Dental Implants

A Lasting Foundation for a Lasting Smile

If you've lost permanent teeth due to an accident, injury, disease or extraction, you may want to consider dental implants as a secure, functional replacement option. Implants can restore your normal eating ability, provide face muscle support, and prevent jawbone atrophy, because they're permanently, surgically anchored to the jawbone as tooth root substitutes. This means that they don't rely on neighboring teeth for support, but instead actually form a stable foundation, bonded right into your own bone structure. And this important advantage gives implants the ability to withstand the incredibly tough biomechanics involved in biting and chewing.

Tough Material for a Tough Job

Implants are tiny posts, made of either a metallic or bone-like ceramic material. The most common variety, called a subperio implant, is inserted into the jawbone below the gum surface, at the location of the missing tooth. The bone then bonds to the post and forms a secure foundation onto which artificial teeth may be attached and shaped to match the patient's existing teeth. If the jawbone is insufficient for such as procedure, a custom-made metal framework can be fitted directly onto the existing bone instead. In other cases, implants may even be used to provide an anchor for bridgework.

Precise Positioning for a Precise Bite

You may not realize it, but correct biting and chewing biomechanics rely greatly upon accurate positioning of the teeth. So although the implant process is quite straightforward, it requires considerable expertise. And Dr. Weygandt's special implantology training allows him to approach the process with an expert's perspective: inserting the tooth surgically at precisely the correct angle and in precisely the right position. In fact, he performs several extra pre-operative planning steps to ensure this kind of accuracy: taking a cast, waxing up the tooth on a preliminary model, creating a clear stent to go over the tooth, then situating the tooth for maximum stability.

Anchoring & Attachment for an Accurate Fit

Once the planning phase is complete, implant surgery generally requires a couple of separate steps: "anchoring" and then "attachment". Typically, you'll first undergo a brief surgery to anchor the tooth root substitute "post" into the jaw-bone below the gum tissue. We'll allow this post to incorporate into the bone for 12 weeks to 6 months to form a solid, enduring base with sufficient stability to withstand the tremendous mechanical pressure involved in normal chewing. It's not likely that you'll even notice the presence of the inserts. During the wait, we may provide you with a temporary bridge or dentures to facilitate eating and to help maintain facial muscle support. In the meantime, we'll be overseeing the custom-design of the artificial teeth to be used over the finished implant tops.

Once the implant post has bonded with your jawbone, a second surgery will  fix the top of the implant onto the anchor post. To accomplish this, we carefully uncover each implant anchor, connect it to a small post that protrudes above the gum-line, and completely cover it with the previously designed, custom-made artificial tooth. The result is a secure, attractive, replacement tooth or set of teeth, designed to function as effectively as your remaining natural teeth. Depending on the number of teeth involved, this final step in the implant process usually requires no more than two months to complete.

Choices & Commitments for Optimum Longevity

If you're unfamiliar with implant technology, you may question the success rate of the procedure. But you can relax: the technology is approximately 20 years old, and has proven a highly successful choice for tooth replacement. Of course, this is dependant on the recipient's health, as well as the location and function of the teeth being replaced.

First, recipients receive the implants best when they're in good general health, with proper bone structure and healthy gums. Second, anterior placement (lower front jaw implants) are typically successful in 95% of cases, while side or rear placements may be slightly less so'around 85% successful. Often, people unable to wear dentures are among those who benefit most from implants. On the other hand, chronic health problems such as clenching, bruxism, or systemic diseases may decrease the success rate of the procedure immensely. And, people who smoke or drink alcohol are often poor candidates for implants.

Due to the surgery involved, implant procedures are typically more expensive than traditional bridgework. However, dental and medical insurance may cover portions of such restoration. It's best to discuss this with Dr. Weygandt and our staff during your implant placement evaluation, and we'll do our best to assist you in working with your insurance company.

Finally, you'll want to seriously consider your own commitment to your future oral health: you must be serious about maintaining excellent oral hygiene to facilitate the success of your implant procedure. So, you'll want to be sure and brush and floss around your fixtures at least twice a day, according to the specific instructions we give you. Further, you may need up to four annual professional cleanings to maintain healthy gums.

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