Dental Implants
In the past, the only form of tooth replacement was a removable partial denture, or a bridge. Patients were not too happy with a removable appliance as it did not feel natural, and a bridge involved cutting into teeth that didn't necessarily need crowns. Now, we are living in an era of advanced dental care, and we can replace missing teeth with Dental Implants. Implants are titanium-base cylinders which go through a process of osseo-integration, and resemble and function like the root of a tooth. The success rate of implants is extremely high, making them an attractive choice when replacing missing teeth.
Single implant crowns
There are three components to a single implant crown:
- Implant
- Abutment
- Crown
The Implant is the part that stays in your gum and bone. Once the implant heals after a few months, we fabricate a customized abutment that attaches to the implant. This part resembles a natural tooth about to receive a crown. Then, we make a porcelain crown that cements on to the abutment, and it looks and functions like a natural tooth. The beautiful thing is, you'll never get a cavity, or need a root canal in an implant crown.
Implant Bridge
An implant-supported bridge is similar to a regular dental bridge, but it is supported by implants and not by natural teeth. This is an excellent options in areas of multiple missing teeth. Instead of placing multiple single implant crown, we place fewer implants and preserve your bone as much as possible.
Implant overdenture
Anyone who has used a traditional full coverage denture is likely familiar with the difficulties of everyday function such as chewing, laughing and speaking. Lack of confidence in an unreliable prosthesis can limit desire for social interaction, and even trigger depression. Implant overdentures can eliminate most of these problems. A removable implant overdenture is anchored to two or more implants by way of a titanium bar or attachments. It is intended for patients desiring more stability than a regular denture.
Along with improvements in everyday life, implant overdentures may promote additional health benefits. Ask your dentist about the ability of implant-retained dentures to:
- helps prevent premature aging
- restore natural chewing function
- minimize bone loss
- improve long-term health and nutrition
- eliminate the need for denture adhesives