Dental Implants are certainly not new. In fact, archeologists have uncovered proof that early Cosmetic Dentistry procedures did exist going back thousands of years with evidence of the ancient Egyptians pounding seashells into the gum line. Much has changed since that time with new and improved dental implants that are suitable for nearly everyone.
When you schedule an appointment for implants, you can expect to be treated by more than one dental professional. Members of your Dental Implant team may include a periodontist, a general dentist, and an oral surgeon. A prothodontist, a specialist who will make your dentures, bridges, or crowns, may also be part of your Dental Implant team.
If you have been considering Dental Implants, schedule an appointment with your Dentist to determine if you are a good candidate. Unfortunately, not everyone has the teeth, gums, or jawbone for Dental Implants, and if you have gingivitis or periodontal disease, your dentist will need to take care of that before continuing with Dental Implants.
People who are not good candidates for Dental Implants include smokers, people who have some sort of autoimmune disease and people who have uncontrolled diabetes. If you have had neck and head radiation therapy, you may not be suitable for Dental Implants.
Dental Implants are used for a variety of reasons including tooth replacement. People who have had teeth missing for weeks, months, or even years are having Dental Implants. If you have lost teeth because of periodontal disease, an injury or an infection, Dental Implants will provide you with a natural looking replacement that is much more comfortable then dentures. Depending on the tooth removed, your dentist may be able to implant during the same procedure.
During your appointment your Dental Implant team will determine if you have enough bone to support your new implant, if you don’t, it is possible to build up the bone in the area with augmentation or bone grafting. If bone grafting is necessary, you may have to wait several months before placement of your Dental Implants. Most patients wear a bridge or dentures during this time.
If bone grating is not necessary, your Dental Implants are usually placed with a two-step process. However, thanks to dental technology there are some types of implants that can be placed in one appointment.
Dr. Michael Layton (DDS) is a dentist based in the South Surrey/White Rock area. With over 10 years of experience in the dental industry and a Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Washington, Dr. Layton enjoys providing safe and easy dental solutions for every patient that walks through the doors of his practice - and reads his blog. You can follow him on Google+.
