Dental Implants
When it comes to missing teeth, the good news is that what has been lost can be restored. At Park Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, your lost teeth can be replaced with dental implants that not only look and function as natural teeth but also support the health of your facial bone structure!
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a tooth replacement that is attached permanently to the jawbone by way of an embedded fixture. This fixture, which is implanted in the bone through surgery, fuses to the bone to form a strong and secure artificial root. An abutment attached to the fixture at the gum line holds the crown, your new artificial tooth. But while the tooth is artificial, it doesn't have to look fake. At Park Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we use ceramic crowns to protect the beauty of your smile, ensuring that all visible dental work blends in seamlessly. For more information on the types of crowns we use, see our porcelain crowns page. Fixtures and abutments are commonly made out of metal, but can also be metal-free. We also offer the option of zirconia implants to support patients who need or prefer to avoid metal in their restorations.
Dental Implants to Support Bridges and Dentures
In addition to their use in individual tooth replacement, dental implants can be used to support bridges as well as entire upper or lower dentures. Because they are firmly anchored to the bone, implant bridges and implant-supported dentures offer the stability and comfort often lacking in removable dentures. Implant bridges can replace as few as three teeth on two implants or up to a full set on several. You can find out more about replacing full sets of teeth with dental implants by visiting our page on implant-supported dentures.
Dental Implants Prevent Facial Collapse
The benefit of dental implants goes well beyond their stability, comfort, and aesthetics. To understand why, consider what happens when a tooth is extracted. The absence of its root structure signals to the body that the bone in that area is no longer needed. The body's response is to begin the process of bone resorption, which is the disintegration of the bone minerals so that they can be used elsewhere. When many teeth are missing, bone resorption becomes a serious issue which over time will lead to the condition known as facial collapse. As you can see in the image at left, this condition leads to gradual but drastic changes to a person's facial aesthetics.
Fortunately, dental implants prevent both bone resorption and facial collapse. This is because the body responds to the implanted fixture as it would a natural tooth root. The presence of any root — whether natural or artificial — protects the bone surrounding it by indicating to the body that the bone is still vital. By replacing your extracted teeth with dental implants, you're doing more than just upgrading your appearance. You're preserving the health of your jawbone as well.
The Park Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Difference
The process of getting an implant involves many components, including tooth extraction, implant surgery, and custom crown design. Sometimes bone grafting is involved as well. At Park Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we're able to streamline what might otherwise seem like a complex procedure by offering all of these services in-house. At one location, you'll receive attentive, compassionate care, from your initial exam to your finished restoration.
“In the beginning, I was a little bit scared because I had a bad experience with the previous dental implant that I had done years ago in a different clinic. But from my first appointment I realized that [coming to Park Family] was the right thing because all the staff are very professional! Dr. Campbell and James answer all my questions and doubts to make me feel secure and comfortable. I am so pleased with everything they've done for me. I definitely recommend them for any implant procedure.” – Liz L.
Our process begins with a comprehensive dental exam, which includes taking three-dimensional x-rays and digital images to assess your oral health and bone quantity to find out if you are a candidate for dental implants. If your dentist determines that this restorative solution is right for your situation, digital planning will help him or her pinpoint the correct placement of each implant. Our dentists take this diagnostic and examination phase very seriously, as incorrect placement is a common cause of implant failure. To learn more about the care that we take to protect your health and your investment in dental implants, see our page on implant failure.
The next step will then be to take care of any tooth extraction or bone grafting that need to be done prior to implant surgery. These procedures, as well as the surgery itself, will be done in our office by our very own dentists. During surgery, the implant fixture will be installed into your jawbone precisely in the identified position using the technology of a surgical guide. After surgery, we'll wait a few months while your implant fuses to the surrounding bone, a process known as osseointegration. Your beautiful new crown will be designed and manufactured right here in our in-house laboratory. When osseointegration is complete, your dentist will affix the abutment and crown to the fixture, and you'll have a brand new tooth!
How to Get Started
To schedule your initial exam, simply call our office at (239) 206-1500 or request an appointment online and we'll give you a call to schedule. We look forward to helping you restore your smile!
