Saunders Family Dental, Ogden Utah

 

Dental Implants

Implants offer patients a foundation for new teeth where natural teeth are missing or have been extracted. The implant offers the patient the opportunity to regain normal function and esthetic appearance of the tooth without being forced to resort to a bridge or a denture.

 

Implant Retained Denture

Implants can be placed to attach a denture to. This will help stabilize and retain the denture improving function with the denture.

 

 

Benefits

The implant will osseointegrate (bond) with the existing bone.
The implant will support your teeth firmly and safely.
Your implants are aesthetically pleasing.
You will no longer have pain during talking or eating.
The dental implant will prevent progressive bone atrophy (loss).
Implants have a proven scientific basis.

 

Procedure

The tooth structure has two main sections, the root and the crown. The root is the section of the tooth that is in the bone and gum. A dental implant acts as the restorative for this section of the tooth. The metal implant acts as an anchor in the jawbone. The first step of the procedure is surgical placement of the implant. Under regular dental anesthetic, the gum tissue is opened or a pilot hole is created to allow the dentist to place the implant into the jawbone. If the tissue is reflected then it will be sutured closed. There is not often significant discomfort with this procedure. This process can take from 1-3 hours depending on the number of implants being placed.

 

Depending on the implant a crown may be placed immediately or the implant may be left untreated for a period of 3-6 months. During this time, the bone will grow around the implant in a process called osseointegration. A removable crown may be utilized during this time period to preserve the cosmetic appearance.

 

The next step in the process is to attach an abutment to the tooth. This is achieved by exposing the top of the implant and placing the abutment. This is the part of the implant that will support the final crown.

 

Finally, an impression is taken of the implant and a final restoration is fabricated. This restoration will be comfortable and cosmetically pleasing. Your completed implant will be fully functional, allowing you to resume normal activities.