Dental implants are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that 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 and fullness will be preserved. Patients with dental implants can smile with confidence, especially knowing that Doctors Nail and Dombrowski are behind the life-changing fix.
The implants themselves are small titanium posts that are inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes, and their placement is very generally very comfortable. The bone bonds with the titanium in a process called osseointegration, creating the strongest foundation for artificial teeth. Generally, anywhere between 8-12 weeks after implant placement, the healing caps at the top of each implant are exchanged for small posts called abutments, which act as stable anchors for the new teeth—and then the new teeth are placed.
Implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing bone deterioration that occurs in neighboring teeth and in the jaw when teeth are missing.
For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves only one surgical procedure, and is among the most comfortable procedures performed by Doctors Nail and Dombrowski.
First, implants are placed within your jawbone. Although this may sound painful, many patients resume normal activities that same day when having either 1 or 2 implants placed.
For the first two-to-three months following surgery, the implants are gradually bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures (if a large number of teeth are being replaced), and in some cases an immediate temporary tooth (or teeth) can be placed. During this time, it’s important to try not to chew directly on the new implant sites, and to start with a soft diet. Also during this time, your dentist will be planning and crafting the new, unique replacement teeth.
Once the implant(s) has/have bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. After having been cleared by our doctors, you will be released to your dentist who will remove the small cover caps from the implants and exchange them for small posts called “abutments” that serve as anchors for the final teeth—and the final teeth are then placed.
This entire process usually takes three to six months, and most patients experience minimal discomfort or disruption in their daily life during this time.
Using the most recent advances in dental implant technology, Doctors Nail and Dombrowski are usually able to place single stage implants. These implants do not require a second procedure to uncover them, but do require a minimum of eight weeks of healing time before the artificial teeth are placed. There are many situations where the implants can be placed at the same time as a tooth extraction, and some instances when a temporary tooth can be placed on the implant that same day – further minimizing the number of procedures and office visits.
Dental implant placement is ideally a team effort between an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon and a restorative dentist. While Doctors Nail or Dombrowski perform the initial tooth extractions and the actual implant procedure (and bone or gingival grafting, if necessary), the restorative dentist (your dentist) will fit and make the permanent teeth. Your dentist will also make any temporary teeth needed during the implant process.
A single prosthesis (crown) is used to replace one missing tooth. In these cases, 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 (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 either a bar, retentive anchor balls or similar connection or short titanium posts, whereas a fixed prosthesis is attached permanently and cannot be removed by the patient.
Doctors Nail and Dombrowski perform their in-office, outpatient implant procedures in the comfort of state-of-the-art office procedure rooms, thereby optimizing the level of comfort and sterility—and, ultimately, of procedural success. Inpatient hospital implant procedures may be required for patients who have special medical or anesthetic needs.
Once you learn about dental implants, you realize that if you are missing one or more teeth, or if you’ve been forced to live with failing teeth, there’s an amazing way to improve your life. You can be all smiles again with the expertise of Drs. Nail and Dombrowski.
When you lose several teeth – whether it’s a new situation or something you have lived with for years – chances are you’ve never become fully accustomed to losing such a vital part of your smile.
Dental implants can be your doorway to renewed self-confidence and peace of mind.
A Swedish scientist and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark, developed this concept for oral rehabilitation more than 50 years ago. With his pioneering research, Dr. Branemark opened the door to a lifetime of renewed comfort and self-confidence for tens of millions of individuals facing the frustration and embarrassment of tooth loss.
There are several reasons to select dental implants:
If you’re considering implants, your mouth must be examined thoroughly and your medical and dental history reviewed. If your mouth is not ideal for implants, then methods of improving outcome such as bone grafting may be recommended.
Most dental implant and associated grafting procedures can be performed in the office under local anesthesia, with or without general anesthesia.
Once the implant teeth are in place, they can serve for as long as your well-cared-for natural teeth, often for the rest of your life if you take proper care of them and you keep your mouth healthy. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing daily) and keeping regular appointments on the schedule recommended by your dentist.
