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Dental Implant

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is an artificial root usually made of titanium metal. It is placed inside the jawbone and bonds to the bone. They provide a foundation for replacement teeth.

Who can get Dental Implants?

Most people can have dental implants. Some may need additional procedures such as tissue or bone grafts to prepare a bed for placing implants.

Consult your dentist to find out if dental implants can replace your missing teeth.

How Dental Implants are placed?

• Your dentist will examine your jaw, take x-rays and may recommend a scan ( a three dimension x-ray) of your jawbone.

• After reviewing your dental records, your dentist will select the size of the implant/s.

• During the first stage of surgery dental implant/s are placed inside jawbone, beneath the gum tissue. The gum tissue will be stitched back into place.

• Implant/s will bond to the bone in a few months.

• When the implant is stable, your dentist will take impressions of the implant site and the opposing teeth or jaw.

• A dental laboratory will make an abutment (a post) that connects the replacement tooth to the implant.

• Your dentist will attach the post and the replacement tooth to the implant with an screw which is hidden inside the replacement tooth.

• In some cases, the replacement tooth/ teeth are placed at the time of the surgery.

Benefits of dental implants

• Improved comfort, they work just like natural teeth.

• Good appearance, they look natural.

• They do not use other teeth as support. They stand alone and there is no need for alteration of the nearby teeth. This keeps the adjacent teeth intact.

• They do not affect the speech.

• No need for adhesives to keep teeth in place.

• They last long.

• They are easy to eat with.

Implant Supported Dentures

All-on-4® treatment (Nobel biocare)

It is a fixed bridge replacing all upper or lower teeth and is supported by 4 implants. It is recommended for total rehabilitation of the edentulous patient or for patients with badly broken down, decayed or compromised teeth due to gum disease.

Some patients meeting the criteria may get a provisional immediate bridge replacing all teeth on the day the implants are placed.

Only four implants are required : 
Two straight anterior implants and two implants tilted up to 45º in the posterior.

Bone grafting is usually avoided by tilting the posterior implants, utilizing available bone. This will reduce the cost and course of the treatment.