Osseointegrated implants are effective in over ninety-six percent of all patients treated. Pi Dental Center is one of the leading centers for osseointegrated dental implants in the United States.
A natural tooth consists of a crown (the part you see above the gum), and the root (the part hidden under the gum). It is the root in the jawbone that actually holds the natural tooth in place. A dental implant is a small man-made titanium fixture that serves as a replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. Titanium is used because it is the most compatible with our human body. The dental implant is placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw and functions as an anchor for the replacement tooth. After the bone has grown around the implant, implants can hold a crown, bridge or overdenture just like roots hold natural teeth in place.
Implants provide additional support where teeth are missing without putting forces onto remaining natural teeth. They may be used to support the replacement of a single missing tooth or a complete functional set for individuals who have lost many or all of their teeth.
With over a quarter century of clinical success, Swedish and American research has proven that the Brånemark System® is a viable solution for replacement of missing teeth.
Improved Appearance When teeth are lost, ongoing shrinkage of the jawbone occurs making the face look older. Dental implants can slow or stop this process. Dental implants look and feel like your own natural teeth.
Increased Comfort Dental implants eliminate the pain and discomfort of removable full or partial dentures. Since dentures sit on top of the jawbone and gums, continuous shrinkage of the jaw bone alters the fit of the denture resulting in slipping or rocking of the dentures. Exposed nerves and irritation of the gum tissue may add to the discomfort.
Gum irritation and the pain of exposed nerves associated with conventional full or partial dentures are eliminated.
Improved Speech With ill fitting dentures, the teeth slip and slide around the mouth. The facial muscles become tense in an attempt to hold the teeth in place. This often results in mumbling, slurred speech or clicking noises.
Replacement teeth allow you to speak with confidence in a relaxed and natural tone.
Improved Self Esteem Considering all other benefits, dental implants can improve your self-esteem. You may feel better about yourself. You can regain nearly all the capabilities that most people have with natural teeth, giving you renewed confidence, and allowing you to enjoy life, do what everyone else is doing and not think twice about it. View photos and article outlining patient treatment
Eat Better The average denture patient with an excellent fitting denture eats at 15-20% efficiency when compared to a person with natural teeth. As the jawbone shrinks, your chewing efficiency is reduced even more, making it difficult to eat certain foods. Dental implants can restore chewing efficiency comparable to that of natural teeth.
This allows you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain, enjoy what everyone is eating and not think twice about it. A full upper denture covers the palate of the mouth and reduces the ability to taste foods. With dental implants, you can have the palate removed from your upper denture so you can taste and enjoy your food.
Convenience Dental implants can eliminate the numerous embarrassing inconveniences of removable partial and full dentures. You will eliminate the use of gooey denture adhesives that must be re-applied throughout the day. You will no longer need to cover your mouth when you laugh or smile, for fear that your teeth will pop out or fall down.
Protect Your Remaining Natural Teeth Dental implants are often more appropriate than a bridge for the replacement of one or more adjacent teeth. With conventional bridgework, the teeth surrounding missing teeth must be ground down. Dental implants often eliminate the need to modify these teeth, resulting in a conservative, yet esthetic restoration.
Dental Implants Give You:
Improved Appearance:When teeth are lost, ongoing shrinkage of the jawbone occurs making the face look older. Dental implants can slow or stop this process.Dental implants look and feel like your own natural teeth. Learn about the advantages of dental implants vs. removable dentures.
Improved Comfort:Dental implants eliminate the pain and discomfort of removable full or partial dentures. Since dentures sit on top of the jawbone and gums, continuous shrinkage of the jaw bone alters the fit of the denture resulting in slipping or rocking of the dentures. Exposed nerves and irritation of the gum tissue may add to the discomfort.
Implant supported replacement teeth are like natural teeth because they are anchored securely to your jawbone.
Gum irritation and the pain of exposed nerves associated with conventional full or partial dentures are eliminated.
Improved Speech:With ill fitting dentures, the teeth slip and slide around the mouth. The facial muscles become tense in an attempt to hold the teeth in place. This often results in mumbling, slurred speech or clicking noises.
