What Are Dental Implants All About?

By C. MacDonald Worley, Jr., DMD, MD

Dental implants are replacements for missing tooth roots, and thus serve as a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth. They have created a revolution in dentistry because of the expanded treatment possibilities they provide. Millions of people all over the world enjoy normal dental function and an attractive smile, thanks to the availability of dental implants.

Usually when a tooth is lost, it is best to have it replaced since missing teeth can affect your bite, as well as your ability to speak and chew. Their loss can increase the burden on your remaining teeth and can cause muscle pain in your jaws as well as headaches. And of course, missing teeth are only cute in your children or grandchildren’s smile! For many adults, a missing tooth is an embarrassing problem.

The best way to describe a dental implant is to compare it to a real tooth, which consists of a crown and a root. The crown is the visible part of the tooth that we show when we smile, chew with when we eat, and clean when we brush. Beneath the crown is the root, which anchors the tooth through the gum tissue to the jawbone. When a tooth is lost, both the root and the crown are missing.

Specially treated titanium is used to produce dental implants; this is the same biomaterial used for artificial hip and knee joints. This titanium root is inserted into the jaw bone to take the place of the root of your missing tooth, to serve as an anchor for retention of a loose denture, or best of all, in series to serve as a permanent support for a full arch bridge that replaces your denture. In the case of a single tooth or denture anchorage, healing/waiting time is usually eight to 12 weeks, at which time your general dentist secures a crown (or denture) to the top of the implant. In the front of the mouth, in many cases a temporary crown can be placed almost immediately on the implant.

At Mountain View Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, more than 90% of teeth removed from the front of the mouth can have a dental implant immediately placed into the missing tooth site, with a temporary crown placed as well. Immediate bridge placement on newly-placed dental implants (four to six) can also be accomplished by converting an existing denture to a temporary non-removable bridge (that is replaced with a final permanent bridge a few months later)

You should know that recent advances in threedimensional CT scanning have dramatically decreased the need for bone grafting procedures. “Virtual Surgery” is first accomplished on the computer, then CAD-CAM generated templates are produced that guide dental implant placement into the best areas of healthy bone. This is especially important for patients who have never had a denture that fits well, or who has been told that they are not a candidate for dental implant placement due to lack of sufficient bone. At Mountain View Oral Surgery that is almost never the case. Don’t we all know at least one friend or relative who suffers with dentures and would desperately love to bite apples and chew steak again? Unfortunately too many of them are simply unaware of what is possible! The renewed ability to chew normal food again can be a dramatically life-changing experience that restores self-esteem and confidence.

Licensed in both dentistry and medicine, Dr. Worley is board certified in his specialty and has practiced oral and maxillofacial surgery in his native Cobb County since 1996. His full academic history can be found at www.myoralsurg.com. Dr. Worley and the staff at Mountain View Oral Surgery & Dental Implants are determined to deliver the finest care possible. Most patients report minimal discomfort and in some cases, no pain at all. Did you know that a patient may arrive at the office in the morning with a complete denture then leave only half a day later with a non-removable bridge of replacement teeth? For more information, call 770-218-9135 or email info@.myoralsurg.com.