Dental Implants

Dental implants are changing the way people live!

Dental implants  are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth.  Patients who have lost teeth can regain the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved so they can smile with confidence. More and more patients are turning to dental implants in Florida as a better alternative to dentures and dental bridges.  Studies have shown that the long term success rates for dental implants exceed those for root canals, crowns and bridges.

In fact, dentists and insurance companies both have agreed that placement of a dental implant is now the standard of care for replacement of a tooth!

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are titanium posts which are inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes. Once they are surgically placed into the jawbone, the bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth (osseointegration).   Small posts are then attached to the implant by your restorative dentist which  protrude through the gums. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth, bridges, or dentures.

Dental implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.

Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?

The majority of patients with missing teeth can successfully undergo implant placement.  Those patients that have decreased resistance to infection, or medical conditions complicating anesthesia should discuss these issues in detail with their physician and Dr. Sultan at the consultation.

What are the Success Rates of Dental Implants?

With ever improving materials and techniques, most patients can expect their dental implants to last 20 to 30 years or greater!  Remember, long term success depends on a number of factors, including:

• Optimal treatment planning
• Surgical technique
• Final restorations
• Patient oral hygiene
• Materials used

It is important to question your implant surgeon about his/her experience as well as the type of implant materials used.  Just like “top tier” gasolines, certain implants have superior healing qualities, and hence, better long term success rates.

The Surgical Procedure

The primary goal in the dental implant treatment process is the placement of a final restoration (tooth, bridge, denture) in an ideal position  that looks as natural as possible.  In order to facilitate this process, Dr. Sultan works as a team with your restorative dentist throughout all phases of treatment.
A Cone Beam CT scan is necessary to evaluate bony anatomy and density.  Computer guided surgery and patient specific templates are utilized to accurately place the implants.  Please refer to the other sections on these topics for a better explanation.

The traditional approach for the placement of dental implants involves two stages. The first surgical phase involves placing the implants in the jawbones. For the first 2-4 months following surgery (depending upon each individual situation), the implants are beneath the surface of the gums, gradually bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to wear a temporary tooth replacement and eat a soft diet during this time.

After the healing phase, the second phase begins. Dr. Sultan will uncover the implants and then refer you back to your restorative dentist to place the final restoration on top of the implants. Average treatment time is 3-6 months. Should special bone or soft tissue grafting be required, treatment time may be longer. Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily life.

 

The Single Stage Implant and the Immediate Restoration

An alternative treatment option, if possible, is to place a dental implant immediately into a fresh extraction site at the time of tooth removal.  This technique offers several advantages over the traditional 2-stage protocol:

• Shortens treatment time
• Reduces amount of surgery needed
• Placement of immediate temporary crown or bridge

Dr. Sultan will discuss all your surgical options at the time of consultation.

Tooth Socket Preparation

Once a tooth is removed, the surrounding bone and soft tissue shrinks. Left alone, the contours of the available bone may be reduced so much, implant placement may be difficult without the need for a bone graft. A common sense alternative is to place a particle type bone graft directly in the tooth socket at the time of tooth removal. This not only preserves the anatomy for implant placement, but many times avoids another, more involved bone graft.

Restorative Options

Replacement of Individual Teeth

Fully Edentulous Conditions:

Removable Implant Supported Dentures

 

 

 

Immediate Loading / Teeth in a Day

With the use of Computer Guided Surgery, it is possible to plan for the placement of an implant supported fixed bridge to be inserted at the same time as dental implant placement. This �teeth in a day� protocol demands close cooperation between Dr. Sultan and your restorative dentist. The technique can be adapted to both fully and partially edentulous patients. The decision between this procedure vs. conventional implant surgery is based on your condition, the type of final appliance and a decision between you, your dentist and Dr. Sultan.

Bone Grafting Issues

When patients have a lack of bone to support dental implants, bone grafting can be predictably placed to help enhance implant support. Natural bone can be obtained from various sites inside the oral cavity, as well as the hip, knee or even the skull. Artificial bone can also be utilized alone or in combination with natural bone. Repositioning of the upper and lower jaws can be performed simultaneously with implant placement to correct abnormal jaw relationships in conjunction with missing teeth.

Please refer to the Jaw Reconstruction and Bone Grafting sections for a more thorough discussion of this topic.

Please refer to the following presentations for a more in depth review of dental implant treatment using computer guided surgery:

• Dental Implant Presentation
• Scan to Plan Process