If you’ve already lost a tooth to periodontal disease or other reasons, you may be interested in dental implants—the permanent tooth replacement option. Dental Implants are an excellent option for restoring your healthy smile and can be the less expensive option over the long term versus a bridge.
Dental implants are a state-of-the-art way of replacing teeth. Implants are surgical-grade titanium screw-like fixtures that replace teeth with permanent restorations (crowns and bridges) or support removable appliances. Implants can stimulate surrounding bone and prevent loss of jawbone over time, helping preserve a youthful facial appearance. Implants don’t decay and can have a longer life expectancy than teeth supported by bridges. These need to be regularly maintained, however.
The use of Computerized Tomography (CT Scans) combined with specialized Sirona Galileos computer software provides advancement in implant dentistry.
Galileos implant 3D software allows your doctor to evaluate each potential implant site on a computer to ensure that the site is ready for implant placement. If a potential implant site does not have adequate bone, a treatment plan can be developed by your doctor to regenerate bone.
Computer-guided placement of dental implants can provide maximum safety to avoid nerves, sinuses, and other vital structures and maximum accuracy in implant placement within the bone. Best of all, computer-guided placement ensures that each implant will be in the best possible position to support a crown, bridge, or removable appliance.
Conventional bridges, crowns, or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, implants “fuse” to the top or bottom jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges, or a denture. Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone, a process called osseointegration. Candidates for dental implants must have healthy gums and adequate bones to support the implant.
Reasons For Dental Implants
- Can be less expensive than other options in the long-term
- Replace a missing tooth
- Maintain healthy bone levels
- Help support overdentures
- Keep the look & feel of a real tooth where one is missing
- Can provide chewing ability as much as natural teeth can
Implants We Use At Perio Central
Learn more about the dental implants our team uses in our Spokane, WA periodontal office.
- Zimmer Dental
- Astra
What Does A Dental Implant Involve?
Implant Site Preparation
The gum tissue is opened (or partially removed) to expose the bone area. In situations where there is the insufficient bone structure, bone grafting may be a recommended procedure. Sometimes, bone grafting and implant placement are simultaneous, and once the healthy bone material is in place, a particular drill is used to prepare the bone to receive the implant.
Placing The Implant
After the bone is ready, the implant is secured and the tissue sutured. The healing process takes three to six months depending on the location in the jaw. This is the amount of time it usually takes the implant to become integrated with the lower jaw and upper jaw, commonly referred to as osseointegration.
Even though it takes so long for osseointegration, the sutures are typically removed seven to ten days after surgery. After the healing process, your general dentist will start the process to make a new crown, etc.
Attaching The Post
When the gum tissue is ready, a special post is attached to the implant. It is the support for the new porcelain crown. Today’s technologies often include zirconium abutments attached to the implant post, to assure that the new porcelain tooth possesses translucency properties similar to a natural tooth.
Placing The Crown
After impressions, a crown is made and shaded to match your existing teeth. The crown is then placed over the post and cemented, or screwed into place. This final prosthetic crown appears and acts as a natural tooth does.
Your doctor will help you determine whether dental implants will be a good tooth replacement option for you. Proper brushing and flossing will maximize the longevity of your new dental implant.
If you’re not happy with your smile, there are cosmetic periodontal and dental procedures available now that could help you achieve the look and smile you want.
Call our office today to learn more about getting on the right track for a healthy life, as well as a healthy smile!
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