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Dental implants are improving the lives of many people. They were created to replace teeth that feel and look like one's natural tooth. They preserve the structure of the face, preventing further bone resorption that occurs when teeth are missing. Someone who has lost teeth can eat almost anything. The patient can finally feel confident in smiling again.
A dental implant is a metal screw that is placed into the jaw bone. It acts as an anchor for a false tooth or a set of false teeth. The implants themselves are tiny titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as a tooth root. The bone integrates with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Small posts that protrude through the gums are then attached to the crown.
Bridges sacrifice adjacent healthy teeth and usually do not last as long as a dental implant. In addition, a denture or a "partial" may be very uncomfortable and embarrassing.
The patient must have enough jaw bone in the area of the missing tooth. Bone grafting may be necessary for some patients. Some people are missing all their teeth and most of those are excellent candidates for dental implants. Today we use implants to replace small bridges, removable partial dentures, and even single tooth replacement.
Dr. Pezeshkian offers a type of implant treatment that allows patients that have full dentures to attach their denture to 4 implants. This is a great new modification because instead of placing an implant for all the teeth that are missing, the doctor places 4 implants and attaches the denture to them. This makes having a denture much more comfortable.
Dr. Pezeshkian uses the most recent advances in dental implant technology. A CT scan is taken of the patient while the patient is wearing a radiographic guide over the edentulous area. From that 3D visualization, Dr. Pezeshkian can see the nerves and anatomy of the patient's oral cavity to help place an implant safely and effectively. A custom precision drill guide is made from the CT scan to wear during the implant procedure. Dental implant placement is a team effort between the periodontist and a restorative dentist. While Dr. Pezeshkian performs the actual implant surgery (initial tooth extractions and bone grafting if necessary) and the restorative dentist (your dentist) fits and makes the permanent prosthesis.
For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves 2 surgical procedures. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first 3-6 months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time. At the same time, your dentist is forming new replacement teeth. After the implant is bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Dr. Pezeshkian will uncover the implants and attach small posts that protrude through the gums and will act as anchors for the artificial teeth. When the artificial teeth are placed, these posts will not be seen. The entire procedure usually takes 6-8 months or more, varying from case to case. Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily life.
The actual procedure to surgically place a dental implant is done under local anesthesia and is generally not at all painful. When the anesthesia wears off about three hours later, you might expect some discomfort. The level of discomfort is quite different from patient to patient, but most patients do not have significant problems. Some patients do have varying degrees of pain or discomfort which may last for several days. Swelling and black and bluing may also develop.
The protocol that was originally developed clearly states that we must wait a minimum of three months before we can begin to construct the new dental prosthesis that will be supported by the implants.
Once the implants are in place, they will serve you well for many years if you take care of the and keep your mouth healthy. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and keeping regular appointments with your dental specialists.
SINGLE TOOTH REPLACEMENT "ALL ON FOUR" REPLACEMENT WITH DENTURE