Dental Implants

Dental implants are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which 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 they can smile with confidence.

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

What are Dental Implants?

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

Implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.

The Surgical Procedure

For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, one or more implants are placed within your jawbone depending on your specific needs. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. Initially, you will leave out your full denture to allow the gums to heal over the implants (usually 3-4 weeks). After that you should be able to wear your dentures and eat a soft diet during this time. For replacement of a single tooth, provisions are made to wear a “flipper” over the healing implant so you are left with a “toothless” look during any of the healing phase. In these cases it is important to chew on your natural teeth and not on the implant while it is anchoring in the bone.

After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Dr. Drew G. Smith will uncover the implants and attach small posts, which will act as anchors for the artificial teeth. These posts protrude through the gums. Your general dentist will take over and make your new teeth. When the artificial teeth are placed, these posts will be covered by the final crown. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months. Every attempt is made to minimize any disruption in normal daily life for the patient during the entire healing phase.

Surgical Advances

Using the most recent advances in dental implant technology, Dr. Drew G. Smith is able to place single stage implants. These implants do not require a second procedure to uncover them but do require a minimum of four months of healing time before placing artificial teeth on them. There are even situations where the implants can be placed at the same time as a tooth extraction further minimizing the number of surgical procedures. Advances in dental implant technology have made it possible in select cases, to extract teeth, and place implants with crowns at one visit. This process, called “immediate loading”, greatly simplifies the surgical process. Every patient’s case is treated on an individual basis depending on their needs and desires and the condition of their jawbones.

Who actually performs the implant placement?

Implants are a team effort between an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and a Restorative Dentist. While Dr. Smith performs the actual implant surgery, and initial tooth extractions and bone grafting if necessary, the restorative dentist (your dentist) fits and makes the permanent prosthesis. Your dentist will also make any temporary prosthesis needed during the implant process.

What types of prostheses are available?

A removable prosthesis (full denture) can be made far more secure by attaching it to several implants anchored in the jawbone. A single prosthesis (fixed crown) is used to replace one missing tooth – each prosthetic tooth attaches to its own implant. A partial prosthesis (fixed bridge) can replace two or more adjacent teeth and may require only two or three implants. A complete dental prosthesis (fixed detachable bridge) replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. It is screwed to multiple implants. The number of implants varies depending upon which type of complete prosthesis (removable or fixed) is recommended. A removable prosthesis (over denture) attaches to a bar or ball in socket attachments, whereas a fixed one is permanent and removable only by the dentist.

Dr. Drew G. Smith performs in-office implant surgery in a hospital-style operating suite, thus optimizing the level of sterility. Inpatient hospital implant surgery is for patients who have special medical or anesthetic needs or for those who need extensive bone grafting from the jaw, hip or tibia.

Why dental implants?

Once you learn about dental implants, you finally realize there is a way to improve you life. When you lose several teeth – whether it’s a new situation or something you have lived with for years – chances are you have never become fully accustomed to losing such a vital part of yourself.

Dental implants can be your doorway to renewed self-confidence and peace of mind.

A Swedish scientist and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark, developed this concept for oral rehabilitation more than thirty-five years ago. With his pioneering research, Dr. Branemark opened the door to a lifetime of renewed comfort and self-confidence for millions of individuals facing the frustration and embarrassment of tooth loss.

Why would you select dental implants over more traditional types of restorations?

Placement of a fixed bridge to replace one or more adjacent missing teeth requires grinding down the adjacent teeth. If the adjacent teeth are already crowned, it means removing perfectly good fixed prosthetic teeth and replacing them with new crowns. Once the fixed bridge is in place it requires threading the dental floss underneath it to properly clean it every day for the rest of your life. Failure to maintain good oral hygiene with this flossing under the bridge will result in decay of the adjacent abutment teeth and the eventual failure of the bridge. By placing teeth on an implant there is no need to grind down adjacent teeth or remove existing crowns. Equally important is the ability to floss normally just like flossing between natural individual teeth. A dental implant is not subject to dental decay and will never need a root canal. Implants are made of strong titanium and are not subject to fracture like an old filling or a weakened tooth after a root canal. The only enemy of dental implants is gum disease caused by poor hygiene. The same efforts to clean natural teeth to prevent gum disease must be followed to care for dental implants.

Are you a candidate for implants?

If you are considering implants, your mouth must be examined thoroughly and your medical and dental history reviewed. If you mouth is not ideal for implants, ways of improving outcome, such as bone grafting, may be recommended. Nicotine products and dental implants do not mix. There is a noted increase in implant failures in people who smoke or use chewing tobacco. The implant companies will not honor the replacement warranties associated with dental implants exposed to nicotine due to this well documented failure rate of dental implants in patients who smoke and chew tobacco.

What type of anesthesia is used?

The majority of dental implants and Bone graft procedures can be performed in the office under local anesthesia, with or without IV anesthesia.

Do Implants need special care?

Once the implants are in place, they will serve you well for many years if you take care of them and keep your mouth healthy. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and keeping regular appointments with your dental specialists. Again, it is important to stress the higher incidence of implant failure in people who smoke or chew tobacco. If you are considering dental implants, you need to be committed to eliminating the use of any nicotine products.