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Dental Implants to Replace Missing Teeth

"Dental implants replace missing teeth and dentures in a natural way. In the instance where a natural tooth is replaced, a dental implant acts as a substitute for the root portion of the missing tooth. A small, titanium screw is used for this process. These can be used as a replacement for either a single missing tooth or for many teeth. The design of the dental implants are such that they will not only function like natural teeth, but will feel like them and have a similar appearance, too."
Manor Dental Care, Manchester, U.K.

 


image courtesy of Manor Dental Care, Manchester, U.K.

 

Advantages:
If you are missing teeth, dental implants are an option to removable dentures.
Implants replace tooth roots and provide a structural foundation for permanent           or replacement teeth.
Implants look and feel like your natural teeth
Implants provide Improved oral health:
Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own           teeth are left intact.
Implants are very durable and will last many years.
With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
Implants Improve appearance and self esteem
There are two types of implants:

1. Immediate implants – these implants are placed at the time of the tooth extraction and are placed into the                    extraction site and left to heal with the extraction thus eliminating a surgical appointment.

2. Traditional implants – these implants are placed into good jaw bone sites or grafted bone sites by preparing pilot         hole site.

Dental Implants at Sunny Hollow Dental:

When a tooth must be extracted, we can sometimes place an implant in the socket immediately after the tooth has been removed.  Although each case will be different, placing the implant immediately after an extraction generally involves two phases, placing the implant in the socket and securing a restoration, such as a crown or bridge, onto the implant. 

An immediately placed implant has several advantages.
Extraction and implant placement can occur during the same procedure. The implant stops the bone loss that normally occurs when a tooth is lost, and it prevents the surrounding teeth from shifting into the space. And unlike replacing a tooth with a traditional bridge, there is no need to reduce the size of neighboring teeth.
The implant with its restoration looks and feels like your natural teeth when you chew and talk. 

Placing the implant
First we make sure the area is completely numb, and then we remove the tooth. We reshape the extraction site and place the body of the implant into the prepared socket. In many cases, we add bone grafting material to the socket to help the jawbone heal tightly around the implant. 

A healing cap or an extension is attached to the implant. We then close the gums. Over the next several months, the implant will become fused securely to the bone. During this time, we may place a temporary replacement tooth. 

Restoring the implant
The next phase includes a series of appointments to create your final restoration. Though some of the steps might be different in your case, they usually include removing the temporary and making impressions of your mouth. 

The lab uses the impressions to make an accurate model of your mouth, including the implant. They use the model to create a restoration that precisely fits the implant and your bite. 

When your beautiful new restoration is ready, we check the fit and your bite and then secure it to the implant. 

With proper homecare and regular checkups, your implant can be a long-term solution for a natural-looking smile.

Copyright © 2014, Patterson Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Insurance Coverage:
The majority of policies don’t treat implants any differently than any other major service like bridges, crowns, etc. Bone grafting can be tricky though. We have found that although a policy might cover bone grafting a site for preservation of a future implant, many policies will not cover bone grafting done at the time of implant placement. Some policies cover implants but not bone grafting. More do than don’t though.

 

As always we are here for you!