Dr. Davis, Dr. Woodford, Dr. Nolet-Lévesque, Dr. Samim, Dr. Ledderhof and the staff at Atlantic Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Centre have years of experience restoring smiles with dental implants at our office in St. John’s, NL. Dental implants are one of the most popular tooth replacement options available today because they look and function like permanent teeth. No other tooth replacement option prevents bone loss and preserves your smile as well as dental implants.
A dental implant is made up of three parts: the implant itself, which replaces your natural tooth’s root, the abutment, which connects the post to your new replacement tooth (or teeth), and the crown, which is custom designed by your dentist to look like your natural teeth. The dental implant posts are made of medical-grade titanium, a completely biocompatible material that fuses with your jaw bone. This strong bond between the posts and the surrounding bone creates a secure foundation for a single tooth crown, a multi-tooth bridge, or in some cases, even a full fixed denture.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants allow patients to eat the foods they love and smile with confidence as if they had never lost any teeth. In fact, many patients find that they sometimes forget which teeth are real and which are implants after years of use. Below are a few of the benefits you can expect to receive from dental implants:
- A beautiful new smile
- The ability to eat foods that were previously difficult to chew
- No inconvenient removable parts
- A permanent tooth loss solution, unlike bridges and dentures, which must be replaced after several years of use
- Prevention of bone loss associated with missing teeth
When teeth are missing for an extended period of time, bone loss can occur, making it difficult to place dental implants. Our practice offers regenerative procedures to restore the lost bone in preparation for dental implants. Frequently, this may be carried out at the time of implant placement. Your implants will stimulate the bone beneath your gums, in a manner similar to the natural tooth roots, preventing further bone loss from occurring.
The Dental Implant Procedure
Below, we have outlined the general process of receiving dental implants. Remember, each patient is unique, and your exact treatment plan will depend on the number of teeth being placed, the amount of bone beneath the gums, and the necessity for additional procedures like tooth extractions. If you receive immediate-loading implants or other types of implants, the exact timeline of your procedure may be a little different.
Usually, the entire process will involve two or three visits to the office over a few weeks or months. Your oral surgeon and your dentist will work as a team to bring our patients the best care possible.
Consultation
First, you will receive a consultation appointment, where your surgeon will review your condition, take any necessary imaging, and form a custom treatment plan. If you have 3D scans prescribed, the images may be used to create custom surgical guides for your procedure. During your consultation and exam, you will have a chance to discuss your procedure and anesthesia options. Your surgeon and our team will be happy to answer any questions you have before your surgery appointment.
Surgery
Your initial surgical procedure will involve the placement of the dental implant posts, which will replace the roots of your natural teeth. Some dental implant surgeries may be performed under IV sedation. This will allow you to sleep comfortably during the procedure. After administering your anesthetic, your surgeon will lift the gums and make a hole for your implant posts. If you need to have a tooth extracted, in some cases, the posts may be placed right in the empty tooth socket. Once the posts are placed, the surgical sites will be sutured, and you will rest and recover. Our team will then discuss your aftercare so that your recovery can be made as comfortable as possible.
Recovery
After your implants are placed, they will need time for the bone to heal fully before undergoing the pressure of chewing hard foods. This healing period lasts roughly three to four months in most cases. This may seem like a long time, but the majority of patients find that their implants are well worth the wait. While a soft foods diet may be necessary for some time, most patients are back to their regular routines after a couple of weeks. Your dentist may make temporary teeth for you to wear during the healing period so that you will not have to go without teeth.
Abutment and Crown Placement
Once your implant sites are secure, your oral surgeon can place the abutments, which will aid in natural gum healing. Your dentist will then make your custom crowns, to look and feel like natural teeth, and he or she will then attach the crowns to your new abutments. Then your new smile will be complete!
Dental Implants at Atlantic Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Centre
Our oral surgeons are highly experienced in treatment planning and implementing dental implant therapy. Our personable and experienced team thoroughly enjoys working with our patients and referring doctors in visualizing, planning, and realizing the most ideal treatment results possible. If you are looking for a healthy, attractive, and long-term option to replace your missing or failing teeth, please contact our office in St. John’s, NL, and one of our team members will be pleased to assist you.