Implants

What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a post that is surgically placed in the jawbone. Implants are used to replace missing teeth, support a bridge, or anchor a denture. We only choose high-quality implants with high-quality materials to go into our patients’ mouths. This ensures proper biocompatibility, strength, longevity, and esthetics. 

Dental implants can be the most stable, tooth-like, and permanent tooth replacement option available.

Benefits of dental implants

• Implants are of good value because they can last a lifetime with proper maintenance. 
• Dental implants maintain bone and keep your jawbone from shrinking over time. 
• Implants provide a firm attachment for single teeth, bridges, or dentures to allow a comfortable fit that mimics natural teeth. This characteristic of implants is important for proper eating and speaking. 

Examples of dental implants

What is the process for getting an implant?
These are the general steps involved in getting an implant:

1. Cone Beam CT scan of jawbone
   Our office has a specialized machine that takes a 3D image of the implant sites. These images help us determine the location, size, and angle of your implant.
2. Surgical placement of the implant
   The implant is placed with local anesthesia. You may have some tenderness in the area after placement, but many patients report minimal discomfort afterward.  
3. Healing
   What makes an implant so strong is the ability of bone to form around the implant and integrate into your jawbone. This process usually takes several months. While it is healing, we can provide a temporary replacement of your tooth or teeth.
4. Placement of your final tooth, bridge, or denture on the implant. 
   For a single tooth, we make a custom crown to fit on top of the implant post that looks like a natural tooth. For an implant-supported bridge or denture, we make custom teeth that fit on top of two or more implant posts.