Dental Implants
Dental implants are metal cylinders
that are inserted into the jawbone to replace the root portion
of a missing tooth or teeth. These metal root replacements are
then used to support dental crowns (caps), bridges or dentures.
Dental implants are constructed from a metal known as titanium.
This material is biocompatible, meaning the body does not reject
it. Accepted by the American Dental Association, dental implants
have been successfully used for many years.
Am I a candidate for Dental
Implants?
Drs. Dachille, Laing and Paladino will perform an oral
and x-ray examination to determine if you have enough bone to
secure the implant. Also, they will review your medical history.
Other than a few rare conditions, most patients are medically
acceptable to have implant surgery. Importantly, there is no
age restriction regarding implant surgery. In fact, most of
our implant patients are advanced in years.
Surgical Procedure
Dental implant surgery is performed in our office
under an intravenous and/or local anesthetic. For most patients,
implant surgery is performed in two steps. The first step is
the actual placement of the implant into your jaw. This surgical
procedure takes less than one hour, and usually causes only
minor post-operative discomfort. We then wait three months for
the implant to heal and adhere to your bone. During this time,
you may wear any dentures or bridgework you may have. The second
step involves removing the gum tissue that covers the implant.
This simple exposure procedure is performed with a local anesthetic.
Upon exposure of your implant, you need to return to your dentist
to have your new crown, bridge or denture constructed. Drs.
Dachille, Laing and Paladino will discuss these surgical procedures
with you, and by reviewing various implant charts and models,
will allow you to easily understand your implant surgery.
