IMPLANTS

Dental Implants

Dental implants are becoming more popular in today’s dental society for a number of reasons. Implants are utilized to offer patients a foundation for new restorative teeth where natural teeth are missing or have been extracted. The implant offers the patient the opportunity to regain normal function of the tooth without being forced to resort to a bridge or a denture.

Benefits

· The implant will osseointegrate (bond) with the existing bone.

· The new implant will support your teeth firmly and safely.

· Your new implants are aesthetically pleasing.

· You will no longer have pain during talking or eating.

· The dental implant will prevent progressive bone atrophy.

· Implants have a proven scientific basis.

Procedure

The tooth structure has two main sections, the root and the crown. The root is the section of the tooth that is below the gumline. A dental implant acts as the restorative for this section of the tooth. The metal implant acts as an anchor in the jawbone. The first step of the procedure is surgical placement of the implant. Under regular dental anesthetic, the gum tissue is opened and the dentist places the implant into the jawbone. When this is achieved, the tissue is then sutured closed. There is not often significant discomfort with this procedure. This process can take from 1-3 hours depending on the number of implants being placed.

This implant will be left untreated for a period of 3-6 months. During this time, the bone will grow around the implant in a process called osseointegration. A removable crown may be utilized during this time period to allow for chewing and to preserve the cosmetic appearance..

The next step in the process is to attach an abutment to the tooth. This is achieved by exposing the top of the implant and placing the abutment. This is the part of the implant that will support the final crown.

Finally, an impression is taken of the implant and a final restoration is crafted. This restoration will be comfortable and cosmetically pleasing. Your completed implant will be fully functional, allowing you to resume normal activities.

MINI IMPLANTS

Benefits of Mini’s….

· Simple, gentle, non-surgical procedure = Less Pain

· Cost Effective~about 1/2 the cost of traditional dental implants

· Immediate results

· Snap-in Upper & Lower Dentures

· Anchors for Dentures or Crowns and Bridges!

· Preserves bone

Mini Dental Implants were originally used to Secure  lower dentures….but they can be used for much more.  This system is now getting more acceptance for other treatment solutions in dentistry.  From replacing a single missing tooth to replacing several missing teeth to a full arch of missing teeth with a fixed porcelain bridge.

Mini Dental Implants ranging in size from  1.8mm~2.0~2.3mm~2.5mm~up to 2.9mm.  Anything over 3.0mm gets in my mind into the traditional dental implant range. Some people will state that 3.25mm is the cutoff for a conventional implant to secure a 2 piece abutment system.

All-on-4®

The first patient to be treated with the  All-on-4® concept was in 1998, and hundreds of thousands of patients since have benefited from the minimally invasive procedure that results in high patient satisfaction. Dr. Paol Maolo was the first doctor to employ this measure, which is a graft-less solution that includes only four implants and provides immediate function. For more information, call our office today.

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