What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a man-made replacement for natural teeth. A surgeon places metal anchors in the jaw bone underneath the gum tissue where natural teeth are missing. When the dental implant has become solid, the dentist will mount natural-looking artificial teeth on the metal implants. These non-removable teeth are more secure than other forms of dental restoration, such as removable dentures or fixed bridges. There are several types of dental implants, of which the doctor will select the most suited to the patient’s needs. The doctor will take an x-ray to evaluate the amount of bone remaining, models of the mouth to determine space available, and a thorough examination to decide which type of dental implant would benefit the patient most.

Dental implants are accepted by the American Dental Association. Hundreds of thousands of dental implants have been placed, and they have been in use for many years. The dental implants are made from titanium, a metal readily accepted by the body. In fact, thanks to a phenomenon known as “osseointegration,” the bone of the jaw actually attaches itself to the implant over time, providing a strong foundation that allows people with missing teeth to chew as efficiently and comfortably as if the teeth were natural.

For a consultation about dental implants in the Long Island area (Brookhaven, Babylon, Smithtown, NY), please call our office, (361) 360-0266.

Who is a candidate for dental implants?

Anyone who is missing one or more of their teeth and can benefit from increased chewing efficiency, improved appearance, and improved speech may be a candidate. Dental implants can be the solution when it has become difficult or impossible to wear a removable denture. Portions of the jaw that are missing due to an accident, disease, or birth defect can often be reconstructed using dental implants. Age is generally not a barrier if the candidate is in good health.

You are a candidate for dental implants if:

Your jaw bone is thick enough and dense enough to secure an implant. However, if there is already some bone loss, it is sometimes possible to graft more bone onto the jaw to create a more ideal site for the implants.
You do not have a disease or condition that interferes with proper healing after implant surgery, e.g. uncontrolled diabetes or radiation/chemotherapy for treating cancer.

If one or a few of the teeth are missing, implants in conjunction with a crown or bridge can replace those teeth and function as normal teeth without losing more bone or be subject to decay. If all or most of your teeth are missing, then implants may be placed to anchor a loose denture. Ultimately, a consultation with a dentist who is knowledgeable regarding these procedures can help determine your needs.

When a tooth is lost it is best to replace the tooth with a non-removable replacement as promptly as possible. When you lose your teeth, you gradually lose the bone that supported them. As this bone disappears, problems with other teeth nearby and a lack of support for dentures, partials, and bridges increase. These problems include pain, mobility, lack of retention for prosthetics, sharp, painful ridges, mobile gum tissue and sore spots. The tongue enlarges to accommodate spaces of missing teeth. With tooth loss, a five-fold decrease in function occurs and the diet shifts to softer foods. Also, when the bone is lost, numbness to the lower lip or even the possibility of fracture of the jaw rises. Since the bone is deteriorating, it will spread and deteriorate around healthy teeth and ultimately cause the loss of those teeth. The progression will affect the ability to provide the same treatment in the later stages of bone loss than if treatment had been started earlier in the process. It’s much better to replace a tooth before all of the side effects begin. By waiting, you risk the possibility of not being able to provide the same, simple type of treatment that would have been possible earlier.

Is there discomfort involved?

Just with any surgery, there can be some discomfort; however, local anesthetic is used to eliminate any discomfort. Intravenous sedation and general anesthesia are also available for those patients who prefer to not be aware of the procedure. The doctor will prescribe medications to ease any discomfort that may occur. Special care will be taken to stay in contact with you after the surgery to be sure that you remain comfortable.

How long does it take?

To complete treatment it may take as little as six weeks, up to six months. Treatment time varies depending on each individual set of circumstances. It should be understood that patients’ quality and quantity of bone could dictate the length of the entire procedure to ensure its success. However, your dentist can provide you with temporary teeth during this time frame. The temporary prosthesis must NOT rest directly on the implants. This means that arrangements must be made to see your dentist immediately after surgery to adjust your prosthesis. Throughout the healing period your dentist must see you on a regular basis to ensure that the implants are not inadvertently loaded. It is wise not to wear prostheses for 1-2 weeks after the surgery and to be on a full liquid diet. If this is not feasible, arrangements can be made to discuss this with your dentist and surgeon.

The placement of endosteal dental implants (by far the most common type of implant) may require two different surgical procedures/stages, or can be done in one. In “Stage I” surgery, the implants are placed in the bone. A few months later, when the osseointegration process is complete and the bone of the jaw has solidly attached itself to the submerged implants, the second procedure takes place. In “Stage II” surgery, the soft tissue covering the tops of the implants is opened up and special posts called “abutments” are attached to the implants. These abutments project above the gumline and into the mouth, and the final artificial teeth will be fitted onto them. One-stage implants may be placed that only require one surgery. By eliminating a second surgery, time and expenses are saved.

Where do I begin?

During the initial consultation, a clinical and x-ray evaluation is performed to see if you are a candidate both from a surgical and medical standpoint. At this visit, the patient is shown the various types of dental prosthesis available on implants, and a brief overview of implant dentistry is given. All available options are discussed, along with the benefits, risks and complications of each. Your physician and dentist are involved in the decision making process.

Should the patient wish to pursue implants as an option, an appointment is made for a work-up. This would involve obtaining various records- study models of the upper and lower jaws, photographs, additional x-rays, etc.; additional consultations with other clinicians may be necessary. At times it is necessary to fabricate a radiographic stent that may be used to take additional x-rays or a Dent-a-scan (A 3-D CT Scan with a measuring grid performed at an outside facility), which would further enable us to measure the bone available for placement of implants. After comprehensive treatment planning has taken place, the patient is presented with the various options available. Often additional soft tissue and hard tissue procedures may be necessary on a case by case basis.

Once the decision making process involving all parties has taken place, the surgery may be scheduled. Depending on the case, this may be performed under local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. Prescription drugs would be dispensed and sometimes taken before the surgery. A surgical template may be fabricated by the restorative dentist or surgeon prior to the case that is used intra-operatively as a drill guide. Arrangements are made with the patient’s restorative dentist to adjust the existing transitional prosthesis, before or after the surgery, or to provide a different transitional prosthesis.