Dental Implants In the past, people who lost teeth due to damage or infection had two main options for restoration: bridges and dentures. However, these are not always the most durable or aesthetically pleasing options. Now, many of our patients choose the dental implant option. People with good dental and overall health and sufficient jaw strength are great candidates for dental implants. There are two main types and several different ways we can perform this surgery to ensure success. Ask us for more information at Leavenworth Family Dental.Dental Implant TypesThe two types of dental implants available are endosteal and subperiosteal. The most common type is endosteal implants. These involve cylinders, screws, or blades which are placed into the jawbone. The other type, subperiosteal implants, are used less commonly but are great choices when a patient's jawbone is not strong enough to support endosteal implants. These metal frameworks go over the top of your jaw and protrude through your gums. Subperiosteal implants are a great option if you cannot wear traditional dentures or if you have a short bone height. Dental Implant ProcedureOur dentist will discuss the procedure with you and perform x-rays prior to the surgery. This is to ensure that your jaw is strong enough to hold the implants. If it is not, but you still want endosteal implants, then there are a few options to strengthen your bone structure. For example, we can raise the floor of your sinus ridge and strengthen the surrounding bone to be able to support implants in a procedure known as sinus augmentation. In addition, we can correct bone defects with ridge modification. This is when we lift the gum to expose the underlying bone and fill defects with bone grafts or bone substitute material. During the procedure, our dentist will first need to make a small incision into the gums where the implant will be. The implant, which is a small metal screw-like structure, is placed in the jaw or gums. After this, the gum is closed over the implant to give it time to set and heal. In this process, known as osseointegration, your bone will grow around the implant, giving it a stable structure. The healing process is different for everyone, so it may take upwards of six months until you are ready for the next step. At the next appointment, the abutment is placed on the implant. Depending on if you are missing one tooth or multiple teeth, this abutment is the structure that will hold a crown or dental bridge. Our dentist collects molds of your teeth so our lab can custom-make these restorations. Once we have your crown or bridge, you can come in for the placement procedure. Our dentist will cement it into place and ensure that it matches the look and feel of your natural teeth. Recovery and CareRecovery from anesthesia can take a few hours. Again, the healing process after the dental implant procedure can take several months. Once you have the crown or bridge in place, you can keep them clean using the same oral hygiene strategies you use with natural teeth. Contact Leavenworth Family Dental at 913-682-1550 for additional information on dental implants. |
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