Missing Teeth?

Dental Implants may be the solution

What are Dental Implants?

Dental Implants are the most advanced and most permanent way to replace missing teeth. The implant is simply a titanium post that is placed into the missing tooth socket to act like a natural tooth-root. While implant shapes can vary, they are usually screw-like in design. It integrates with the jawbone and acts as an anchor to the fabricated tooth that it will support. When a dental implant restoration is completed, neither the patient or anyone else should have any hint that an implant is there.

Implant dentistry is done to replace missing teeth. In addition to looking and feeling like real teeth, dental implants will allow you to:

• Enhance your smile
• Enjoy your favorite foods
• Restore proper chewing ability for easy digestion
• Speak with greater ease
• Restore your facial structure
• Relieve damaging pressure to your natural teeth
• Increase your self-confidence while speaking and smiling
• Eliminate tooth shifting

How is the process done?

Under the same local anesthetic used for a dental filling, a gentle surgical procedure will be performed, inserting one or more implants into the missing tooth socket using specially designed instrumentation. Following this placement, a protective cover screw is placed on top to allow the implant site to heal and the dental implant to anchor (osseointegration). After approximately 2-3 months of healing, the patient returns to our office to have the restorative procedure completed. At this point the tissues have healed and the implant has stabilized itself within the bone and is ready to support the tooth crown or prosthesis that will be attached to it.

During this healing period, you can wear a temporary denture or bridge to occupy the space so you are never without a tooth.

What if I have several missing teeth?

The insertion procedure is the same. However, after the healing, depending on the location of the missing teeth, Dr. Freyne may decide to create a bridge-type implant prosthesis, where several fabricated teeth are attached in a bridge-like fashion to two or more implant "roots."

Can anyone have implants?

Yes, in most cases. The quantity and quality of available bone structure is the most important factor. As the dental and medical situation of every patient is unique, any implant treatment plan requires a complete examination and analysis. This is a generalized overview of dental implants. A comprehensive exam with Dr. Freyne will determine an individual treatment plan.