Dental Implants
Dental Implants
Dental implants, in Baltimore and throughout the world, have become the standard of care for replacing missing teeth, and for very good reasons. Dental implants are changing the way people live, providing foundations for dental restorations that look, feel and function like healthy, natural teeth. With dental implants, patients can eat most anything, speak, smile and laugh with confidence, and feel secure in the knowledge that they have protection against the changes in oral health, oral function and facial appearance that are common with other teeth replacement options.
Dental Implants in Baltimore: The Basic Details
Dental implants are tiny titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone in places where teeth have been lost. As the site heals, the dental implant bonds with the bone in much the same way as natural tooth roots – a process called osseointegration. This creates solid, stable artificial tooth roots that will be used to anchor replacement teeth.
Dental Implants Placement Surgery
At HarborView Surgical Arts, Dr. Bonnie Arroyo uses several common techniques in placing dental implants, depending upon the individual treatment plans of patients. Treatment planning is a collaborative effort between your oral surgeon and a restorative dentist to ensure a smooth and efficient dental restoration process.
Traditional staged implant placement is most common, and is done in two surgical sessions. In the initial session, the implants are placed into the jawbone, the gum tissue is closed over them, and they are left to heal and bond with the jawbone for a period of 2 to 4 months. After that bonding period, the dental implants will be uncovered in a second surgical session, and abutments – small posts designed to hold replacement teeth – will be attached to the implants.
For treatment plans that call for single-stage implants, placement is done in a single surgical session. Single-stage implants are placed with abutments already attached, leaving their posts protruding from the gums during the healing/bonding period, eliminating the need for a second surgical session.
Immediate load dental implants are another fairly common technique used today. These implants allow Dr. Arroyo – in select cases – to place dental implants and a provisional (temporary) denture in a single surgical session. This technique is most frequently used in patients who are being fitted with permanent dentures – a complete arch of replacement teeth anchored by implants – for the treatment of total tooth loss in one jaw or both.
The Next Step: Dental Restoration
Once dental implants and abutments are in place and intergeneration and healing are complete, prosthetic teeth will be fabricated and secured in place – the final step in the dental restoration. For the replacement of one missing tooth, a single crown is mounted unto the implant abutment. Replacing two or more teeth can be done by means of an implant-secured bridge, which may be supported by two or three dental implants. For patients who require the replacement of all teeth in one jaw or both, options include permanent dentures – which are fixed appliances that can only be removed by a dentist – or implant-secured overdentures that snap onto fixtures attached to implants and are removable by patients. These options may require the placement of anywhere from 4 to 8 implants per jaw.
The Advantages Of Choosing Dental Implants Over Other Restorative Options
Dental implants offer Baltimore dental patients a number of distinct advantages over all other available restorative options. Firstly, since dental implant restorations, unlike traditional bridges and dentures, replace tooth roots with dental implants, they aid in preventing bone loss in the jaw. Secondly, dental implant restorations will not loosen over time like traditional dentures, so biting and chewing efficiency does not suffer, leaving patients free to eat whatever they like, nor will they begin to slip or click during meals or conversation. Care is simple – just brushing, flossing and regular professional cleanings. Last, but certainly not least, dental implants offer more attractive, natural-looking results than other options.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Dental Implants in Baltimore?
Dental patients in Canton or throughout the Baltimore area can easily find out if they are good candidates for dental implants via a consultation with Dr. Arroyo. After a thorough evaluation and 3D dental imaging to evaluate overall health, oral health, and the quality and quantity of bone in the jaw, Dr. Arroyo can determine whether dental implants are right for you, as well as whether any preparatory procedures, such as bone grafts or sinus lifts, will be necessary to better ensure dental implant success and comfort. Chances are that you will be a good candidate – with today’s advanced materials and procedures, most anyone with missing teeth can be treated to a beautiful, natural-looking new smile with dental implants.