There is one day every denture patient fears: the day when the denture no longer stays where it should. As we get a little older, the ridges in the mouth that support a denture tend to diminish. This adds to the instability of the denture and mishaps when speaking or eating. As you can imagine, a difficult denture doesn’t do much for your self-confidence. Here’s what we can do to help. Since dental research began investigating implants, we’ve watched them evolve. Now, after intensive advanced training, we’re able to offer implants to our patients.
What is the procedure for implants? Implant therapy involves careful planning and takes a lot of time. The first phase is treatment planning. Once the patient decides to have an implant then a complete analysis of the oral situation which includes intraoral exam, radiographs and diagnostic models will be done to make sure the patient has adequate bone mass, jaw height and width, enough distance between the upper and lower teeth and gum tissue (inter-occlusal distance) to accommodate the implant and teeth, consultation with other specialists, reviewing the patient’s general health condition, habits such as smoking which can influence the success rate of the implant will be addressed.
The second phase is the surgical part. It involves placement of the implant into the upper or the lower jawbone and is usually performed with local anesthesia or a combination of other types of sedation. There is usually a healing period from two to six months for the Osseo(bone)-integration to take place. During this phase the patient usually has a temporary replacement of the missing tooth. The patient will be carefully supervised at regular intervals to check the tissue health and the healing.
The third phase is taking the final measurements for the new teeth made to the unique specifications of your mouth and face which will be secured to the implants and involves laboratory work. Perhaps it, we will teach you the principles and the practice of implant maintenance which perhaps is the most important phase for the patient, and we will want to see the patient at regular intervals to check the implant and the oral health.
Implants are wonderful, they build confidence and restore eating ability. Implants are not only for denture patients but for patients who have congenitally missing teeth, or who have lost teeth due to accidents or caries. If you are considering implants, we’d be happy to provide you with more information and it is our job to help you gather all the information you can to make the right choice for yourself.