Replacement teeth allow you to speak with confidence in a relaxed and natural tone.
Improved Self Esteem:Considering all other benefits, dental implants can improve your self-esteem. You may feel better about yourself. You can regain nearly all the capabilities that most people have with natural teeth, giving you renewed confidence, and allowing you to enjoy life, do what everyone else is doing and not think twice about it.
Eat Better:The average denture patient with an excellent fitting denture eats at 15-20% efficiency when compared to a person with natural teeth. As the jawbone shrinks, your chewing efficiency is reduced even more, making it difficult to eat certain foods. Dental implants can restore chewing efficiency comparable to that of natural teeth.
Eat Better:The average denture patient with an excellent fitting denture eats at 15-20% efficiency when compared to a person with natural teeth. As the jawbone shrinks, your chewing efficiency is reduced even more, making it difficult to eat certain foods. Dental implants can restore chewing efficiency comparable to that of natural teeth.
Convenience:Dental implants can eliminate the numerous embarrassing inconveniences of removable partial and full dentures. You will eliminate the use of gooey denture adhesives that must be re-applied throughout the day. You will no longer need to cover your mouth when you laugh or smile, for fear that your teeth will pop out or fall down.
Protect Your Remaining Natural Teeth Dental implants are often more appropriate than a bridge for the replacement of one or more adjacent teeth. With conventional bridgework, the teeth surrounding missing teeth must be ground down. Dental implants often eliminate the need to modify these teeth, resulting in a conservative, yet esthetic restoration.
Some of the dilemmas denture wearers experience are sore spots on the gums from rubbing, a decrease in bite force, loose dentures that move around and cause embarrassment in public, difficulty speaking, whistling or clicking of denture teeth, and an inability to eat many foods. Many people who wear dentures also complain that food tastes bland.
| Removable Denture | Implant Supported Prosthesis | |
|---|---|---|
| Short Term Cost | Low | High |
| Long Term Cost | High | Low |
| Biologic Costs | High | Low |
| Esthetics | Fair | Excellent |
| Function | Poor | Excellent |
| Bone Preservation | Poor | Excellent |
| Hygiene Access | Fair | Excellent |
| Long-Term Maintenance | High | Low |
Anyone who is missing one or more of their teeth due to injury, disease, or decay may be a candidate for dental implants. If one or a few teeth are missing, dental implants in conjunction with a crown or bridge can replace those teeth without loosing more bone. If all or most of your teeth are missing, the dental implants may be placed to replace a loose fitting full or partial denture. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant(s) along with healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease. Occasionally, older patients express concern that their age may prevent them from enjoying the benefits that dental implants offer.
However, health is more of a determining factor than age. If you're healthy enough to have a tooth extracted, you're probably healthy enough to receive dental implants. Certain chronic diseases may contraindicate implant treatment. The doctors at Pi Dental Center will determine if you are a candidate for dental implants after a careful evaluation of your dental and medical health history.
Documented clinical research demonstrates that implant supported replacement teeth have been successful for over 50 years. These were some of the first root-form implant cases ever completed and they have been closely monitored from the beginning. It is highly likely that these cases will be successful throughout the lifetime of those patients. Dental implants are designed to be permanent; however many factors contribute to the long term success of implant treatment, such as home care and regular maintenance visits to the dentist or dental specialist. By comparison, research demonstrates that the typical tooth supported bridge lasts from 7-10 years and that partials and dentures are functional for approximately 5 years. Insurance statistics indicate that bridges, partials and dentures last 5 years and they generally pay for replacements every 5 years. Dental implants can be a life-time solution to replacement of missing teeth providing the following important criteria are met:
With these factors in mind, I do tell my patients that dental implants are for life. In-fact we guarantee them.
There are no short cuts to great results. Following the best practices, techniques, materials, and knowledge by expert clinicians creates long lasting and successful results.
Your new replacement teeth will look, feel and function like natural teeth. And since implant treatment is the only solution that prevents bone resorption, which can cause your smile to look unnatural, the long term esthetics will be superior to any other treatment option.
