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. A person who has lost teeth may regain the ability to function more effectively, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. Patients with dental implants can smile with confidence.
Dental implants are best described as a titanium root replacement. Dental implants are surgically inserted into the jaw bone in the area of the missing tooth/teeth and serve as the foundation on which your dentist can reconstruct your missing tooth/teeth.
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. In addition, special attachments can be utilized that allow patients with dentures to attach or snap their denture onto the implants and substantially increase the stability of their denture.
Implants also help preserve facial structure and esthetics, preventing bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.
Many patients assume that they may not be a candidate based on age or that teeth have been missing for a long time. During an implant consult, our doctor performs a complete exam and cone beam CT scan. She is able to digitally perform surgery and assess the available bone and soft tissue for implants. Most patients have multiple implant options available to them and even patients that have been in dentures for years are usually good candidates. There are a few contra-indications to dental implants and also a few risk factors that our doctor will address if applicable, but the vast majority of our patients undergo successful implant teeth replacement.
As long as it takes to do it right! Some cases finish quick and some take time to achieve excellent results. Every patient is unique and our doctors will review the timeline with you during your consultation. If it’s a single tooth implant replacement, it may be completed all in one surgery or it could be several steps staged over months. Sometimes, a patient needs bone grafting prior to implants so the timeline really is customized to the patient’s anatomy and goals. There is a push for speed with implant therapy but sometimes “slow and steady wins the race”. Our doctor is trained in all techniques and will recommend the best protocol for you.
Implants in general have an unparalleled success rates when evaluated against other medical implant devices. The literature routinely reports success rates in the upper nineties and our doctor exceed the research proven benchmarks of success, both in the short and long term.
This is probably the number one question we get during implant consultations. The answer is no, there is no age contraindication to dental implant replacement of teeth. Our doctor has treated patients well into their nineties with implants and research has shown that tooth replacement is correlated with longer lifespan.
As with most products, there is a difference in quality. Our doctor only uses the best implant manufacturers backed by decades of science. There are a lot of tricks used to advertise low cost implants including offering inferior implant parts or not including necessary components. Long term success comes with doing it the right way every time.
Implant and bone grafting surgery have steep learning curves requiring years of training to master. While most patients say their implant surgery was easy, it is still an implantable device that if not done properly, can yield years of trouble and cost. Vet your implant surgeons appropriately. Are they board certified in a surgical specialty? How many cases have they successfully treated? Are they trained to offer all anesthetic options for comfort?
Medallion Periodontics provides exceptional periodontal care to the Sarasota community.
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