Dental Implants have been used successfully for over 25 years. Although not for everyone, dental implants can provide natural looking replacement of missing teeth. They can also be used to anchor or stabilize dentures. Not every dentist has training and experience in Implant dentistry. In fact, many dentists received no formal training in Implant Dentistry while they were in dental school. Thus, it is important to find a dentist with proper post-graduate training and experience in this new and exciting area of dentistry.

Dental Implants are placed by a dental surgeon into the jawbone following careful study and planning. This study and planning should minimally include: Photographs of your teeth, smile, and mouth, x-rays of your teeth and jawbones, moulds of your mouth / jaw bones, and a functional analysis of how your upper and lower jaw inter-relate.

Following collection of the necessary diagnostic information, your dentist should sit down with you and develop a goal-oriented plan based on your desired outcome. Common goals are: To replace missing teeth; To substitute implants for an existing partial denture; or to use implants in conjunction with dentures to create dentures which are completely stable when chewing.

Once goals have been established and a plan is agreed upon, the implants are placed in the jawbone. Some implants must be allowed to "integrate" or fuse to the jawbone prior to their use. This integration can take four to six months in some cases. Once the implants have integrated to the jawbone, they can be used to hold crowns, bridges, or dentures. Thus, implants typically involve two phases of treatment: the surgical phase (initially) and the restorative phase (later) when final restoration of the mouth is completed. In some select cases, implants can be used almost immediately after they are placed in the jawbone.

Fees for implant dentistry vary widely depending on the number of teeth being replaced, esthetic challenges, and the general complexity of the case. If you are interested in learning more about implant dentistry, and whether or not it is an appropriate option for you please give our office a call for an evaluation.