Dental Implants Resemble Your Natural Teeth!

If you've lost a tooth due to injury, decay, gum disease, or any other reason, we recommend dental implants to replace missing teeth. Dental implants come the closest to replicating the look, feel, and function of your natural teeth.

Dental implants are placed into the jawbone and mirror the same function as the root of a tooth. The procedure for dental implants is usually performed while a patient is sedated. Patients who undergo IV sedation must have an empty stomach and transportation home following the procedure. Most sedation patients will have little to no memory of the procedure occurring.

Generally, dental implants are made out of a biocompatible metal such as titanium. Biocompatible metals are also used for other common bone implants (such as shoulder, hip, and knee replacements). The visible portion of the implant is usually made out of porcelain and is custom-made to match your existing teeth.

Dental implants are designed to fuse to the bone, which makes them become permanent fixtures. Typically speaking, the success rate is nearly 100%. There are few cases in which the implant will not fuse as intended and must be removed. If this happens to occur, the procedure can be attempted again a few months later.

Dental implants are not usually covered by dental insurance, but may be covered under a patient's medical insurance. Our office and your insurance company can discuss coverage options with you based on your individual case and treatment plan.

It's easy... just take care of an implant as if it's a natural tooth! This involves regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups. If you have any concerns about your implant, contact us immediately.

Good candidates for dental implants are generally in stable overall health, maintain basic oral hygiene, and have healed alveolar bone where teeth are missing. Age alone is not a strict barrier to implant therapy; rather, clinicians assess systemic conditions and medication use that can affect healing. A careful clinical exam and diagnostic imaging help determine whether implants are an appropriate restorative option.

Sufficient jawbone volume and adequate soft tissue support are important for initial stability and long-term success. When natural bone is deficient, adjunctive procedures such as bone grafting or sinus augmentation can often create a suitable foundation for implants. A thorough medical and dental history allows the dental team to identify and manage factors such as smoking or uncontrolled systemic disease that could influence outcomes.

The process begins with a comprehensive consultation that includes a clinical exam, dental imaging, and review of your medical history to establish treatment goals and constraints. Effective implant care relies on digital imaging and careful treatment planning to determine optimal implant positions and prosthetic designs that support function and esthetics. The plan typically outlines whether additional procedures such as grafting or extractions are required before placement.

The surgical phase places the implant in the jaw, followed by a healing period that allows osseointegration to occur. Temporary restorations can preserve appearance and basic function while the implant integrates with bone. Once integration is confirmed, the final abutment and prosthesis are fabricated and adjusted to achieve proper fit, bite, and esthetic harmony.

Treatment timelines vary depending on individual anatomy, the need for preparatory procedures, and the chosen restorative approach. In straightforward cases with adequate bone, the integration period commonly ranges from a few months, while cases requiring bone grafting or sinus augmentation will extend the timeline to allow for healing. Clinicians use imaging and clinical tests to confirm when the implant has achieved sufficient stability for final restoration.

Immediate placement or provisionalization protocols can shorten the period between extraction and delivery of temporary teeth, but these options depend on primary implant stability and case selection. The final prosthesis is delivered only after the implant site demonstrates predictable integration and the restorative team can achieve the desired occlusion and esthetics. Follow-up visits ensure the restoration functions correctly and the surrounding tissues remain healthy.

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that rebuilds or augments jawbone volume where natural bone is insufficient to support an implant. Bone loss can occur after tooth extraction, periodontal disease, or long-term denture wear, and grafting restores the foundation needed for predictable implant placement. Grafting materials and techniques vary and are selected based on the amount of augmentation required and the specific anatomical site.

Common graft types include autografts, allografts, xenografts, and synthetic substitutes, and each has different handling and healing characteristics. Healing after grafting typically requires several months before an implant can be placed or loaded, although staged and simultaneous graft-and-implant approaches are used in appropriate cases. Careful planning and proper surgical technique help optimize graft integration and long-term implant stability.

