Dental Implants the closest thing to natural teeth!

Think of your natural tooth in two parts:

• The part above the gum is called the crown.
This is the white portion that you see in the mouth.
• The part below the gum is the root.
  This is the portion that keeps your tooth firm because it is held by your jaw bone.

To replace a single lost tooth, an implant, or a titanium screw, is inserted into the bone. In the typical case, the implant would be covered by gum and left for 3-6 months. This allows the bone to heal around the implant and hold it firmly. This process of healing is called osseo-integration.

After the bone has healed well around the implant, a small extension, or abutment (post), would be placed over the implant. A new customized porcelain crown would be constructed and cemented over the abutment. You will then have a brand new tooth!

In some cases, a temporary plastic crown can be placed over a newly placed implant. Whether this can be done depends on factors like whether there is a critical need for an immediate aesthetic replacement and whether biting forces will be placed on the tooth.

What are the limitations to implant placement?

• There must be bone of sufficient height and width to support the implant. In cases of inadequate bone, a graft may be required to give stability to the implant
• The patient must be in good health, for example, conditions like diabetes must be well-controlled.
• Any infection, like a gum abscess, must be resolved first, before the implant is placed.
• Smokers will find that healing around the implant may be poor.
• Those who brux their teeth (i.e. grind their teeth excessively) may find that the longevity of their implants will be undermined. To help manage this, a soft, plastic guard may need to be worn to protect the implant as well as the natural teeth.