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If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to restore your ability to smile, speak and eat with comfort and confidence, then dental implants may be right for you. Are your dentures not fitting as securely or comfortably as they once did? Do you hide your smile because of spaces from missing teeth? Or, do you have missing teeth that need to be replaced due to tooth loss from advanced gum disease? If any of these situations keep you from feeling good about yourself and your smile, dental implants may be a solution for you. Technological advancements have improved the success rate of implants, enabling many patients to enjoy comfort and confidence in their oral health. |
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| A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework, since implants do not rely on using neighboring teeth as "anchors" for support. Dental implants are so natural looking and feeling, you may forget you ever lost a tooth. |
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-Replace one or more teeth without affecting bordering teeth. -Support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture. -Provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable.
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ESTHETIC- Dental implants don't sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your oral health.
CONFIDENCE- Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence! They are secure and offer freedom from the irksome clicks and wobbles of dentures. They'll allow you to say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures and messy pastes and glues.
RELIABLE- The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement. |
 The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease. Dental implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Since periodontists are the dental experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team. Not only do Drs. Akst and Batos have experience working with other dental professionals, they also have the special knowledge, training and facilities that you need to have teeth that look and feel just like your own. |
 The treatment will vary depending upon the type of implant and the health of the patient. For example, many patients can receive implant treatment in the dental office. Local anesthesia and sedation are used to help ensure patient comfort during the treatment. The first step is placing the implants into the jawbone. After this surgical treatment, the bone in the jaw attaches to the implants, holding them firmly in place. The attachment of bone to the implant ("osseointegration") usually takes two to six months. Second, replacement teeth are created and securely attached to the implants. The replacement teeth feel like your own. After treatment is completed, brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly are essential to the success of the implant. |
 Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone with a material called a bone graft. This material not only replaces missing bone, but also helps your body regrow lost bone. This new bone growth strengthens the grafted area by forming a bridge between your existing bone and graft. Over time the newly formed bone will replace much of the grafted material. GBR is a procedure in which a membrane is placed over the bone graft site. This membrane further encourages new bone to grow and also prevents the growth of scar tissue into the grafted site. |
 Periodontal Defects
|  Defects following cyst or tumor surgery |
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 Defects following tooth extraction |
 Defects around dental implants |
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 As you know, your own teeth require conscientious at home oral care and regular dental visits. Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque free, brushing and flossing still apply. After treatment, your periodontist will work closely with you and your dentist to develop the best care plan for you. Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy. |
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| Information obtained from the American Academy of Periodontology. | ||
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