Implant Restoration
Implant Dentistry
Dental implants are one of the best ways to replace a single missing tooth, several missing teeth, or to provide support for a loose fitting denture. A dental implant has three distinct parts that replace the root and crown structure of a missing tooth. Dental implants are made of biocompatible titanium alloys which are accepted well by the body. In fact, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, dental implants enjoy an average 95% success rate. We invite you to scroll through our dental implant education pages to help you learn more about this innovative procedure:
Advantages Offered by Dental Implants
There are many advantages to using dental implants to restore missing dentition. Once placed successfully, implants usually last a lifetime with proper care. The dental implant treatment provides dramatic improvements in function as well as esthetics. This will allow you to eat and speak freely, giving you more confidence and self-esteem in social situations. Although the dental implant placement procedure is a long process requiring several appointments, the longevity and remarkable look and performance of the end result justifies the time and money invested.
Implant-Secured Dentures
We offer a revolutionary solution for patients with loose fitting dentures. Dental implants offer an ideal way to secure a loose fitting denture. This procedure is simple. 2-4 implants are placed in the lower or upper jaw. Then the denture is modified to fit over them while healing. After 2-4 months your dentist attached to the denture to the implants using precise attachments to provide dramatically increased bite strength and retention for chewing and smiling confidently.
Placing & Restoring Dental Implants
Losing a tooth affects more than your appearance. In fact, a single missing tooth may increase the risk of further tooth loss. At Daniel A. Duran DDS, PA, our team offers innovative dental implant procedures. According to research by the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, implants boast a 95% success rate in tooth replacement. Dr. Duran has the knowledge and experience to return your smile to full function and appearance with dental implants.
What are Dental Implants?
Implants are small, screw-like devices that are inserted into the socket of a missing tooth. Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth or provide a secure alternative to traditional dentures. Implants are topped with quality, custom-made crowns and on average can provide up to 25 years of restoration.
Placing Implant Posts
The first step to obtaining implants involves a consultation with Dr. Duran, who will perform a thorough oral examination to assess the state of your dental health. If you are a viable candidate for an implant, they will select the best place to insert the implant. The implant post is made from titanium, a biocompatible metal. Once anchored in the jaw, Dr. Duran will need to wait between four and six months for the area to heal. During this time, your bone tissue will bond with the post in a process known as “osseointegration.”
Restoring Dental Implants
Once the area has healed, you will receive your new restoration. An abutment will be added to the top of the implant. The abutment allows your new crown to be attached to the implant. The crown will be specially crafted using dental porcelain to mimic the translucent appearance of tooth enamel. As a result, your implant will be durable and completely natural looking. If you are receiving dentures, a full set of custom-made teeth will be attached to the implant posts, providing dentures that don’t slip or require adhesives.
How Serious is a Single Missing Tooth?
When an adult loses a permanent tooth, the body responds by suspending the flow of vital nutrients, such as calcium and phosphorus, to the surrounding jawbone. Without these nutrients, the degradation of the bone tissue begins. Loss of bone density increases the risk of further tooth loss. The teeth adjacent to the missing tooth may begin to drift towards the empty socket, as well. Soon, patients can develop unsightly, and even painful, dental misalignment. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that even a single missing tooth can threaten the stability of your smile.
What to Expect from the Single Dental Implant Procedure
A dental implant is composed of a biocompatible titanium post that bonds with the bone tissue in the jaw. A custom-made and esthetically pleasing dental crown acts as the pontic, or replacement tooth. Once we have determined that you make a good candidate for dental implants, the process will include the following steps:
- First, the titanium post is placed into the socket of the missing tooth during the implant surgery.
- Next, Dr. Duran will allow time for osseointegration, or the bonding of the metal to the bone. Waiting time can be anywhere from 0-6 months. You will have a temporary tooth in place during the healing period.
- Once anchored into place, an abutment will be added to the top of the post.
- Finally, a crown will be placed on the abutment, completing your new restoration.
Missing Teeth and Reduced Quality of Life
Missing teeth often negatively affect a patient’s wellbeing. In addition to feeling self-conscious and embarrassed about your smile, missing teeth may affect your overall health. Three ways missing dentition can impact quality of life include:
1. Misalignment and gaps due to missing teeth can make chewing difficult, preventing patients from eating certain foods. The inability to chew properly also means the stomach must work harder to digest your meals, causing the body to absorb fewer nutrients.
2. Missing teeth cause your remaining teeth to experience more stress and strain, increasing the chances of cracked or chipped teeth. Over time, patients may also experience further tooth loss.
3. Missing teeth can negatively impact your social life. As patients begin to feel more uncomfortable with their appearance, they may avoid social situations and interactions with friends and family. This may lead to patients feeling isolated, and potentially, depressed.
What to Expect from the Implant Dentures Procedure
Dental implants allow Dr. Duran to secure a full or partial set of permanent dentures. Patients no longer need to endure messy adhesives or worry about embarrassing slippage when eating or speaking. Implant dentures can return your smile to full function and appearance. In order to place your implant dentures, Dr. Duran will:
- Take impressions and molds of your oral structures will be taken and your jaw will be prepared for the procedure.
- Place between two and eight titanium implant posts into the jaw.
- Allow enough time for the area to heal and the bone tissue to bond with the posts.
- Based on the impressions and molds, a custom-made set of natural looking dentures will be created.When your dentures are completed, the fit will be tested for accuracy and comfort.
- Finally, your dentures will be permanently affixed, restoring your smile.
Dental Implant FAQs
If you’ve done any research on dental implants, then you’ve probably heard about how they’re most dental professionals preferred method of tooth replacement. These tiny, titanium screws are literally implanted into the jaw and can secure anything from a single porcelain crown to a full set of dentures in place. Dental implants can preserve healthy bone structure and provide the most life-like solution to adult tooth loss.
To help their patients learn more about this innovative procedure, Dr. Duran has answered a few of the more common questions they receive about dental implants.
This is generally a patient’s first question and, as with any major dental procedure, candidacy for dental implants varies on a case-by-case basis. However, if you have healthy jawbone tissue, a record of good oral health, and you do not smoke, then you will probably qualify for implants. Pre-existing medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease, lifestyle habits like smoking or poor oral hygiene, and compromised bone health may disqualify you for dental implants. That said, you should always consult with Dr. Duran first, since he can provide an accurate treatment recommendation.
As with all dental prosthetics and restorations, the answer to this question relies heavily on how the patient takes care of their implant. The recognized industry average lifespan for dental implants is about 20-25 years. However, if a person does not care for their new teeth and engages in unhealthy habits like smoking, an implant could fail within a few years. On the other hand, with proper care and a healthy lifestyle, dental implants have been known to last well over 35 years.
Short answer: yes. Dental implants are one of the more costly dental procedures available. However, when you compare the cost of a dental implant that could last 20+ years to the cost of dentures or bridges that might need replacement every few years, the long-term savings become apparent. Also, in the case of implant-secured dentures, the dramatic improvement in quality of life that most patients experience is well worth the cost.