Dental Implants

Dental implants are small anchors made of a biocompatible metal called titanium that are placed in the jawbone. Dental implants are the replacement of tooth roots in the mouth. Once placed, the anchors begin to fuse with the bone over the course of a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the permanent attachment of the replacement teeth.

Because of the natural look and feel of the porcelain and the functional stability provided by the implants, implant supported bridges are an effective solution to replace multiple missing teeth.

An implant supported bridge is a dental bridge that is secured to two or more dental implants rather than relying on the adjacent natural teeth for support. When a bridge uses natural teeth for attachment, the teeth must be prepared for crowns. Once the bridge is placed, the natural teeth will be subjected to increased stress that can be damaging – particularly if the existing tooth, roots, or surrounding bone structure are already compromised.

This technique offers many advantages over traditional dentures.

Easy to care for, this solution can simulate the look and feel of natural teeth and stay fixed in place with the implants acting as anchors. Patients will not experience the typical rocking and movement or gum irritation associated with dentures.

Dental implant placement can also help alleviate the sunken look that can occur with bone loss in the jaw by stimulating bone growth in the area around the implant. This process can also help prevent future bone loss.

In traditional implants, an abutment is attached to the titanium implant screw, and the restoration is then placed on the abutment as shown here.

MDIs are approximately half the diameter of a traditional implant and use a titanium post, rather than a screw.  Instead of an abutment piece that supports the final restoration, MDIs use a ball and socket attachment system.  The ball on the end of the titanium post (shown above) provides the attachment point for the o-ring in the replacement tooth.

Similarities between MDIs and full size dental implants:

• The implant is inserted into the jawbone.
• The implants, once inserted into the jawbone, are fixed in place.
• The implant serves to replace the tooth root and anchor replacement teeth.
• The placement of the implant can prompt bone regeneration around the placement site.
• The implant can be used to support one or more teeth for crowns or bridges and can also help provide support for removable lower arch dentures.

MDIs may be preferable to full size dental implants in the following situations:

• Bone mass in the jaw is insufficient to support a full size implant screw.
• There is a small space or gap into which to insert the fabricated tooth (such as an incisor as opposed to a molar).
• Children or young adults have congenitally missing teeth.
• Minimally invasive techniques are required due to health or other reasons.

Using CBCT scans, virtual treatment planning, and highly specialized training, we are able to provide guided implant placement for our patients.

Using a virtual 3-D model or a physical model, implant placements and the following restorative work can be simulated to create the ideal patient treatment plan. These virtual plans allow the doctor to take multiple aspects of implant placement and restoration into consideration, resulting in optimal aesthetics, function, and longevity for the patient’s final restoration. Working with a 3-D model also allows the patient to better understand the procedures and visualize the end result.

Implants are the best solution for simulating the look, feel, and function of natural teeth. Dental implants do much more than replace missing teeth.  They help maintain and strengthen bone structure, provide the ability to chew healthy food, and give patients the confidence to smile. They also protect existing teeth by helping to preserve bone structure.

Once a tooth is lost, several things begin to happen that are not immediately noticeable to a patient and which can have a significant negative effect on both health and appearance. Tooth roots help hold teeth in place, but they are also critical in maintaining health in the surrounding gums and supporting bone structures. Bone loss in the jawbone is one significant problem that naturally occurs once a tooth is lost. This bone loss can compromise the integrity of neighboring tooth roots and tooth stability, and it is also a large part of what causes the “sunken” look that is seen in people who have lost several or all of their teeth. It is the reason patients who wear dentures find that over time their dentures are harder and harder to fit and keep in place.

Dental implant placement can help generate bone growth in the area around the implant, which not only strengthens the bone and builds support, but can also alleviate the sunken look that can occur with bone loss in the jaw. This process is known as osseointegration and is a significant benefit of implant placement because it can also help prevent future bone loss.