Dental Implants

For our patients who are missing teeth, we often recommend dental implants as replacements. Implants are permanent, fixed replacements that look, feel and act like natural teeth. Of all the methods of tooth replacement, dental implants have the most satisfactory results, according to patient feedback and medical studies. Once placement of your implants is complete, you may forget you were ever missing teeth at all.

What Are Implants?

The dental implant is a slender titanium post that is placed in the upper or lower jaw to act as a foundation for a ceramic, replacement tooth. This titanium post substitutes for the root of the tooth you lost. As the bone around the implant heals, it bonds tightly to the grooves in the post. When the bone’s healing is complete, your dentist will complete this procedure by affixing a ceramic replacement tooth to the implant. This tooth will be colored and shaped to match your natural teeth and will, in fact, be indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

How Implants Work

There are actually three parts to your complete replacement tooth:

The titanium implant that is placed in the jaw and allowed to heal
A connector called an “abutment” that is attached to the top of the implant
A ceramic crown to fill in for the missing tooth that will be securely affixed to the abutment.

Your procedure will start by our dentist administering a local anesthetic and then drilling a space for the implant to be placed. Once the implant is securely inserted, the gum will be closed over the area and it will be allowed to heal. We will follow up with you to ensure you are comfortable after this procedure and that the implant is healing well.

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When x-rays reveal that healing is complete, we will schedule an appointment to have the abutment attached securely to the implant. Then your ceramic crown will be manufactured and affixed to the abutment.

In the United States alone, more than three million people have received dental implants. The dental implants that are being placed today have a very high rate of success and patient satisfaction.

Implants can be used to replace individual teeth or to anchor a partial or complete denture to provide greater security and freedom from slippage. Implant-supported dentures can be removable or non-removable. Either way, they return more normal function to the patient who now has more freedom of choice when eating. And dentures will no longer slip or come out when a person talks or laughs.

What Are the Health Hazards of Missing Teeth?

When one or more teeth are lost, the bone that supported those teeth suddenly loses the usual stimulation it received from chewing and biting. The body responds to this lack of stimulation by beginning to break down the bone in this area, a process called “resorption.” As bone mass is lost in the area, this loss can affect the stability of neighboring teeth. Ultimately, this section of your jaw can lose so much mass that it collapses inward. Bone fracture is another possibility.

Teeth begin to shift and the shape of a person’s face can even change. When many teeth are missing, a person will often begin to look older as the lower part of the face begins to shrink. It can become harder for a person to speak clearly. And of course, eating becomes more difficult when teeth are missing. When food can’t be properly chewed, a person may miss out on some of the nutritional value of the food they eat.

Replacing missing teeth with dental implants has proven to prevent resorption because the bone is now receiving the stimulation it is accustomed to. Dental implants help protect the health of your jaw bone as well as the youthful shape of your face.

What Implants Will Do for You

Dental implants look and feel so natural and last so long that you may forget that you were ever missing teeth. You will be able to eat the foods you like, no matter how crunchy or chewy they are. You won’t need to clean under them like you need to do for a bridge.

When a healthy patient receives dental implants from an experienced and thoroughly trained dentist like the ones at SoHo Dental Group, implants can last the rest of the patient’s life. It is essential to care for the health of remaining teeth and gums with regular examinations and cleanings to ensure the longest life possible for your implants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a good candidate for dental implants?

You may be a good candidate if you are in good health and if your teeth and gums are in good condition. If it has not been long since you lost your teeth, you are more likely to have sufficient bone to support implants. The best way to determine your suitability for implants is to contact us for a free consultation complete with examination and x-rays. Look below for more information on this offer.
How long will this procedure take to complete?

Because the titanium implant must bond fully with the bone in your jaw, this procedure is normally completed in steps over a period of time that typically lasts three to six months or longer.
Are implants removable?

No, they are permanently placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw. The ceramic replacement teeth (referred to as crowns) can be replaced if a problem arises.
Is there a metal-free implant?

Not at this time. Titanium is used for implants because it has proven so compatible with human tissue. Knee, shoulder and hip replacements routinely employ titanium parts that bond well with human bone.
What is the success rate of dental implants?

For a person in good overall health who cares for his or her teeth and gums properly, the success rate is 90% or better. Your doctor can discuss any improvements you might need to make in your health to give your implants the very best chance of success.
Why are dental implants better than other methods of tooth replacement?

Patients who have had unsatisfactory experiences with bridges, partial dentures or complete dentures are extremely happy when their dental implants are complete. They can eat just like they did before they lost any teeth. Their replacement teeth are secure and look just like their natural teeth. There is a high rate of success. And care of dental implants is the same as care of your natural teeth. Dental implants are a significant improvement over other methods of tooth replacement for the patient who is a good candidate for this treatment.
Are there any disadvantages to dental implants?

Not every person can utilize this treatment. If a person has lost a significant amount of bone mass in either jaw, there may not be enough bone present to support an implant. However, even this obstacle can be overcome with bone grafting. Bone grafting, a service of ours, is a procedure to strengthen, thicken and build up bone in the jaw bone. First, natural or synthetic bone grafting material is placed in the area of thin bone and then the area is allowed to heal. When the bone is fully healed, an x-ray will show if this area is now ready for a dental implant.