Dental Implant Surgery – Teeth Implants
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are a long-term solution to replacing missing teeth. They help to preserve your natural bone and maintain your smile. Dental implants have become the standard of care and are a viable alternative to bridges and dentures.
Implants are generally composed of 3 parts:
- the titanium fixture that integrates with your bone,
- the prosthetic that acts as the tooth crown, bridge or denture and
- the abutment that attaches the fixture to the prosthetic.
Leaving spaces in your mouth over a long period of time can lead to bone loss and poor aesthetics. Implants help to preserve your bone level by stimulating bone growth and preventing bone loss.
Implant Dentistry
Implants in our San Leandro East Bay Area office are placed using minimally-invasive guided surgery. During your appointment, we take a 3D CT scan and use this image to plan the ideal placement. We then 3-D print a surgical guide to increase accuracy and predictability during surgery. The doctors at our office have advanced implant training and can explain the entire process while providing the visual reference of your oral structure and where the insertion will start. Next we will explain the titanium fixture integration with your bone, the abutment, and the prosthetic tooth crown. This method is the safest and most efficient technique. Our goal is to produce lasting results with the most comfort for our patients.
On average, it takes 4 months for our dentists to integrate. Once completed, we are able to proceed with the crown and abutment (platform) – a short time frame of 10 days. With our CEREC technology, we are able to digitally design and create the crown in the office to make sure you get the best fit for your mouth.
Implants or Dentures?
Dentures are made from prosthetic material and can be either removable or fixed. Removable dentures are sometimes called “false teeth.” Fixed dentures are known commonly as bridges and sometimes crowns. Traditional bridges affect adjacent teeth because they need to be grinded down to create anchors for the bridge and are compromised. Inserts, however, do not affect nearby tooth structures and instead may help to keep them from shifting. Dental Implants are durable, function like natural teeth and are designed to last a lifetime. In comparison, certain crowns are designed for a 10-year span.
A tooth implant is low maintenance when compared to removable dentures. Removable dentures requiring soaking and additional measures to maintain cleanliness. In comparison teeth implants act as the other teeth in your mouth.
Molar Insertion
Whether it’s a missing molar, incisor, canine or pre-molar, dental implants can be a replacement option. Waiting to see a dentist regarding a missing tooth, can lead to teeth shifting, bone loss and other consequences. Our dentists can evaluate your options and provide you with CAD/CAM models to show your teeth structure and how an implant can work for you. Our San Leandro East Bay Area dentists will also evaluate your bone density in your jaw and explain all the options available before proceeding with an implant.
Once your tooth implant has been completed, the patient should continue the normal oral care routine (brushing and flossing). Our office is always available for follow up questions or concerns regarding your recent tooth restoration surgical procedure. For more information regarding Dental Implants, WebMD provides additional background.