Implant-supported restorations range from single crowns to multiunit bridges, removable overdentures, and full-arch fixed bridges, providing solutions for individual tooth replacement up to complete mouth rehabilitation. Single implants support individual crowns that preserve adjacent teeth, while two or more implants can anchor small-span bridges for multiple missing teeth. For patients missing many or all teeth, implant-retained overdentures or fixed full-arch prostheses restore chewing ability and facial support.

The choice of restoration is driven by functional requirements, esthetic goals, and the anatomic conditions of the jaws. Prosthetic design, material selection, and the number and location of implants are coordinated to distribute forces predictably and achieve durable results. Your dental team will recommend the most appropriate option based on diagnostic findings and long-term maintenance considerations.

Immediate implant placement at the time of extraction can be appropriate when the extraction site is free of active infection and the implant can achieve adequate primary stability. This approach may help preserve bone and soft tissue contours and can reduce the number of surgical visits. However, immediate placement requires careful case selection and precise surgical technique.

When the extraction socket lacks sufficient bone or when active infection is present, clinicians often prefer a staged approach that allows healing before implant placement. In some immediate cases a provisional restoration is possible, but final prosthetic work is deferred until osseointegration is confirmed. The treatment plan should balance the benefits of shorter timelines with the long-term predictability of implant integration.

Implant surgery is typically performed with local anesthesia and can be complemented by sedation options for patient comfort when indicated. The procedure is usually minimally invasive and focuses on precise placement of the implant to protect surrounding structures and optimize the restorative outcome. Surgical time varies with the complexity of the case and whether adjunctive procedures such as grafting are performed at the same visit.

After surgery, mild swelling, bruising, and discomfort are common and generally managed with prescribed or over-the-counter medications and cold compresses. Patients receive postoperative instructions for oral hygiene, diet, and activity to support healing, and follow-up visits monitor tissue recovery and implant stability. Most daily activities resume within a few days, while complete osseointegration occurs over a longer interval defined by the clinical plan.

Long-term care of implant-supported restorations begins with consistent daily oral hygiene that includes brushing twice a day and cleaning around the implant with floss or interdental brushes designed for implants. Effective plaque control helps prevent inflammation of the tissues around the implant, known as peri-implant mucositis, which can progress to peri-implantitis if untreated. Avoiding tobacco and managing systemic health conditions also supports tissue health.

Regular professional maintenance is essential and typically involves periodic examinations, radiographic monitoring, and professional cleanings tailored to implants. Your dental team will recommend a recall interval based on your individual risk profile and clinical findings. Early detection and management of soft tissue changes or mechanical issues improve the likelihood of long-term function.

As with any surgical procedure, implant therapy carries potential risks, including infection, insufficient osseointegration, and damage to adjacent anatomical structures such as nerves or the sinus. Peri-implantitis, a condition of combined inflammation and bone loss around an implant, is a recognized complication that requires prompt attention. Thorough preoperative assessment and careful surgical and restorative techniques reduce the incidence of most complications.

When complications occur, management may include local or systemic therapies, surgical revision, bone grafting, or prosthetic adjustments depending on the specific issue. Early intervention and close collaboration between the surgical and restorative teams improve the chances of a favorable outcome. Ongoing surveillance and patient adherence to maintenance protocols are important components of complication prevention and management.

Implant materials and design play a key role in biological integration and prosthetic performance; titanium and titanium alloys are widely used for their proven osseointegration characteristics, while zirconia implants are an alternative in select cases. Surface treatments and microgeometry are engineered to enhance bone integration and reduce healing times. The choice of material is made with attention to the restorative plan, esthetic needs, and tissue management strategies.

Implant body shape, thread design, and the prosthetic connection affect primary stability, load distribution, and the long-term mechanical behavior of the restoration. Clinicians select implant systems that match the patient’s anatomy and functional demands and that allow the restorative team to achieve predictable esthetic and occlusal outcomes. At the office of Eliot Dental, these design considerations are integrated into comprehensive planning to support durable, natural-looking results.