What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are pure titanium devices that are carefully placed into the jawbone. After three to six months the implants become integrated with the jawbone and act as an anchor for your replacement teeth. This new foundation acts as an artificial root system for your new natural looking teeth, and can actually prevent the ongoing resorption of bone that occurs with conventional dental restorations.

Is the procedure successful?

The development of this method of highly successful tooth replacement was begun in the early 1960’s by a Swedish orthopedic surgeon, Per Ingvar Branenmark MD, Ph.D. He observed a phenomenon in which pure titanium actually bonds with healthy surrounding bone called "osseointegration". After thirty years of carefully monitored clinical studies and documented research osseointegrated implants are a widely accepted reconstructive dental procedure. They have successfully improved the lives of thousands of patients worldwide and are accepted by the American Dental Association. Our office has been placing dental implants since 1986 and is very proud of our high success rate.

Am I a good candidate for dental implants?

Whether you are 18 or 85, if you are missing one or more of your natural teeth, dental implants may be the perfect solution for you. Young adults who have lost teeth through accidents, adults who have lost teeth due to periodontal disease, and seniors who have just grown tired of ill fitting dentures have all had gratifying experiences with dental implants.

Is treatment uncomfortable?

Although this may vary, most patients report that the discomfort is minimal and less than they had anticipated. A local anesthetic is usually all that is required to make the procedure comfortable. We recognize that often patients are anxious before implant therapy, therefore we offer various forms of sedation. If you have any apprehension regarding therapy please discuss this with one of the doctors.