My dentist recently recommended osseointegrated dental implants. What are dental implants and are they safe?
Osseointegrated dental implants are the state of the art in modern dentistry. They are small titanium “fixtures” that take the place of the natural root of the tooth. Gently implanted into the bone, using local anesthesia, these very tiny titanium roots actually bond or integrate with a patient’s bone, more securely than natural root would. Most often, the osseointegrated implant is more stable than a natural tooth’s root. Upon these implants, a prosthodontist can build permanent teeth, custom designed and shaded to aesthetically suit each patient’s distinctive facial requirements.
Sophisticated research for more than three decades in the United States and abroad has recognized titanium for its biological compatibility with the human body. Studies have shown that the earliest patients treated with these modern osseointegrated implants continue to enjoy healthy, stable smiles.
Nearly all implant procedures are performed with local anesthesia in a comfortable dental chair. No pain is felt during the surgical procedures. Depending upon the number of implants placed, there may be swelling and/or tenderness for a few days following the surgery. Pain medication is usually prescribed which alleviates this discomfort. Patients generally prefer a soft foods diet for the healing period following surgery. Cold foods and tepid soups are suggested, as they aid in reducing swelling.
The entire osseointegration process and the building of the new teeth can be accomplished in as little as three months, though the upper teeth or replacing a complete denture with permanent teeth normally requires five to six months.
Dental implant patients range from age nine to 99. A single congenitally missing tooth can dramatically change the life of a child; the replacement of dentures in an older patient can make the golden years more fulfilling, and considerably gentler to both the digestive tract and the cardiovascular system. Generally, only patients with rare blood diseases, leukemia, or patients being treated with chemotherapy are contraindicated. Patients who have successfully undergone cancer therapy and received permission from their oncologist may benefit from implant treatment.
The jaw bone undergoes signifiant shrinkage following third month after tooth loss, and can continue up to 12 months. If extraction site was not grafted at the time, there may be inadequate amount of bone for implant placement. Bone grafting is a highly successful and predictable treatment option to augment missing bone and build the proper foundation for the necessary implants.
An investment in dental implant treatment is an investment in overall health, appearance and well being, as it involves preserving the integrity of facial structures, as well as replacing missing teeth.
The actual cost of implant treatment is based on a number of factors, such as the number of missing teeth being replaced, the NUMBER of implant (treatment option) recommended and whether additional procedures are necessary to achieve the proper esthetic and functional result.
The fee is usually comparable to other methods of tooth replacement; however, long-term, implant treatment is generally more cost effective than other options.
The only way to accurately estimate the cost for an individual patient is to have an examination and consultation with a denta Implant specialist – PROSTHODONTIST & IMPLANTOLOGIST. After a thorough diagnostic examination, we will recommend the treatment that is best suits for your mouth.
The length of treatment time depends on location of the implants, type of bone, and design of the prosthesis. Generally, implant heal in two to four months and ready for the final prosthesis. In patients with bone grafting, this may take closer to six months. The prosthetic aspect of the treatment may take from several days to several weeks to complete. In the smile zone, implants are usually temporized for three to four months before the final prosthesis.
Most implant patients report that the discomfort is far less than they expected, and is significantly less than a tooth extraction. And although everyone is different with regard to pain tolerance, most patients are very comfortable simply taking Tylenol afterward.
In the back of the mouth, it is generally recommended to have one implant per missing tooth. In the front of the mouth, it is acceptable to place implants separated by crowns in between (bridge design). In denture users, two to four implants are adequate for support of a removable overdenture while six to eight implants are more appropriate for support of a fixed bridge.
Each patient’s situation is unique and should be evaluated to determine the appropriate number of implants required to support the replacement teeth that will meet the patient’s functional and esthetic needs.
Dental implant treatment is one of the most successful procedures in the medical-dental field, with documented success rates over 98%. Although successful treatment is very predictable, there are rare occasions where the bone does not completely bond to the implants. When this occurs, new implants are placed, and the success rates for the replacement implants are even higher.
Smoking or putting too much pressure on newly placed implants, as with excessive grinding of the teeth, can cause problems with the bone bonding to the implants and should be avoided.
