Dental Implants Lancaster

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are made of a titanium alloy and are often referred to as a “screw” that is placed into the jawbone to replace missing teeth.  Titanium is a material that is well-accepted by the body and is similar to the material used for patients that have orthopedic joint replacements.  These small posts stimulate the jaw when chewing, preventing bone loss, and fuse with the bone through a process called osseointegration.  The procedure is often completed using local anesthesia (numbing injections) and is a relatively quick procedure that can be completed in less than 20 minutes.

The recovery after dental implant surgery is also surprisingly simple and straightforward.  After several months of healing, patients return to their general dentist to attach restorations such as crowns, bridges, and dentures to the implants.  Implants replace natural teeth in both function and appearance, and their durability make them a popular long-term solution for tooth loss when properly cared for.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

1. Consultation: At your initial visit, we will obtain X-rays to create a detailed treatment plan and confirm your candidacy for dental implants. Our cone beam CT scanner provides precise 3D images for treatment planning.  We will collaborate with your restoring doctor in the planning process and tailor the treatment to meet your needs, considering factors such as medical history and bone adequacy.
2. Implant Surgery: Your procedure may involve multiple stages, including extraction and bone grafting if necessary. We employ cutting-edge technology like our TRIOS intraoral scanner for creating static guides and the X-Guide® surgical system for precise implant placement. The surgery is relatively painless, with most patients experiencing minimal disruption to their daily routines. At this stage, you’ll have a gap where your tooth is missing, but a removable appliance such as a partial or flipper can be used for appearance if desired.
3. Healing & Osseointegration: Following your implant surgery, a 3-4 month healing period allows implants to fuse with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. You’ll return for a checkup to ensure you’re ready for restoration by your general dentist for eventual placement of a permanent crown, bridge, or denture.
4. Restoration: Once cleared for restoration, you’ll visit your dentist to have the crown or prosthesis fabricated and inserted. With proper care, your restored implants can last a long time.

For most patients, the process of implant placement to eventual restoration by the general dentist takes approximately 4-7 months, which is dependent on several factors that will be discussed with you at your consultation. It is a relatively painless procedure, and many patients experience minimal disruption to their daily life activities. Once the implants are restored with crowns, a bridge or fixed prosthesis, they should be cleaned just like your natural teeth. With proper care, they can last a long time.

 

Benefits of Dental Implants

• Prevents bone resorption and deterioration, preserving natural facial structure and eliminating wrinkles caused by missing teeth.
• Dental implants function, feel, and look like natural teeth, providing a long term permanent replacement solution.
• Unlike traditional bridges, implants do not require any alteration of neighboring teeth.
• Implants make it easier to chew and digest food properly, promoting overall good health and nutrition.
• Eliminates the discomfort and pain associated with loose-fitting partials and dentures.
• With a natural look and feel, implants can improve self-esteem and confidence.
• Implants prevent slurred speech or lisps caused by missing teeth or ill-fitting dentures.

Full Mouth Rehabilitation

There are times when patients have a failing dentition, numerous missing teeth, or use removable partials/dentures, which can all lead to frustration and loss of confidence.  Today, with modern implant dentistry techniques, you can regain a fully functional smile in record time with Teeth-in-a-Day surgery.  This revolutionary surgery utilizes the latest in technology to place implants and restore with fixed bridges within as little as 24 hours.  This surgery is completed while you are asleep in our state-of-the-art operating room under the care of your surgeon and an anesthesia provider.

Learn More About Full Mouth Rehabilitation

Bone Grafting

At your dental implant consultation, your oral surgeon may recommend bone grafting at the time of an extraction or to rebuild an area where there is insufficient bone. For example, patients who have suffered from missing teeth for quite some time experience bone loss due to a lack of stimulation to the area. As a result, the bone will deteriorate, which may, in turn, affect a patient’s replacement options. In this case, preliminary surgery with bone grafting may be required to help reconstruct the missing bone so a patient can undergo eventual dental implant placement. There are many types of grafting that can be utilized, and this will be discussed during your first visit with us. Our cone beam CT scanner is used to determine a patient's bony anatomy and determine the need for grafting prior to implant placement.