Dental Implants

Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth. The implants are tiny Titanium or Titaniums/Zirconia alloy posts which are placed into the jaw bone where teeth are missing. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. In addition, dental implants can help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration which occurs when teeth are missing and to restore or reconstruct facial esthetics.

Dental implants are changing the way people live! With them, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life.

Dental Implant Procedure

Traditionally, the placement of dental implants involves a few steps.

1. First, hopeless tooth is extracted and bone graft may be placed into the extraction sockets to preserve the bone contour. We wait about 2-3 months before placing implants.

2. Implant placement surgery. If there are some bone defects around implant site, bone graft will be placed at the same time of implant surgery to restore bone mass around implants. If there are soft tissue defect around implant site, soft tissue graft may also be performed at this time. After implant surgeries, we need to wait about three to six months for the implant to grow into the jaw bone. You should be able to wear temporary flipper/denture and eat a soft diet during this time. 

3. After the dental implant has bonded to the jaw bone, the second phase begins. We will then uncover the implants and attach a small healing caps.  Some patients may need soft tissue grafts at time of second stage surgery.

4. After soft tissue and hard tissue heal,  we can take the final mold and send it to lab for design and fabrication of  for final prosthesis. After a few weeks,  the final implant crown or bridgework or denture will be tried in and delivered and patients’ function and aesthetics will be restored.

Using the most recent advances in technology, we can make implants treatments easier. 

   1. we are able to place implants at near ideal positions using 3D printed surgical guides designed from CBCT/digital scanning data     2. In many cases, we can place healing caps at the same time of implant placement without the need of second stage surgeries.        3.  Immediate implant placement after tooth extraction. There are situations when implant and bone graft can be placed at the same time as the tooth extraction – further minimizing your number of surgical procedures.                                                                                      4. Immediate implant placement with provisional loading. In many cases, we can  also make temporary prosthesis at the time of dental implants placements, especially for anterior implants or for all on X full arch implants reconstructions cases.

Dental implant placement usually is a team effort between a surgeon (oral surgeon/periodontist) and a restorative dentist. At our office, with extensive training on implant dentistry,  we can perform the initial tooth extractions, ridge preservation bone graft /implant surgeries and implant restorations at one place for most implants cases.  We also have experiences performing complicated GBR with PRP-PRF/lateral and crestal sinus lift bone grafts and full mouth re-construction surgeries. However, if you prefer, or for very difficult and challenging cases, or for patients with compromised medical conditions, we have trusted specialist to refer to for surgery part before we restore the final implant prosthesis for you.  

The entire procedure usually takes three  to six months for simple implants and takes 9-12 months for complicated cases. Most patients do not experience disruption in their daily life. 

For the Before and after photos of our implants cases, click this link in our smile galleries.