Implants

Dental Implants-Dental implants provide several advantages over other teeth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning like natural teeth, implants replace teeth without support from adjacent natural teeth.

Implant Supported bridge replaces four missing teeth

Left: Patient wearing uncomfortable removable prosthesis.
Middle:Patient without removable prosthesis. Arrows indicate fractured teeth that were extracted to allow placement of implants to support the new bridge.
Right:Patient with new permanent bridge with some soft and hard tissue grafting.

Left: X-ray of implant that replaced extracted fractured teeth as illustrated by the two arrows above (right side of mouth).
Right: X-ray of additional work done (left side of mouth).

This case demonstrates immediate implant placement and restoration.

Usually, implants, which looks like cylinders, are placed in 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.

Sometimes a second step of the procedure is necessary to uncover the implants and attach extensions. These small metal posts, called abutments, complete the foundation on which your new teeth will be placed.

Finally, replacement teeth, or bridges, will be created for you by your dentist and attached to the abutments.

Dental Facts Over the last ten years, the proportion of people age 60 who've lost all their teeth has decreased from 33% to 25%.