What are dental implants and how do they work?

The advent of osseointegrated implants represents a great breakthrough in dentistry. We are now able to replace a tooth without connecting to adjacent healthy teeth. "Use a one tooth solution to solve a one tooth problem."

Osseointegration refers to the process in which bone attaches to the surface of titanium metal. This ability of the body to accept this metal has allowed modern medicine to utilize titanium in artificial joints, heart valves and dental implants.

Of course it is possible to have conventional dentures or bridges which will suffice in some cases. However there are cases in which one may not want to wear a removable denture or may not want to have a tooth shaved down for a bridge. Most people desire the added stability of a fixed prosthesis over a removable denture. There are also patients who cannot tolerate the palate of an upper denture due to a gag reflex or diminished taste sensation.

A simple way to think of a dental implant is a three-stage system in which first a titanium post is placed into the bone. The second stage of the implant system is called the abutment which attaches into the implant and extends through the gum tissue like a tooth. Cemented over the abutment is the third stage of the implant system which may be a crown, bridge or denture, constructed and placed by your dentist.

Can implants be placed in my mouth?

Osseointegrated titanium implants can be placed in most patients. However certain anatomic conditions must apply. There is a nerve which runs through the lower jaw and extends to the lower lip and chin. The nerve is not for movement, but instead a sensory type nerve. There has to be enough bone above this nerve for an implant.

In some cases, the bone is too narrow at the top and may have to be widened with a bone graft procedure. In most cases, we can obtain bone from areas within the mouth so that the procedure can be done in our office.

In the upper jaw there is an air filled cavity called the sinus. Sometimes, there is not enough bone beneath the sinus cavity and a bone graft procedure may be necessary to increase the amount of bone in the bottom of the sinus.

Recent research has shown that there are certain growth factors in blood that can speed up the healing process and increase the density of grafted bone. In some cases we will use this technology as part of the bone graft procedure.

Success rates in large studies indicate that implants successfully fuse to bone at a rate of over 98%. We have placed thousands of implants in our practice since 1984, and although one cannot say that implants last forever, problems after restoration are rare.

Can I be sure implants will last the rest of my life?

We are proud to offer a limited lifetime warranty on our dental implants. The dental implant literature has concluded that the vast majority of dental implants placed reach successful integration (healing). We are therefore very confident in the overall success rates of dental implants, and expect them to last a lifetime.

Implant Warranty:

If the implant does not integrate or loses integration after the prosthesis is fabricated, the implant will be replaced in our offices at no additional charge.

Limitations to Warranty:

1. The patient must comply with an annual follow up visit in our office and also, periodic x-rays every 2 - 3 years. These visits and x-rays are at the patient's expense. The patient must also comply with the recommended maintenance/cleaning schedule (usually 2 - 4 times per year) as recommended by your general dentist’s office.

2. The warranty covers the implant and does not extend to the abutment or the prosthesis.

3. The warranty does not include any bone or soft tissue grafting that may be necessary in the future.

4. The warranty does not include intravenous anesthesia or any subsequent radiographs including scans.


If you have any questions or require further information, please contact our office.

What is my dentist's part in the implant process?

Once accepted as an implant patient, impressions are made of your mouth by your dentist and casts are generated to study the bite. When the pretreatment procedures are completed by your dentist, an appointment is made for your surgery and the appropriate implants are ordered by our office. At the surgical appointment, you can choose to be awake or asleep for the procedure. Sometimes a plastic guide is made by your dentist and used to position the implants. Usually Stage I and Stage II are combined into one visit and a temporary healing abutment is placed on the implant. In other cases if the bone is less dense, the doctor may elect to submerge the implant beneath the gum tissue. Several months later the implant is uncovered and a temporary healing abutment is placed. Your surgeon will discuss your treatment options with you.

Sometimes, you will need to have your existing prosthesis adjusted by your dentist after surgery so that you can wear it immediately. It requires two to five months for the implants to become healed (integrated) into the bone. It is important that during this time, excellent oral hygiene is maintained and you see your dentist for scheduled cleaning visits. When healing is complete, the implant is tested for its tight attachment to bone, after which construction of the prosthesis by your dentist begins.

All of these issues will be discussed with you in great detail. All questions are welcomed, because we feel that patients should have a full understanding of this remarkable procedure.