Dental Implants - All Teeth Missing

Attractive, natural looking teeth help us feel and look our best. We are able to enjoy the foods we love, when we want. They allow us to be ourselves, confident where it really counts; at home, on the job, on the playing field, but most importantly and especially, on the inside.

Whether you have lost your teeth to accident or disease the decision to replace them is an important one. Maybe you’ve tried conventional dentures and find that they aren’t right for you. Maybe an implant supported restoration is your first choice. Whatever it may be you’re looking at a very popular and successful method for complete tooth replacement.

The facial features and construction of an individual with all or most of their teeth missing is very different and visible. The cheeks often look sunken and their chin is often positioned very closely to their nose due to the bone loss associated with missing teeth. These same individuals may appear older that they really are and may feel so.

Dental implants have been used and accepted by dental professionals for over 40 years as a proven and trusted method of tooth replacement. Implants are made of biocompatible materials, namely titanium. As a result they are accepted by your body and allergic reactions are very rare. With proper care and good oral hygiene your implant can actually last a lifetime.

The sooner your teeth are replaced after loss or damage the better. The condition of your bone in the jaw is crucial. Adequate bone is necessary for implant placement. As time passes, the bone in the jaw begins to resorb or diminish, reducing the “prime retail space” for implants as anchors. In many cases it is possible to build up the boney area to permit optimal implant placement and integration.

When considering replacement with an implant supported denture or bridge, there are a few options available to you. Each case is as unique as the individual. Current physical and dental health plays a role in the treatment process and decision making procedure. A removable denture may be fabricated and placed in the arch of the missing teeth with 2 anchored implants. For added stability four implants may be placed with a bar. A ceramic fixed option is also available to you using an optimal number of implants housing a fixed bridge.

In ideal cases, implants can be placed in as little as one session. However, your treatment plan will be dependent on your particular clinical situation. Depending on the treatment procedure, it may take between one and two hours for the implant placement. Afterwards, the implants need time to integrate so they can fuse with the bone. This is why the quality of the bone is so important when placing implants; the better the bone quality, the better the conditions and shorter integration periods. Once the implant has integrated, preparations for the final restoration may commence. The custom made precision bridge is fabricated using biocompatible materials and is attached to the implants using cement or tiny screws.

Your implants will be comfortable and the teeth will feel and look natural. Ensuring proper oral hygiene and keeping up with professional dental checkups will result in your implants lasting for many years, possibly up to an entire lifetime.

Adapted from Nobel Biocare USA LLC., www.nobelsmile.com