge, requires that adjacent teeth be ground down to support the cemented bridge. With a bridge, some of the bone that previously surrounded the tooth can begin to resorb (deteriorate).Because a dental implant will replace your tooth root, the bone is better preserved. Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact. In the long term, a single implant can be more esthetic and easier to keep clean than a bridge. The stresses on the implant actually strengthen the surrounding bone. This is analogous to what happens to bone and muscle during weight training. Instead of bone atropy the bone becomes denser and does not resorb .Bridges need tricky flossing devices to thread the floss in between the anchoring teeth. A single implant crown can be cleaned with the same floss used on natural teeth. Gums can recede around a bridge, leaving a visible defect when the metal base or collar of the bridge becomes exposed. Resorbed bone beneath the bridge can lead to an unattractive smile. The cement holding the bridge in place can wash out, allowing bacteria to decay the teeth that anchor the bridge.

Replacing All of Your Teeth

If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant supported full bridge or full denture can replace them. Dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots. Dental implants provide several advantages over other teeth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning like natural teeth, implant-supported full bridges or dentures are designed to be long lasting. Implant supported full bridges and dentures also are more comfortable and stable than conventional dentures, allowing you to retain a more natural biting and chewing capacity. In addition, because implant-supported full bridges and dentures will replace some of your tooth roots, your bone is better preserved. With conventional dentures, the bone that previously surrounded the tooth roots begins to resorb (deteriorate). Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact. In the long term, implants can be more esthetic and easier to maintain than conventional dentures. The loss of bone that accompanies conventional dentures leads to recession of the jawbone and a collapsed, unattractive smile. Conventional dentures sometimes make it difficult to eat certain foods.

How will the implants be placed?

First, implants, which look like screws or cylinders, are placed into your jaw. Over the next two to six months, the implants and the bone are allowed to bond together to form anchors. During this time, a temporary teeth replacement option can be worn over the implant sites. Often, a second step of the procedure is necessary to uncover the implants and attach extensions. These small metal posts, called abutments, along with various connecting devices that allow multiple crowns to attach to the implants, complete the foundation on which your new teeth will be placed. Your gums will be allowed to heal for a couple of weeks following this procedure. There are some implant systems (one-stage) that do not require this second step. These systems use an implant which already has the extension piece attached. Your dentist will advise you on which system is best for you. Depending upon the number of implants placed, the connecting device that will hold your new teeth can be tightened down on the implant, or it may be clipped to a bar or a round ball anchor to which a denture snaps on and off. Finally, full bridges or full dentures will be created for you and attached to your implants or the connecting device. After a short time, you will experience restored confidence in your smile and your ability to chew and speak.

Other Procedures

Ridge Modification

A key to implant success is the amount and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. Deformities in the upper or lower jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which to place dental implants. This defect may have been caused by periodontal disease, wearing dentures, developmental defects, injury or trauma. Not only does this deformity cause problems in placing the implant, it can also cause an unattractive indentation in the jaw line near the missing teeth that may be difficult to clean and maintain. To correct the problem, the gum is lifted away from the ridge to expose the bony defect. The defect is then filled with bone or bone substitutes to build up the ridge. Your dentist can tell you about your options for graft materials, which can help to regenerate lost bone and tissue. Finally, the incision is closed and healing is allowed to take place. Depending on your individual needs, the bone usually will be allowed to develop for about four to twelve months before implants can be placed. In some cases, the implant can be placed at the same time the ridge is modified. Ridge modification has been shown to greatly improve appearance and increase your chances for successful implants that can last for years to come. Ridge modification can enhance your restorative success both esthetically and functionally.

Sinus Augmentation

A key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. The upper back jaw has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants due to insufficient bone quantity and quality and the close proximity to the sinus. If you've lost bone in that area due to reasons such as periodontal disease or tooth loss, you may be left without enough bone to place implants. Sinus augmentation can help correct this problem by raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants. Several techniques can be used to raise the sinus and allow for new none to form. In one common technique, an incision is made to expose the bone. Then a small circle is cut into the bone. This bony piece is lifted into the sinus cavity, much like a trap door, and the space underneath is filled with bone graft material. Your dentist can explain your options for graft materials, which can regenerate lost bone and tissue. Finally, the incision is closed and healing is allowed to take place. Depending on your individual needs, the bone usually will be allowed to develop for about four to twelve months before implants can be placed. After the implants are placed, an additional healing period is required. In some cases, the implant can be placed at the same time the sinus is augmented. Sinus augmentation has been shown to greatly increase your chances for successful implants that can last for years to come. Many patients experience minimal discomfort during this procedure.