Implants

When a tooth or several teeth are missing, a dental implant with a crown or bridge is an excellent treatment for replacing it.

Depending on the situation, placing an implant involves several phases, and treatment times can vary widely. First, we determine if an implant is right for you. We discuss your health history and treatment goals and perform a comprehensive examination to check the health of your gums and jawbone. We determine if you need any additional procedures, such as bone grafting or gum surgery.

Although each case will be different, placing an implant generally involves two phases: surgically placing the implant and restoring the implant with a crown or bridge.

• For the surgical placement of the implant, your mouth is thoroughly numbed. An opening is made in your gums, and then a channel is shaped in the bone to receive the implant.
• Next, the body of the implant is placed into the prepared channel. Sometimes a cover is placed onto the implant and the gums are stitched closed. This method is called a two-stage procedure. In other cases that allow a single-stage procedure, an extension is attached to the implant at the time of surgery.
• Healing may take several months as the implant becomes fused securely to the bone. During this time, a temporary crown or bridge may be placed.
• If the first phase included closing the gums over the implant, the second phase starts with surgical re-exposure of the implant. Another incision is made in your gums, and a small extension is placed to bring the implant above the gumline.
• You will then have a series of appointments to create the final restoration. Though some of the steps might be different in your case, they usually include removing any temporary crown or bridge, and taking impressions of your mouth.
• The lab uses the impressions to make an accurate model of your teeth, including the implant. They use the model to create a crown or bridge that precisely fits the implant and your bite.
• When your final crown or bridge is ready, we check the fit and your bite and then secure the crown or bridge to the implant.