Missing teeth often create deep feelings of embarrassment and can alter your facial appearance, impact your ability to chew and speak and lead to bone deterioration. Dental implants have revolutionized the way people live as they are a permanent, comfortable and attractive solution to tooth loss. Dental implants provide a stable foundation for your replacement teeth unlike dentures, which you have to take in and out and worry about slipping.
Implants also stimulate bone growth whereas dentures accelerate bone loss and deterioration of the jaws. The implants are tiny titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. The bone bonds with the titanium creating a strong foundation. Artificial replacement teeth, made by your restorative dentist, are then attached to these stable anchors and you can enjoy peace of mind and renewed self-confidence.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Preserve Facial Appearance and Bone Health
Dental implants can prevent bone deterioration where teeth are missing and restore the natural contours of your face.
Permanently Replace Missing Teeth
If cared for properly, dental implants can last a lifetime. They’re a comfortable, durable foundation for replacement teeth.
Boost Self-Esteem
Dental implants will hold replacement teeth that look, feel and function like your natural teeth so you can chew, speak and smile with confidence.
Treatment Considerations
Dr. Fuqua, Smith or Zouhary will examine you at your consultation and take your medical and dental history to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants. If your mouth isn’t ideal for implants, we may be able to improve your outcome with bone grafting. We’ll go over all of your options and the risks and benefits of each procedure.
For most patients, dental implant placement is a multi-step process. First, teeth are removed and the socket is grafted with bone or bone substitutes to preserve the ideal gingival architecture. After a short three- to four-month healing phase, the implants are placed within your jawbone. You’ll wait three to six months while your bone bonds with the implants.
During this healing time, you can wear a variety of temporary teeth. After the bone has integrated or bonded to the implant, your restorative dentist will complete the process by placing the final crown or prosthesis. While the entire procedure can take six to twelve months, you’ll experience minimal disruption in your daily life.
Thanks to recent advances, we can often place implants on the same day as tooth removal to minimize the number of procedures as well as the total treatment time. Occasionally, additional bone grafting or sinus lifts are indicated if inadequate bone is present for implant placement.
Pre- & Post-Operative Care Instructions
Technology & Supplemental Procedures
This x-ray equipment allows us to see computer-generated views of patients’ jawbones for quicker diagnoses and more complete treatment planning in one visit.
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If you’re not a candidate for dental implant surgery thanks to poor quantity or quality of your jawbones, bone grafting could remedy the problem.
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We can grow and strengthen the bone in the upper jaw to allow for the successful placement of dental implants in the area of the molars and premolars.
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