Restore your smile or repair damage to your teeth
When you are missing a tooth, particularly a front tooth, it can be quite traumatic and have a significant impact on your oral health as well as your confidence.
Previously when a tooth was lost the only replacement options were a bridge or denture. One of the most significant innovations in restorative dentistry has been the development of dental implants.
To provide you with uncompromising quality of care and eliminate the inconvenience of being referred to another centre for the placement of your implant, esteemed oral surgeon Dr Richard Harris is able to complete the surgery phase of your implant treatment here at Forest Lake Dental.
Made from medical grade titanium, dental implants can resemble a screw or a cylinder and when placed into the jawbone during a minor surgical procedure, replicate a missing tooth root as they naturally bond with the bone. An implant provides a solid foundation to which a crown, bridge or if several implants are placed a full or partial denture may be secured.
Dental implants are virtually identical to natural teeth in strength, function and appearance, making them an ideal tooth replacement solution. Receiving an implant is a minor procedure often completed under a local anaesthetic with many people reporting it is a comfortable procedure, with many returning to work and normal daily life the next day.
Your implant is carefully guided into the position predetermined during your examination appointments and left to bond with your jawbone. Depending on your oral and general health, this may take 3 – 6 months. If your implant is replacing front teeth, a temporary crown or bridge may be secured so you can retain your smile appearance and mouth function.
To be a suitable candidate for a dental implant, you will need to have sufficient jawbone density and volume able support your implant and absorb the extreme biting and chewing forces placed on teeth when eating.
Although your implant is titanium and your restorative teeth are high grade tooth coloured ceramic, your gums and surrounding natural teeth are still susceptible to gum disease. Therefore it is important to attend regular cleaning and checkup appointments with the Forest Lake Dental team.
Dental Implant Treatment Procedure
1. A thorough Examination
The first step of dental implant surgery is a discussion with your dentist, followed by a thorough dental examination. the jaw is X-Rayed to check the condition of the bone tissue and to determine the placement of the dental implants. An impression is made of the jaw and existing teeth, forming an important platform for the treatment planning
2. Inserting the dental implants
There are two options for dental implant placement, depending on your clinical situation. In a one-step procedure, the dental implants are placed and then temporary abutments are attached. In a two-step procedure the dental implants are inserted and then covered by the gum, and left to heal. The abutments are attached at a later date.
In both cases, a temporary bridge is put in place, followed by a maximum healing period of three months for the lower jaw, and six months for the upper jaw. In some cases, the dental implants can be loaded immediately. However this depends on your bone condition.
3. Attaching the Abutments
In a one step treatment, the temporary abutments are replaced by permanent ones after the dental implants have bonded with the bone tissue. The second part of the two-step procedure involves making a minor incision to open the gum and put the abutments in place. When the abutments are in place, a new impression is made.
4. Fitting and Re-examination
When the bridge is ready, your dentist simply attaches it to the dental implants. This is usually followed by a few follow up visits to check functionality and aesthetics. That’s all there is to it, and it is virtually impossible to see the difference between the existing teeth and the new teeth.
Single Tooth Replacement
Several Teeth Replacement
Full Mouth Implants
