Dental implants

It depends on how many teeth are missing and what you want day to day:

• One missing tooth: a single implant with a crown. Nothing is done to the teeth beside it.
• Several missing teeth in a row: an implant-supported bridge, with implants at each end holding a row of replacement teeth.
• All or most teeth on an arch: implant dentures. A fixed version is attached to several implants and only the dentist removes it. A removable, snap-on version clips onto fewer implants and comes out for cleaning.

Before anything is placed, we take a scan with our i-CAT 3D cone beam scanner. It shows the height and width of your bone and the exact position of nerves and sinuses, which a regular x-ray can't. That lets us plan the size, angle and position of each implant before surgery day, and tell you in advance whether you'll need anything first, like an extraction, gum treatment, or a bone graft.

You'll see the scan with us, and you'll get a written plan that itemizes every step: any preliminary treatment, the implant surgery, the connecting parts, and the final crown, bridge or denture.

First, a consultation and scan. Then the implant is placed with the area numbed; nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation is available. Over the next several months the bone bonds to the implant, a process called osseointegration. Then a small connector (the abutment) is attached and the final restoration is made from a digital scan and fitted.

Most people are surprised how manageable recovery is. Expect some swelling and soreness for a few days, soft foods for a while, and clear written instructions for the first week.

Implants can't get cavities, but the gum and bone around them can get inflamed, a condition called peri-implantitis. Brushing, flossing around the implant, and regular checkups keep that in check. Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes raise the risk, and grinding can overload an implant; a night guard helps.

If you have an implant (placed here or anywhere) that's sore, loose, bleeding, swollen, or makes chewing uncomfortable, come in. We'll examine it and take a 3D scan to see what's happening. Sometimes the fix is simple, like treating an infection or replacing a worn crown. Sometimes the implant needs to be removed, the area allowed to heal, and a new implant considered. We'll tell you honestly which situation you're in and what each option involves.