Calgary, AB dentist, Dentist in Calgary, AB,

Dental Implants

Dental implants are becoming more popular in today's dental society for a number of reasons. Implants are utilized to offer patients a foundation for new restorative teeth where natural teeth are missing or have been extracted. It is a fixed solution to having partial or complete dentures and/or bridgework. Implants provide excellent support and stability for these dental appliances.

Benefits

· The implant will osseointegrate (bond) with the existing bone

· The new implant will support your teeth firmly and safely

· Your new implants are aesthetically pleasing

· You will no longer have pain during talking or eating

· The dental implant will prevent progressive bone atrophy

· Implants have a proven scientific basis

Procedure

The procedure for getting implants requirea a number of visits over several months.

The tooth structure has two main artificial sections, the root and the crown (usually titanium). The root is the section of the tooth that is below the gumline. A dental implant acts as the restorative for this section of the tooth. The metal implant acts as an anchor in the jawbone. X-rays and impressions are taken of the jaw and teeth to determine bone, gum tissue, and spacing available for the implant.

The first step of the procedure is surgical placement of the implant by a dentist or periodontist (a gum/bone specialist). Under regular dental anesthetic, the gum tissue is opened and the dentist places the implant into the jawbone. When this is achieved, the tissue is then sutured closed. There is not often significant discomfort with this procedure. This process can take from 1-3 hours depending on the number of implants being placed.

This implant will be left untreated for a period of 3-6 months. During this time, the bone will grow around the implant in a process called osseointegration. A removable crown may be utilized during this time period to allow for chewing and to preserve the cosmetic appearance.

Depending on the type of implant, a second surgery may be needed in order to place the post that will hold the artificial tooth in place. With other implant systems, the post and anchor are already attached and placed at the same time.

After several weeks of healing, the artificial teeth are made and fitted to the post of the anchor. This step may take one to two months to complete because several fittings may be required.