The Basics
Restoring a Solid Foundation
When people lose permanent teeth due to accident, injury, disease or
extraction, dental implants can be a secure, functional replacement option.
They're superior to many other choices because they actually restore comfort
and appearance, yet remain functional for the long run. What's more, they
do not rely on neighboring teeth for support, thus maintaining the integrity
of your overall dental structures. Since they are permanently, surgically
anchored in the jawbone, implants' stability and permanence restore your
ability to speak and eat normally, prevent jaw bone loss, supply support
to facial musculature, and eliminate the inconveniences and discomforts
of ill-fitting prostheses. And after nearly 35 years of use, they have
a 90-95% proven success rate in appropriately chosen cases.
A Tooth Root Substitute
So what's an implant, anyhow? It's simply a small titanium post, inserted
surgically into the jawbone below the gum surface at the location of the
missing tooth. As the bone bonds to the post, it forms a secure foundation
onto which your restoration, or artificial teeth, are then attached and
shaped to match your existing teeth. The number of teeth you're missing
will determine the best kind of restoration for your case: one or two
missing teeth indicates a simple crown restoration; two or more missing
teeth require permanent fixed bridgework; a complete replacement set of
upper or lower teeth requires choosing between a removable vs. a fixed
prosthesis, which in turn determines how many implants per jaw are required.
Limiting factors may include poor general health; inadequate bone structure;
diseased gums; chronic health problems such as clenching, bruxism, or
systemic diseases; and unhealthy habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption.
Implant location also impacts their success: lower front jaw implants
may be up to 95% successful, while side or rear placements only 90% successful.
For more information on various types of implants and the related procedures,
please see the related Patient Library topics above.
The Procedure
Surgical Placement
The implant procedure is relatively straight-forward, with a healing/waiting
period involved between steps. Once we've worked out your specific placement
strategy with your general dentist, we surgically place the tiny screw-shaped
implant(s) into your jawbone. For three to six months, we allow those
to bond with the bone, forming a secure foundation to which we'll then
attach your new tooth or teeth. We often provide a temporary tooth replacement
for you to wear over the healing site during the waiting period.
Abutment Attachment
Depending on your particular situation and the type of implant system
we use, we may perform a second surgery to uncover the implants and attach
extensions or abutments. Abutments are small metal posts that simply complete
the secure foundation onto which we'll then attach your replacement teeth.
Again, we allow a healing period following this surgery, this time only
a couple of weeks. A one-stage implant system doesn't require this step
at all, as the abutment piece is already attached at the time of placement
into the jawbone.
Final Restoration Placement
When your implants have completely bonded to the bone and any attachments
are securely in place, your general dentist will plan and create your
replacement tooth or teeth. If you're replacing a single tooth, this replacement
will be a simple porcelain crown. For replacement of multiple teeth, we'll
typically use an implant-anchored bridge or bridges. And if we're replacing
all of your teeth, we'll use implant-supported full bridges or dentures.
Site Development
Implant success depends directly upon having a sufficient quantity of
healthy bone into which the implant will bond. That's why we specialize
in 'site development': a process by which we actually enhance the amount
and quality of bone available for implant placement. Most often, this
involves either the upper or lower jaw area, or the very back of the upper
jaw, near the sinus area.
Ridge Modification
Periodontal disease, denture wearing, physical defects, injury, or trauma
can all cause deformity in the upper or lower jawbone. To correct this
problem, we perform 'ridge modification', surgically lifting away the
gum from the bony area and filling the area with bone or bone substitute.
We have several grafting material options, which can help regenerate the
lost bone and tissue. Once we've augmented the site sufficiently, we simply
close the area, allow it to heal, and wait until it's ready to accept
the implant---a time period which can be up to 12 months, depending upon
your particular situation.
Sinus Augmentation
Because the upper back jaw is so close to the sinus area, it often has
insufficient bone quantity for implant placement…especially if you've
lost teeth or had periodontal disease in that area. To correct this, we
surgically raise the sinus floor and develop bone in the area for implant
placement. Commonly, this involves surgically exposing the bone, cutting
a small circle out, lifting the bony piece into the sinus cavity, and
filling the resulting space with bone graft material. After we close the
incision, we allow healing and bone regeneration to take place for about
four to twelve months. If bone loss is minimal, we may even be able to
place your implants at the same time as performing the augmentation.
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