Dental Implants Specialist

What are dental implants? 

Made from biocompatible titanium, a dental implant is an artificial tooth root that’s surgically inserted in your jawbone to replace a missing tooth root. As one of the strongest and most reliable restorations available, an implant provides a stable foundation for a custom-made porcelain crown, or an artificial replacement tooth that looks just like your natural teeth.

A group of several concurrent implants may be finished with individual crowns, one-by-one, or they may be completed with a dental bridge or a full-arch replacement (overdenture).  

What are the benefits of implants?

Designed to fit your bite and match your natural teeth flawlessly, implants are an ideal choice for filling gaps and restoring your smile. As one of the most valuable offerings of modern dentistry, implants can be used to: 

• Replace missing teeth without affecting adjacent teeth
• Correct bite misalignment and pain caused by shifting teeth 
• Restore optimal smile appearance and bite function
• Support a bridge or denture for enhanced security and comfort

Much like a real tooth root, dental implants bond to your jaw and stimulate ongoing tissue renewal to keep the surrounding bone strong and healthy. This inherent bond also makes them remarkably durable—with proper care, implants and their crowning restorations may last a lifetime.

Am I a good candidate for implants?

Adequate jawbone structure and healthy gum tissue are the two main prerequisites for implant surgery; you should be able to receive implants if you don’t have advanced periodontal disease and your jawbone is both strong enough and deep enough to support them.

If your jawbone isn’t deep enough to handle standard dental implants, you may still be able to receive mini implants, which are smaller and requires less supportive tissue. 

To ensure your jawbone has sufficient mass and quality for implants, the team at Arbor Dental Group uses a special kind of X-ray called a 3D cone beam CT scan to take high-definition 3D images of your teeth, soft tissues, nerves

How long does it take to get implants?

Getting dental implants is a multi-step process that’s done over the course of several office visits with the team at Arbor Dental Group. Once your initial evaluation determines you’re a good candidate for the procedure, you can schedule the surgery itself.

If your new implant is replacing a damaged or decayed tooth that needs to be extracted first, your surgeon starts by gently removing the weak tooth. 

Next, after cleaning and prepping the area for implantation, they surgically place the titanium root in your jawbone, taking care not to disrupt any nearby nerves. Finally, they secure your gum tissue over the implant to promote healing and give the implant ample time to fuse with your jawbone. 

Depending on your body’s rate of healing, this integration process may take a few short weeks or as long as six months. Once the implant is fused to your bone and your tissues have healed, your restoration is fitted with a custom-made crown, bridge, or overdenture. 

To find out how you can benefit from dental implants, call Arbor Dental Group today or click online to schedule a visit any time.