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Dental implants are small titanium cylinders
which are surgically placed into the jawbone. These can then be used
to support a wide variety of crowns, bridges, and dentures. The prosthesis
is locked onto the jawbone via the implant, and is thus comfortable,
stable, and functional. Implants can replace a single tooth, or an entire
area of missing teeth in the mouth. Implants can also be used to stabilize
poor fitting dentures.
Our implants are placed under sterile hospital
operating room standard conditions, using the highest quality implant
placement system. Our success rate over the placement of 300 implants
has been 98%. The only possible complication is that the implant does
not integrate, i.e., the bone surrounding the implant does not heal and
the implant literally falls out of the jaw. This is not a painful or
serious, as the area will heal predictably.
Are implants difficult procedures
to tolerate?
Surprisingly no. At first glance it would seem a difficult
and painful procedure, but this is definitely not the case. Pain during
the procedure is easily controlled with a local anesthetic ("Novocain"),
and there is generally very little postoperative pain. The majority
of patients control their postoperative pain with over-the-counter
pain relievers.
Our implants are placed under sterile hospital
operating room standard conditions, using the highest quality implant
placement system. Our success rate over the placement of 300 implants
has been 98%. The only possible complication is that the implant does
not integrate, i.e., the bone surrounding the implant does not heal and
the implant literally falls out of the jaw. This is not a painful or
serious, as the area will heal predictably.
What is the procedure for dental
implants?
A complete and though examination is essential
to determining whether dental implants are the best restorative option.
Medical history will be updated. A complete dental examination of your
teeth and gums will be performed, including x-rays and models of the
mouth. Because supporting bone is critical to implant success, a CAT
scan, which images your jawbone in three dimensions, may be prescribed.
After the data collection is complete, treatment options and cost can
be discussed. 0% financing is available for all cases over $1000.00.
The surgical portion of the procedure involves
placement of the base or supporting part of the implant into the jaw.
This is a very well tolerated procedure; generally only 30-45 minutes
are needed to place a single implant, and about 15 minutes for each implant
thereafter. Postoperative pain is generally minor. The implant must heal
for 6 months, allowing the surrounding bone to grow and fix it in place.
At this point it is underneath the gum.
A second minor surgical procedure then exposes
the implant, and the implant is soon ready for final restoration. Artificial
teeth can now be fabricated and fixed onto the implant. The total time
between implant placement and final restoration is therefore 8-9 months
Patients often wear a retainer type prosthesis during this time to replace
any visible teeth.
A common and effective restoration involves
using implants to support a full lower denture, which typically has poor
stability. Usually two implants are placed in the lower jaw, and the
patients existing denture is altered with hardware, which will lock the
denture onto the implant. This creates a stable and functional lower
denture at a fraction of the cost of full implant bridgework.
We offer a free consultation for any patient
concerning dental implants. Please mention that you saw our website.
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