8:00am - 5:00pm
James Hanchett, D.D.S.
Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
(231) 627-4301
11404 N Straits Hwy
Cheboygan, MI 49721
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Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry
Dental Implants
If you have missing teeth or fixed bridge work that you're unhappy with, you may be a candidate for Dental Implants. Dental Implants are the most natural replacement for missing teeth and help to prevent face disfiguring bone loss.
Replacing a Missing Tooth
A natural tooth is anchored into the jawbone by its tooth root. Tooth roots attach firmly to the jawbone and keep your teeth stable when chewing solid foods.
Traditionally, if you were missing a tooth or if one needed to be extracted, the healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth would be cut down and the whole thing replaced with a three-crown "bridge."
Dental implants are the modern alternative. Instead of cutting down two perfectly healthy teeth, a periodontist inserts a dental post (dental implant) into the jawbone to replace your missing tooth root. This post becomes solidly fixed into your jaw (like a natural tooth root). Dr. Hanchett then places a crown onto this artificial tooth root that looks, feels, and functions like your natural teeth.
Quite simply, dental implants are the most natural replacement for missing teeth.
Replacing Several Missing Teeth
Traditionally, several missing teeth would have been replaced with a removable partial or full denture.
Dentures have to be taken out and soaked at night. During the day, they can also look unnatural and rub painfully. Dentures and partials make it difficult or impossible to eat certain foods.
Dental implants can be used to anchor partial and full dentures. This prevents the slipping, irritation, and pain associated with "floating" partials and dentures. It also prevents the tedious removal of dentures for overnight soaking and cleaning. Dental implants also eliminate the need for dental adhesives. This allows you to enjoy eating the foods you previously avoided. With dental implants, your partials or dentures are firmly anchored to the jawbone, causing them to feel much more like natural teeth.
Dentures can cause bone loss, due to lack of stimulation.
Natural tooth roots and dental implant posts are fixed firmly in your jawbone. When you chew, these tooth roots and posts stimulate the jawbone and prevent it from shrinking. You may have seen a person who looked prematurely old because their jawbone had shrunk after wearing floating dentures. Dental implants help preserve your jawbone and appearance.
The Success Rate of Dental Implants
After their healing period, the success rate of dental implants is between 94% and 98%. If you are a non-smoker with good oral hygiene, the percentage is closer to 98%.
Does the Procedure Hurt?
The discomfort involved with receiving a dental implant is similar to that of having a cavity filled. It is often done under local anesthesia and patients generally experience little discomfort after the procedure.
How Long Will Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants become fixed to the jawbone. Though the life span of a dental implant will vary with each patient, many have lasted for more than 30 years. With good oral hygiene and regular cleanings, dental implants should last a lifetime. In contrast, the average life span of a traditional fixed bridge is between 10-15 years.
Duration of the Procedure
The duration of the procedure is highly variable, largely because healing is often required in between steps of the procedure.
In some cases, when there is abundant jawbone tissue and the patient is in good health, some specialists offer “immediate loading”. In this single-day procedure, the implant and crown are placed simultaneously.
More commonly, the crown is fitted several months after implant placement, allowing the implant time to fuse with the jawbone. In cases involving bone grafting, the graft must first heal for several months before the implant can be installed. Then the implant must integrate into the bone for several months before the crown can be adhered to the implant.
General Implant Placement Procedure
While there is some variation in procedure, the following outlines the basic steps required for dental implant placement:
The first portion of the procedure is done at your specialist's office. The gum covering the area is gently folded back and the underlying bone prepared to receive the implant. The extent of the bone preparation is dependent on the number of implants required.
The implant(s) are then installed, and the gum sutured. The implant should fully integrate into the bone after 3 to 6 months.
At this point, a custom-designed crown is fitted over the post. The details of the procedure change slightly with the structure of the implant used.
For More Information
So if you are looking for a Dental Implants in Cheboygan, call us today and see what a difference a beautiful healthy smile can make.
