Dental Implants

Implants are structures, usually made of titanium, that are used to replace missing teeth. Inserted into the gums where the root of a tooth would normally grow, implants provide a platform for bridgework, dentures, or an artificial tooth.

As implants are usually anchored to the jaws either directly or a metal frame on the jaws, candidates for an implant must have a strong immune system as well as good bone density. People who meet these qualifications usually have a high rate of success.

Installing an implant is a procedure accomplished through several visits. An anchor is placed on the jaws under the gum line. The area is then allowed to heal for a period of up to six months. During this healing period, the anchor will become more stable in the jaw as the tissue grows around it. On the follow up visit, the implant is exposed and an extension is added. The bridgework, dentures, or an artificial tooth is then placed on the extension.

Implants are can be placed throughout the mouth in replace missing teeth in a variety of areas. A single missing tooth can be easily replaced, as can a missing set of upper or lower teeth. A full lower replacement usually only requires four to six implants to anchor a denture, eliminating the need for denture adhesive. Anterior replacements are used for missing incisors and cuspids in the front of the mouth, while molars and bicuspids are replaced with a posterior replacement.

Plano Implants