4620 East Douglas, Suite 100 Wichita, KS 67208
Dental implants with Pauly Dental
Dentures, partials and bridges were once the only options for those people with missing teeth. In more recent times, dental implants have become a popular alternative for these older devices.
A dental implant is strong and permanent. If cared for properly, it can last for many years. Those with a dental implant must practice good dental hygiene. Brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups are a must. Don’t smoke. Smoking can weaken jawbone structure and cause a dental implant to loosen and fail. Don’t chew ice or bite down on hard candy. These activities can break an implant crown. In fact, they can break a natural tooth, too.
When evaluating a patient for a dental implant, a dentist looks for someone who is in good general health, doesn’t smoke, has no periodontal disease and who has good bone structure and density.
Types of Dental Implants
There are variations, but a dental implant will be one of two main types. One is called endosteal. A metal post is implanted directly into the jawbone itself. Titanium is commonly used because it encourages a natural bonding process to occur between the dental implant and the existing natural bone. If the patient doesn’t have sufficient natural bone for the implant to be placed, then they must either undergo a bone graft or choose another type of implant.
An endosteal dental implant consists of three parts. One part is the metal titanium post. The dentist inserts this post into the jawbone during a brief surgical procedure. Over time, the post will join with the existing bone, forming a kind of artificial root for the dental implant. The second part of the dental implant is called the abutment. This piece fits onto the titanium post to form a connection between the post and the third part of the dental implant, called the crown. A crown looks like a natural tooth. It’s custom-made to match both your natural mouth contours and the color of your other natural teeth.
The second type of dental implant is called a subperiosteal implant. These are a little different. Instead of a metal post placed deep into the jawbone, a subperiosteal implant is a metal frame placed on or above the jawbone just below the gumline. Small posts mounted on the frame protrude through the gums. These metal posts are used to attach artificial teeth. This type of dental implant typically can be used in patients who don’t have enough bone for an endosteal dental implant.
All-on-Four Dental Implant
This type of dental implant can replace an entire arch of missing teeth using just a few implants. Instead of placing a dental implant for each missing tooth, the dentist places four to six implants into the existing jawbone. The dentist chooses the best places for the dental implants, generally avoiding any need for bone grafts. These four to six dental implants will be used to attach and support an entire upper or lower set of teeth. It’s possible for this procedure to provide new temporary teeth for the patient on the same day as the surgery. The patient must follow careful instructions from the dentist, including a special diet, for about six months until the implants bond with the jawbone. At that time, the patient will receive their set of permanent teeth and all special procedures can be discontinued.
Immediate Load Dental Implants
This procedure is also known as Teeth in a Day. In certain circumstances, a temporary tooth may be placed on the same day as the dental implant surgery. However, not everyone is a candidate for this. A patient must have enough bone and sufficient implant stability to sustain the immediate placement of a temporary tooth.
