Dental Implants developed over the past 30 years are a revolutionary technique for effective replacement of missing teeth. This is a 2 stage procedure. To start with, a screw-like titanium fixture is placed in the bone underneath your gum tissue. This usually takes less than an hour using only a local anesthesia. The second stage involves the placement of a special ceramic crown, abutment or post.
With implants, the adjacent teeth need not be shaved down or altered. But in conventional fixed bridgework the adjacent teeth gets worked on. Implants can also be placed under dentures. Our experienced dental professionals can help determine if implants are apt for you.
Feel free to talk to us about important dental implant information, procedures, cost etc.
A Swedish scientist named Per-Ingvar Branemark made a major discovery in the early 1960’s which led to a major breakthrough in dental implant surgery. He discovered that implants made of Titanium metal once attached to the jaw bone fused completely with the bone. From this finding Branemark developed the first commercial Titanium Implants. A variety of dental implants is now available; made of Titanium or Titanium alloy.
Dental Implant require precision placement. This is what is involved in the 2 stage surgical process:
- Endosteal: This is the most commonly used implant. These include screws, cylinders or blades which are surgically placed into the jaw bone. Each may hold one or more prosthetic teeth. This type of implant is ideal for people with bridges or removable dentures.
- Subperiosteal: These are implants used on people who are unable to wear conventional dentures and who have minimal bone height.
Implant dentistry is a rather expensive procedure in restorative dentistry. This is because the process requires surgery and also time consuming precise fabrication, prosthetic devices and installation of implants. However implants have now become very popular and our patients find that they are well worth the expense.