Implants

Dental implants can improve your appearance, and more importantly, restore your oral health and keep your jaw strong and healthy. Dental implants can be performed in nearly all patients with missing teeth. If you have missing teeth or severe cavities, gum disease, and other conditions that may require a dental implant, please contact us.

We can answer any questions you may have and schedule an appointment for an assessment to see if dental implants are a good solution to your problems.

Although a bridge can restore chewing function and achieve an acceptable esthetic outcome, the bone under the replacement tooth won’t be stimulated by chewing and is often reabsorbed into the body, creating a gap between the gums and the bridge. A dental implant does not require grinding of the adjacent teeth, and it stimulates the underlying bone, enhancing long-term esthetics.

Each patient will be unique in their needs and treatment plan. The usual time for an implant procedure is 30 minutes for a single tooth. If you are missing more than one, the procedure may take longer, and multiple appointments may be necessary for some patients.

For a single implant, Dr. Sadeghi will use a local anesthetic and perform the procedure in his office. Multiple implants may require administration of a general anesthetic, which requires an outpatient surgery center.

With proper use of the latest anesthetics and medications, you won’t experience any pain.

Under strict sterile conditions, Dr. Sadeghi will make a small incision in the gum at the site of each implant. She will then insert the implant into the bone of your jaw. As the bone bonds to the implant, it forms a secure foundation onto which your new teeth are then attached and shaped to match your mouth. It takes several months for the bone to heal and fuse to the implant. Once healing is complete, you will return to the office to have the permanent prosthesis tooth or teeth attached.

If you are missing one or more teeth, you may be a candidate for a dental implant(s) if you are missing one or more teeth. However, some precautions are necessary for certain medical conditions, as well as for growing children.

Each procedure is different, and Dr. Sadeghi will give you specific instructions about aftercare, but here are some general guidelines to follow:

• Don’t brush your brush or floss for the first few days following your dental implant procedure. Use a special mouthwash or salt water rinse instead.
• Resume your normal brushing and flossing routine after 2-3 days.
• If you had a ridge modification, crown lengthening, or sinus lift, you may also need antibiotics and/or an antibacterial mouthwash.
• If your procedure requires stitches and they aren’t absorbable, you’ll need to come back in after 7-10 days to have them removed.

Depending on the procedure and your level of discomfort, you may need to temporarily change your diet, and you may require pain medications. Ice packs can also help with swelling and discomfort.

How long after an extraction you will have to wait for an implant to be placed depends on your situation. Often, they can be positioned immediately, but in some cases, it might be 4-6 months after extraction before an implant can be placed.

After several months, the support bone may grow thinner and shrink because of the lack of a natural tooth to stimulate the bone itself. If you have been missing teeth for longer than one year, you may be advised to have additional bone grafted to your jaw because one-third of your jaw’s thickness can be lost in the year following the loss of your tooth.

Adding or replacing missing bone to existing bone is often essential to ensure the success of a dental implant. After a thorough diagnostic examination, your dentist will recommend the treatment that is best for you.

Implants are made of composite titanium metal that bonds to the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. You won’t have to worry about your implant-supported restoration slipping or making embarrassing noises. Implants also don’t decay like the teeth that anchor fixed bridges so bone loss is generally not a problem.

Dental implants consist of three parts:

• An artificial root manufactured to exact specifications, made from surgical-grade titanium. Titanium is a bio-active metal that binds with the bone in your jaw.
• An abutment, which provides a base to which the prosthetic tooth is attached
• A prosthetic tooth, made from porcelain or resin composite, colored and shaped to look natural against your remaining teeth

Implants can be used to replace a single tooth, or replace multiple or an entire row of missing teeth with only a few anchors. A full implant is capable of replacing an entire row of upper or lower teeth using just four anchors, eliminating the need for dentures. If you have been suffering with partial or full dentures, are missing teeth, or feel you need teeth extracted, do not hesitate to call us to be evaluated for implants.

Care for your dental implants the same as you would for the rest of your teeth. In addition to flossing once and brushing twice a day, it’s important to see your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleaning, an examination, and X-rays. Dental implants are strong and typically last a long time, they can be broken, just like your own teeth.

Avoid chewing hard candies or ice, and don’t use your teeth as tools to open packages.

Although much of this depends on your individual needs, one thing to consider is that dental implants provide a level of stability and security not available from dentures alone. But you do not have to use implants to replace one tooth at a time. A few implants can be used to anchor and stabilize a set of dentures, either partial or full. Consult with the experts at First Dental Associates to find out which option is best for you.