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Dental Implants
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are specially designed titanium cylinders or screws which can be placed in the jaw to serve as anchors for teeth. Dentures can be attached to them, greatly improving the denture's performance. Patients no longer have to suffer with ill fitting dentures that hurt and float around. The denture base can now be designed much smaller since we no longer need a large surface area to steady the denture.
Patients can now also forget about needing denture adhesives. Bridges, crowns, and partial dentures can be attached to implants, resulting in performance similar to natural teeth. It is vitally important that if one is going to lose a tooth that shows in the smile, that tooth should not be extracted if at all possible before getting an implant consultation.
Once a tooth is extracted, the gums in the area will shrink dramatically, and although an implant may be placed, the gums in the smile area will no longer look natural. Timing and sequence is critical in cosmetic cases involving implants. Implant surgical success percentages are in the high 90s. Most patients report the discomfort level of having an implant placed to be similar or less than the discomfort level of having a simple tooth extraction.
Once an implant is placed, there is generally a four to six month healing time needed for the bone to grow around the new implant before it can be placed into service. Implants are so predictable and routine now that orthodontists are using them for temporary anchors to aid in moving teeth. This technique can eliminate the need for the never popular headgear.
As a dentist, one of the best things about dental implants is that we no longer have to disturb the surrounding teeth in order to replace the missing ones. This is especially a relief when the surrounding teeth are perfectly healthy.
At the Family Smile Center, we offer a full range of implant services. This includes placement of them, as well as designing and placing the various restorations that can attach to the implants. We are equipped with the latest Cone Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT) unit which can produce 3D images of the jawbone. This is essential information when planning implant treatments.
Dental implants are specially designed titanium cylinders or screws which can be placed in the jaw to serve as anchors for teeth. Dentures can be attached to them, greatly improving the denture's performance. Patients no longer have to suffer with ill fitting dentures that hurt and float around. The denture base can now be designed much smaller since we no longer need a large surface area to steady the denture.
Patients can now also forget about needing denture adhesives. Bridges, crowns, and partial dentures can be attached to implants, resulting in performance similar to natural teeth. It is vitally important that if one is going to lose a tooth that shows in the smile, that tooth should not be extracted if at all possible before getting an implant consultation.
Once a tooth is extracted, the gums in the area will shrink dramatically, and although an implant may be placed, the gums in the smile area will no longer look natural. Timing and sequence is critical in cosmetic cases involving implants. Implant surgical success percentages are in the high 90s. Most patients report the discomfort level of having an implant placed to be similar or less than the discomfort level of having a simple tooth extraction.
Once an implant is placed, there is generally a four to six month healing time needed for the bone to grow around the new implant before it can be placed into service. Implants are so predictable and routine now that orthodontists are using them for temporary anchors to aid in moving teeth. This technique can eliminate the need for the never popular headgear.
As a dentist, one of the best things about dental implants is that we no longer have to disturb the surrounding teeth in order to replace the missing ones. This is especially a relief when the surrounding teeth are perfectly healthy.
At the Family Smile Center, we offer a full range of implant services. This includes placement of them, as well as designing and placing the various restorations that can attach to the implants. We are equipped with the latest Cone Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT) unit which can produce 3D images of the jawbone. This is essential information when planning implant treatments.
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After unpleasant childhood memories of the dentist, I avoided going for several years as an adult. I am so glad I found Dr. Cha, Sandy and team. They are the utmost professionals, very kind and non judgmental. Every visit has been pleasant and pain-free. I can actually say I look forward to each visit. Thank you!
~ Patricia R. - Derwood
