Are you a candidate for dental Implants?

The ideal patient for a dental implant is someone with good general and oral health. The patient must have adequate bone width and height in their jaw, in order to support the implant, and the gums must be healthy and free from periodontal disease.

Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, or several missing teeth. Implants replace the lost teeth and roots. Implant supported bridges or dentures can also be made to replace several missing teeth. The benefit of implants is that, unlike bridges, the neighboring teeth are not drilled, when replacing the missing tooth. Dental implants may also support a partial or full denture, eliminating the need for denture adhesives or metal clasps.

Once the implants have been placed in the jaw bone, there is a waiting period of two to six months, to allow the implant to bond securely with the surrounding bone. In the meantime a temporary prosthesis is provided to replace the missing teeth.

Some patients may need bone grafting procedures, in areas where the bone is not adequate enough to support an implant. Bone substitutes (either synthetic or natural) are placed under the gums, and over a period of six to twelve weeks, these materials stimulate new bone growth.

Patients should have excellent oral hygiene and they require regular dental visits, in order to keep the implants clean and plaque free.