General & Family Dentistry
Monday - Thursday 8:30 - 5:30 Office hours by appointment
401 N. Bridge St.
Linden, MI. 48451
Dental implants are becoming more popular
in today’s dental society for a number of
reasons.
Implants are utilized to offer patients a
foundation for new restorative teeth where
natural teeth are missing or have been
extracted. The implant offers the patient the
opportunity to regain normal function of the
tooth without being forced to resort to a bridge
or a denture.
Benefits:
•
The implant will osseointegrate (bond) with
the existing bone.
•
The new implant will support your teeth
firmly and safely.
•
Your new implants are aesthetically
pleasing.
•
You will no longer have pain during talking
or eating.
•
The dental implant will prevent progressive
bone atrophy.
•
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 below the gumline.
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 and the dentist places the implant
into the jawbone. When this is achieved, the
tissue is then 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.
This implant will 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 allow for
chewing and 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 crafted. This
restoration will be comfortable and cosmetically
pleasing. Your completed implant will be fully
functional, allowing you to resume normal
activities.