You should understand exactly what dental implants are before deciding if they are right for you. We have created a series of questions and answers to help provide you with more information and insights into dental implants and how they can improve your smile. Should you have additional concerns, please contact us to book a consultation with Dr. Gray.
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically placed into the jaw to replace a missing tooth. Compared to dental bridges and dentures, implants are a more permanent solution to losing a tooth.
The short answer is yes. You can replace all of your teeth with implants. However, if a patient is missing an entire row of teeth, procedures like All-on-4 or Implant Supported Dentures may be more suitable:
Teeth-In-A-Day is a procedure used to remove any remaining teeth, place the implants (All-on-4, or Implant Supported Dentures), and have a fixed set of teeth in place until the bone is completely healed (typically 3-6 months). The entire procedure is performed in a single visit under deep sedation.
Implants are typically placed in a single appointment of less than 1 hour.
The initial pain and swelling from placing the implant should subside after 3-4 days. If pain and swelling should continue after 5-7 days, please contact our office. The process by which the titanium portion of a dental implant embeds itself into bone takes anywhere from 3-6 months. After 3-6 months of healing, the protective cap placed over the implant can be removed and a permanent crown can be placed.
Teeth are what keep the structural integrity of your jaw. If one tooth goes missing, that piece of your jaw where the missing tooth was starts to shrink.
Bone grafting is the process of replacing or augmenting bone around a missing tooth. Bone loss is typically caused by the extraction of a tooth and the loss of the supporting bony structure. When placing an implant, bone may need to be augmented to give the implant a supporting structure.
Yes! At the time of the extraction, we recommend replacing the missing tooth with an implant because this usually eliminates the need for bone grafting later and helps prevent facial collapse. This also prevents the need for two healing periods (one for the extraction and another for the implant).
At Dr. Gray Dental Group, we use a Guided Implant System (CBCT), which is a 3D X-ray, coupled with a mold of your teeth. This form of implant surgery is the most accurate and reliable for placing dental implants.
