For those with missing teeth, ill-fitting dentures, loose teeth and more, dental implants provide a reliable and predictable solution to restoring both function and aesthetics. Dental implants are the standard of care in dentistry for restoring missing teeth, so the most important question for you is, what are they and how does it work?
Dental implants consist traditionally of three parts, the implant fixture itself, the abutment, and the crown as shown in the figure above. The fixture is essentially a screw made most frequently of titanium or sometimes zirconia. It is placed surgically in the bone and can be thought of as the root of your natural tooth. The crown is the restoration that goes on top and is what will be visible as a tooth. You can use this to chew and function as you would normally. Finally, the abutment connects the two together. During your examination, we will determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants as well as if other procedures are necessary to help ensure longevity of the implant. Additional procedures may include things like bone grafting, sinus lifts, or other routine procedures that can either be done simultaneously or before placing the actual implant fixture. This is also most often done by a specialist such as an oral & maxillofacial surgeon or periodontist.
Once the fixture is placed, there is a required healing time. On average, this is 12 weeks, but can vary depending on a multitude of factors including system used, grafting, and more. During this waiting period, the implant will integrate into the bone and increase in stability. While it replaces your natural tooth, special care must be used to take care of the implant which will be reviewed at your appointment. Depending on the situation clinically, a temporary crown can be made especially in cases restoring the upper front teeth. While this is a general summary, detailed information regarding to your particular needs will be explained at your appointment.
Fortunately, in most cases, patients qualify as candidates for dental implants. There are certain situations that could compromise treatment such as uncontrolled systemic illness, smoking, and quality / quantity of stable bone. During your initial and treatment planning appointment, your case will be reviewed and determined the best course of treatment to optimize success. Most frequently patients who are missing teeth inquire about implants. This can be due to trauma, periodontal disease, decay, or because the teeth are congenitally missing among other reasons.
However, patients with removable dentures often complain of their lower dentures fitting loosely since it is anatomically difficult for a lower full denture to be stable on its own. While this is not always the case with upper dentures, often-times implants are placed and used as anchors to make the lower denture more stable. This is called an overdenture and significantly improves the quality of life and function of those with a lower denture. Patients can also opt to have a full bridge (upper and/or lower) created that is supported by the implants as well. In this case, this is the closest thing to restoring your natural teeth as there is nothing removable nor is there any extraneous material covering the palate or soft tissue.
If you have thought about getting dental implants or would like more information, call to set up an appointment and more information can be discussed regarding your needs.
Restoring your implant is an exciting day! Typically the implant is restored with a crown made from zirconia or other dental ceramic. The abutment can either be separate or attached to the crown; the latter is visible in the photo to the left. On these types of crowns they are torqued into place to a precise measurement and are later sealed. The access opening to the implant in the bone (A) is often times blocked out in color (B) to restore the top surface to look as natural as possible. When this is not done the black opening in (A) is still visible. Other tints and shades can be used to re-create life-like tooth anatomy. The crown that comes back is fabricated from a separate lab that produces a more predictable and stronger restoration than what can be made in office.
Your first appointment after the surgery with us will be to take an impression of the area and we will design the crown and abutment to be fabricated. Photographs may also be taken to better communicate with our lab. We will also decide on the right shade to have your restoration blend in seamlessly with your other teeth (D). Before delivering any restoration we also evaluate the gums and soft tissue around the implant to make sure they are healthy since this is another very important factor predicting long term success of your new restoration.