Dental Implant Surgery
At Keystone Dentsitry, we see every day how dental implants can transform our patients’ mouths — and their lives. As a permanent solution to missing teeth, dental implants are some of the most innovative solutions in dentistry today. The benefits of teeth implants go beyond the aesthetic — the person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. Patients with dental implants can smile with confidence again!
Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth such as a dental crown, bridge or denture just like roots hold your natural teeth in place. The unique type of implants we use provide superb stability, make drilling simpler and placing the implant easier. And with dental implants, there is no need to destroy the good, healthy tooth structure of neighboring teeth, which makes it an ideal solution for most patients seeking an improved cosmetic dental appearance. The implant has an almost infinite lifespan as long as it is cared for properly, unlike dental bridges which the ADA states last only 8-10 years on average. Implants have several advantages over partials and dentures too; an implant does not come in and out, so you never have to worry about embarrasing moments. And implants are the only replacement for a tooth that also preserves the bone (and in doing so preserves facial structure), making the fit last which is always an issue with partials, dentures, and even some bridges.
The implants themselves are small titanium posts, which are surgically inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing; these metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes and just like the roots of teeth, are underneath the gums and unable to be seen. A temporary cover is placed on top of the implant, flush with the gums, for about ten weeks, depending on the situation. In certain situations, a temporary tooth may be made for cosmetics. After the implant is placed, the bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation. Small posts called abutments are then attached to the implant, which protrude through the gums and provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth. When the artificial teeth are placed, these posts will not be seen. Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily lives. Using the most recent advances in dental implant technology, there are even situations where the implants can be placed at the same time as a tooth extraction – further minimizing the number of surgical procedures.
There are many types of replacement teeth or prosthetics; a single prosthetic called a crown is used to replace one missing tooth – each prosthetic tooth attaches to its own implant. A partial prosthesis called a bridge can replace two or more teeth and may require only two or three implants. A complete dental prosthetic replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. The number of implants varies depending upon which type of complete prosthetic (removable or fixed) is recommended. A removable prosthetic (over denture) attaches to a bar or ball in socket attachments, whereas a fixed prosthetic (fixed bridge) is permanent and removable only by the dentist.
The professional team at Keystone Dentistry makes the dental implant process easy. We lead the Indianapolis area in dental implant experience, and continually work with the top implant providers to offer you the latest technology and techniques. We guide you through each step of the implant process, from placing the dental implant to restoring the final tooth, and implants are just one of the many advanced dental surgery techniques that set Keystone Dentistry apart from any other Indianapolis dental practice. Contact us today for more information.