A team-oriented effort between an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, such as Dr. Leonhart, and your restorative dentist will be essential for a successful dental implant experience. Dr. Leonhart leads our surgical team in the placement of the dental implant post (the part in the jaw bone) along with any recommended adjunctive surgical procedures such as tooth extractions and bone grafting before your restorative dentist designs and finalizes your permanent prosthesis (the part you chew with).
Why Dental Implants?
Implant dentistry makes it possible to fully recover from tooth loss in a way that can have a positive impact on many aspects of your life. A finished dental implant is not removable and can be made to look very natural and attractive from all angles. From the way that an implant tooth aligns with the neighboring teeth right down to the relationship between the implant tooth and the gum line, there is very little visual distinction between an implant and a natural tooth.
Furthermore, dental implants will improve the longevity of your other remaining teeth by preventing the need to drill into the remaining teeth to replace the lost tooth, thus weakening those teeth and subjecting them to the possible need for a root canal.
Depending on the case, a dental implant surgery will be completed in 1 or 2 phases. First, the titanium post (the implant) will be surgically placed into the jawbone. This minimally invasive surgery can be completed in the dental office under local anesthesia or IV sedation. In this phase, gum graft surgery and additional adjunctive procedures can also be performed. The tip of the implant post will be covered and protected by the gum tissue until the post and the jawbone have become permanently fused together in a process known as osseointegration. Because Dr. Leonhart uses only the best implant systems, this process can take as little as 8 weeks.
In the second phase, the gum tissue will be numbed and the top of the implant post will be carefully uncovered. A surgical abutment will be attached to the implant post to serve as the point of connection for your final crown.
A Better Tooth Replacement Alternative
If this all sounds a little bit confusing, we can help! If you are considering dental implants as an alternative to conventional bridges and partial dentures, we would be happy to discuss the procedure and guide you through the decision-making process. Please call or contact us today to arrange a consultation.