Dental implants are essentially artificial tooth roots that are anchored into your jaw bone. The implants are then replaced with realistic looking teeth which provide the security and usability of permanently placed teeth. Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, or to support a denture.  Implants are made of titanium which unlike other metals is not rejected by the body.  Once an implant is placed your own bone heals tightly around the implant through a process called osseointegration. This healing period usually takes between 8 - 16 weeks. In certain cases, especially for front teeth, implants can be placed and restored on the same day that a tooth is removed. This is called immediate placement and immediate restoration.

Implants are a safe, highly effective and comfortable way to replace your missing teeth.  The advantages to implants over dentures or a bridge include:

•   No Further Bone Loss – Normally, the bone in the area of a tooth is maintained by your body.  If a tooth is absent anywhere in the jaw, the bone will slowly disappear.  By placing an implant in your mouth, the implant stimulates the bone so that your body will continue to maintain the bone in the area, much like a natural tooth.

•   Improved Function – Implants can provide the same biting force as a natural tooth, making eating an easy and comfortable experience. They are fixed in place just like a natural tooth.

•   No Change to Healthy Teeth – Prior to dental implants, the most common type of replacement teeth were bridges.  However, bridges require preparing or shaping the adjacent teeth, and hence your natural teeth do not need to be prepared or changed in any way.

•   Periodontal disease – Implants can be less prone to gum problems than natural teeth.  In cases where people have lost some or all their teeth due to gum (periodontal) disease, implants can be used to replace the missing teeth.  Because the offending tooth or teeth are removed, the environment in the area improves and you have a second chance at healthy gums.  Proper home and professional cleaning is still very important for long term health.

•   Better appearance – Implants are designed to blend perfectly with your mouth, creating healthy and attractive smile. 

The most commonly asked question is do implants last a lifetime? Once integrated into the jaw bone, the success depends partly on the patient with long term maintenance and excellent home care being very important. There is no way to guarantee anything which goes into the mouth and which is under the control of the individual patient, however implants provide the best way to prevent further bone loss with the greatest functionality over the longest period of time compared to any other restoration.

Our office will work with you provide the most suitable treatment plan along with home care instruction and follow up appointments so your implant(s) can last for many years to come.