Dental Implants
- What is a dental implant?
- How are dental implants different than dentures?
- What are the benefits of dental implants?
- Who can place a dental implant?
- How much do implants cost?
- Do dental implants hurt?
- How long do implants last?
- What are mini implants?
- Why use mini implants?
- What's the recovery period for mini implants?
- How much do mini implants cost?
- Are mini implants right for me?
Dental implants are a permanent and appealing solution to replace missing or extracted teeth. They are better than other alternatives like bridges because no additional teeth need to be altered to place the new tooth.
The entire implant process is performed over the course of a few months. The first part of the process is to install the implant itself, where a screw is placed into the jaw bone. An incision is made in the gum so that the implant can be inserted. Multiple implants can be placed at once if necessary. After the implants are placed the gums are sutured.
The implant must be allowed about 3-6 months to heal, and during this time the jaw bone will form around the implant in a process called osseointegration. During this healing time you can have temporary crowns installed so that you can eat and speak normally and maintain a proper aesthetic appearance for your smile.
After the implant has healed it is time to place an abutment on the implant. The abutment serves as the base for your new tooth. One this is placed an impression of the abutment is taken and is used to create your permanent restoration. Some offices have an onsite lab to create the crown, but others will have to send it to an outside lab. Once the restoration is completed you can return to the office to attach the restoration permanently. Your smile will look just like it used to, and after a short period of getting used to the implant it will feel just like one of your own teeth.
Oral & Maxiliofacial Surgery
Oral and maxiliofacial surgery corrects diseases, injuries, and defects in the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. They perform the following procedures.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that emerge, usually during your late teens to early twenties. For some people the wisdom teeth emerge through the gums and have enough room to grow in naturally. For others, wisdom teeth often cause problems as they are trying to protrude through the gums. When a wisdom tooth is impacted the tooth is coming in at an angle and not straight through the gum line. This can cause pain, the tooth can come in unevenly, or the tooth may only emerge partially.
Impacted wisdom teeth can cause structural damage to the jaw and other teeth. They can also provide a place for bacteria to gather since they are hard to reach and clean. These potential problems make it necessary to remove impacted wisdom teeth so that larger problems do not arise. Routine x-rays during a dental exam can reveal if you will need to have your wisdom teeth removed.
Oral Pathololgy
Oral Pathology is the specialty that identifies and treats diseases of the mouth and maxillofacial region. Diagnosis is completed through radiographic, microscopic, biochemical and other in office examinations. Oral pathologists provide biopsy services for dentists and offer clinical their diagnosis based on their findings. Some of the diseases that Oral pathologists diagnose include mouth and throat cancer, mumps, salivary gland disorders, ulcers, Odontogenic Infection, and others.
Crown & Bridge
Surgical Instructions
It is important to us that our patients are informed during every step of their treatment so that they are well prepared and have the chance to ask questions. The following information is a starting point for researching your procedure and should assist in developing a list of questions to ask during your consultation.
After Wisdom Tooth Removal
Wisdom tooth extraction is a surgical procedure that requires some post-operative care to reduce the chance of infection or other complications. Immediately after surgery, a gauze pad will be placed over the extraction site, which should not be removed for at least 45 minutes, and then discarded after that. Refrain from drinking from a straw or rinsing the mouth to ensure that you do not dislodge the blood clot that has formed. Limit your activities that day. You can resume your regular activities the following day. Take the pain medication as prescribed to reduce the amount of discomfort you feel after the local anesthetic wears off. As with any oral surgery, refrain from drinking through a straw as doing so creates suction and may disrupt the sutures.
After Impacted Tooth
It is important to us that our patients are informed during every step of their treatment so that they are well prepared and have the chance to ask questions. The following information is a starting point for researching your procedure and should assist in developing a list of questions to ask during your consultation.
Multiple Tooth Extractions
The removal of one or two teeth is a simple procedure. Extracting multiple teeth requires that the jawbone be shaped and removed to prepare for a denture. You may experience the following after a multiple tooth extraction procedure. Within two days, you will experience the maximum swelling both inside the mouth and possibly around the eye as well. The area around your eye may also become discolored, which may be alleviated by a warm compress. The muscles near the extraction site may become sore after surgery, causing a sore throat. This is normal as well as the corners of your mouth becoming dry and cracked from being stretched open during surgery. In most cases, you will have a follow up appointment with your dentist within 48 hours after surgery to discuss any post surgery symptoms that you are experiencing.
Additional Information
Below you will find a wide array of interesting and educational links that we feel will benefit your understanding and knowledge of your dental health.
If you have a suggestion for a link that you feel would be of interest, please feel free to email it to us so we can share it with all of our patients.
American Dental Association
The American Dental Association (ADA) exists to power the profession of dentistry and to assist our members in advancing the overall oral health of their patients.
ADA is a strong advocate for their members – promoting the art and science of dentistry by supporting dental professionals through services like Find-a-Dentist, credentialing tools, Third Party Payer Concierge, contract review and much more. Their mission is to ensure all member dentists have what they need, when they need it and even before it is needed to succeed.
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Academy of General Denistry
AGD is the only professional association that exclusively represents the needs and interests of general dentists.
AGD’s mission is to “advance general dentistry and oral health through quality continuing education and advocacy.” Through this mission, AGD member dentists are able to build their careers, grow their businesses and protect their profession.
AGD Vision: Oral health and better lives through the Academy of General Dentistry.
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