Dental implants are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. Patients with dental implants can smile with confidence.
What are Dental Implants?
Bone Loss
Dental implants are small titanium posts, which are inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes. They are surgically placed into the jawbone. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Small posts are then attached to the implant, which protrude through the gums. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth. Implants replace missing natural teeth with titanium ones.
Implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing. Natural teeth have a relationship with the jaw bone (alveolar bone) that the roots go into. The bone stabilizes the tooth and the presence of a healthy tooth maintains the bone.
(Images Courtesy of www.nobelbiocare.com)
Loss of teeth results in loss of bone over time. Replacing missing teeth with implants preserves the bone.
Dental Implant Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.
Having trouble? Please make sure you have version 7 of the Flash browser plugin in order to correctly view this presentation. This software is available as a free download.
The Surgical Procedure
Traditionally, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time.
After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Dr. Reynolds will uncover the implants and attach small posts, which will act as anchors for the artificial teeth. These posts protrude through the gums. Your dentist will then create crowns to be placed on the implants. When the artificial teeth are placed, these posts will not be seen. The entire procedure usually takes four to eight months. Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily life.
Advances in Planning Surgeries; Medical Modeling
Dr. Reynolds sometimes uses medical modeling to help plan extensive implant and bone graft surgeries. Medical modeling produces highly accurate physical models derived from medical imaging modalities such as CT and MRI. Sophisticated software is used to view and extract information to create a virtual 3D model of a patient’s bone structure. After the virtual model is created, they produce the final model in physical form. Completed models are then measured and checked for accuracy. Dr. Reynolds uses this exact model of your bone and teeth structures along with nerve location to plan bone grafting and the positioning of the implants in your bone.
Nobel Guide is an advancement similar to medical modeling but instead of producing a model it produces a highly accurate implant placement guide which can facilitate placing implants and the final crown in the same visit.
Nobel Guide is a powerful 3-D CAD program which can take CT information and create a virtual fully rotatable representation of the patients bone structure and impose ion it various sized implants in any 3-Dimensional position.
Using the most recent advances in dental implant technology, doctors are able to place single stage implants. These implants do not require a second procedure to uncover them, but may require a minimum of six weeks of healing time before artificial teeth are placed. There are even situations where the implants can be placed at the same time as a tooth extraction - further minimizing the number of surgical procedures. Advances in dental implant technology have made it possible, in select cases, to extract teeth and place implants with crowns at one visit. This procedure is called “immediate loading”.
Who actually performs the implant placement?
Implants are a team effort between an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and a Restorative Dentist. While Dr. Reynolds performs the actual implant surgery, and initial tooth extractions and bone grafting if necessary, the restorative dentist (your dentist) fits and makes the permanent prosthesis. Dr. Reynolds or your dentist will also make any temporary prosthesis (a part that resembles and acts like a tooth or teeth) needed during the implant process.
A single prosthesis (crown) is used to replace one missing tooth – each prosthetic tooth attaches to its own implant.
A partial prosthesis (fixed bridge) can replace two or more teeth and may require only two or three implants.
A complete dental prosthesis (full fixed bridge) replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. The number of implants varies depending upon which type of complete prosthesis (removable or fixed) is recommended.
A removable prosthesis (Over Denture) attaches to a bar or ball in socket attachments, whereas a fixed prosthesis is permanent and removable only by the dentist.
Mini Implants for Denture Retention – (by Imtec)
Small one piece implants can be placed in the lower or upper jaw for denture retention. These implants are only 1.8mm wide and can be placed in atrophic jaws (where there has been bone loss) when other implants cannot without bone grafting or manipulation. They are less expensive than the wide implants and can be placed in one visit.
Your dentures are retrofitted to accept snaps for the button on top of the implant to snap into. Many times this is done on the same day the implants are placed. Although the mini-implants have many excellent features, they are not the best choice for everyone. Dr. Reynolds will help you decide what is best for you.
Dental Implant Overview
For a brief narrated overview of the dental implant process, please click the image on the right. It will launch our flash educational MiniModule in a separate window that may answer some of your questions about dental implants.
Having trouble? Please make sure you have version 7 of the Flash browser plugin in order to correctly view this presentation. This software is available as a free download.
To preview Pre-Operative Instructions, Consent and Post-Operative Instructions along with the scheduled visits, see “Doc’s Orders; Dental; Dental Implants”.
Dr. Reynolds sometimes uses medical modeling to help plan extensive implant and bone graft surgeries. Medical modeling produces highly accurate physical models derived from medical imaging modalities such as CT and MRI. Sophisticated software is used to view and extract information to create a virtual 3D model of a patient’s bone structure. After the virtual model is created, they produce the final model in physical form. Completed models are then measured and checked for accuracy. Dr. Reynolds uses this exact model of your bone and teeth structures along with nerve location to plan bone grafting and the positioning of the implants in your bone. 
Small one piece implants can be placed in the lower or upper jaw for denture retention. These implants are only 1.8mm wide and can be placed in atrophic jaws (where there has been bone loss) when other implants cannot without bone grafting or manipulation. They are less expensive than the wide implants and can be placed in one visit. 