No. Rejection does not occur with dental implants. The overall success rate for dental implants is 98 percent with almost 50 years of clinical research to back them up. Because implants are made of completely biologically compatible “bone-friendly” titanium material, they naturally heal and integrate with the surrounding tissues. Because titanium is accepted so well by the human body, it also used for orthopedic implants, such as hip and knee replacements.
There are many situations where natural teeth are either failing, or are about to fail. This includes severe periodontal disease (gum disease) that has eroded the bone that supports teeth. Sometimes in these cases, it is preferable to extract the teeth; eliminate the disease and infection and replace the teeth with implant supported crowns/bridges.
There are also situations where a tooth has had a root canal (nerves have been removed from the tooth) leaving the tooth brittle and susceptible to fracture. In cases where the tooth needs to be retreated and the prognosis is not favorable, it is preferable to extract the tooth and replace it with an implant supported crown.
Teeth with severe fractures are usually extracted and are ideal candidates for replacement with dental implant treatment.
There are some data to show increase rates of implant failure in smokers, however, it is not an absolute contraindication.
In our experience, smoking can be more detrimental during the healing phase after implant placement (The initial 6- 8 weeks when the main integration process occurs). Following this period, it does not seem to have as much damaging effect. I have had successful outcomes in many patients who smoke, particularly when they ceased smoking during the healing phase.
Having said that, our recommendation to every patient who smokes and wants implants is to stop smoking all together. It impacts both their overall health as well as decrease possible implant complications.
No. Dental implants are made of pure titanium and therefore are not magnetic and do not set off alarms at airport security.
Dental implants are made of Titanium which is a bio-inert and bio-compatible material. It is accepted by the jaw bone and heals very predictably. Titanium implants have been in use for many years and are both safe and long-lasting. A newer type of dental implants made of Zirconia are also available. Zirconia dental implants, marketed as ‘meta-free’, are alternatives to Titanium implants, however there are no long term studies regarding their efficacy or success. We provide both types of dental implants, although over 99% are Titanium.
Long-term success of implants depends on how well they are maintained. Regular dental visits are essential. Your dentist will develop a dental visit program to ensure the health of your implants and remaining natural teeth. Periodontal disease can strike when teeth and gums are not properly cleaned. If left untreated bone loss, which weakens supporting structures, can lead to loss of dental implants as well as tooth loss.
Home Care: Daily brushing and flossing are absolutely necessary for long-term success. There are also many supplemental products that allow you to clean the implants properly. Your dentist will design a home care regime that will suit your individual needs.
Brushing: Your dentist may recommend a cordless electric toothbrush. Whether you use a standard brush or electric toothbrush, your dentist and hygienist will review your brushing techniques to ensure that you are cleaning the area properly.
Oral Irrigation Systems: Research has shown that oral irrigation is effective in reducing plaque accumulation around dental implants and natural teeth. Your dentist may also suggest that you use a special mouth rinse.
Flossing: Good home care includes daily flossing. Floss threaders are very helpful in allowing you to reach around implants, under bridges and bars so these areas can be easily cleaned. Your dentist may also recommend special types of floss.
Brushes: These small dental brushes, also called "Proxy Brushes", are specifically designed to clean between the teeth and implants. While not a replacement for dental floss they are helpful in cleaning hard to reach areas.
Dental Visits: It is typically recommended that patients visit their dentist for professional cleanings every 3-6 months. However, your dentist will design a dental visit program specifically for you.
Tooth Pastes: toothpastes contain fluoride, since they are designed for natural teeth. Fluoride does not hurt dental implant restorations. Avoid toothpastes that contain excessively abrasive ingredients (baking soda, stain removers, smoker's toothpastes, etc). Abrasive toothpastes can create wear on acrylic and can remove the glaze on porcelain.
Mouth Washes: Most commercial mouth rinses are designed to give a "fresh breath feeling." Alcohol is used in most mouth rinses and could cause dryness of the mouth. Patients who have dry mouth should avoid mouth rinses that contain alcohol. There are plenty of alcohol-free mouth rinses available today.
