Dental Implants

Dental implants are small anchors made of a biocompatible metal called titanium that are placed in the jawbone. Dental implants are the replacement of tooth roots in the mouth. Once placed, the anchors begin to fuse with the bone over the course of a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the permanent attachment of the replacement teeth.

Because of the natural look and feel of the porcelain and the functional stability provided by the implants, implant supported bridges are an effective solution to replace multiple missing teeth.

A traditional bridge uses teeth on either side of the gap where teeth are missing for support. An implant supported bridge uses two or more dental implants rather than the adjacent teeth. When a bridge uses natural teeth for attachment, the natural teeth must be prepped for crowns and are then subject to increased stress which may be damaging - particularly if the existing tooth, roots, or surrounding bone structure are already compromised. A dental implant supported bridge replaced your missing teeth and avoids putting any additional stress on your natural teeth.

This technique offers many advantages over traditional dentures.

Easy to care for, this solution can simulate the look and feel of natural teeth and stay fixed in place with the implants acting as anchors. Patients will not experience the typical rocking and movement or gum irritation associated with dentures.

Dental implant placement can also help alleviate the sunken look that can occur with bone loss in the jaw by stimulating bone growth in the area around the implant. This process can also help prevent future bone loss.

In traditional implants, an abutment is attached to the titanium implant screw, and the restoration is then placed on the abutment as shown here.

MDIs are approximately half the diameter of a traditional implant and use a titanium post, rather than a screw.  Instead of an abutment piece that supports the final restoration, MDIs use a ball and socket attachment system.  The ball on the end of the titanium post (shown above) provides the attachment point for the o-ring in the replacement tooth.

Similarities between MDIs and full size dental implants:

• The implant is inserted into the jawbone.
• The implants, once inserted into the jawbone, are fixed in place.
• The implant serves to replace the tooth root and anchor replacement teeth.
• The placement of the implant can prompt bone regeneration around the placement site.
• The implant can be used to support one or more teeth for crowns or bridges and can also help provide support for removable lower arch dentures.

MDIs may be preferable to full size dental implants in the following situations:

• Bone mass in the jaw is insufficient to support a full size implant screw.
• There is a small space or gap into which to insert the fabricated tooth (such as an incisor as opposed to a molar).
• Children or young adults have congenitally missing teeth.
• Minimally invasive techniques are required due to health or other reasons.

Using CBCT scans, virtual treatment planning, and highly specialized training, we are able to provide guided implant placement for our patients.

Using a virtual 3-D model or a physical model, implant placements and the following restorative work can be simulated to create the ideal patient treatment plan. These virtual plans allow the doctor to take multiple aspects of implant placement and restoration into consideration, resulting in optimal aesthetics, function, and longevity for the patient’s final restoration. Working with a 3-D model also allows the patient to better understand the procedures and visualize the end result.