Antioch Veneers and Implants

Dental Implants

If you are looking for a solution for replacing missing teeth, a great option is dental implants. The procedure includes surgically fusing titanium supports to your jawbone.  These act an anchor to hold your new, natural-looking false teeth.  Many prefer implants as an alternative to dentures because they are able to more stable, and they allow you to replace one tooth or multiple teeth. 

 

Here are the key advantages:

·         Natural appearance

·         High Stability

·         More comfortable than dentures

·         Longevity

Disadvantages of dental implants:

·         Higher financial cost

·         Longer process and timeline to install

·         Slight (5%) chance that surgery will fail

 

There are three common types of implants that our cosmetic dentistry office recommends. Your dentist will help you determine which is right for you.

 

1.       The root form implant is the most common type of implant. It is similar to a screw that is shaped like the root of a tooth. It is placed directly into the jawbone, under the gums. Anesthesia is used. It takes approximately 3 to 6 months for the implant to fuse with the jawbone and for the gums to heal. Once the implant has healed, the replacement tooth can be attached. This type of implant is used when jawbones are healthy and thick.

2.       The plate form implant has a flatter, longer shape and is usually made out of titanium. It is placed on top of the jawbone beneath the gums.  It’s most often used in the case of a jawbone that is narrow or has deteriorated over time.  It also requires anesthesia and an incision to be made to insert the plate. The timeline of 3 to 6 months for healing also applies here. Then a second procedure in which the attachment of the replacement teeth or bridge happens.

 

The subperiosteal implant is the most rarely used type of implant and is used when there is not enough bone width or height for either a root or plate implant to attach to. This type of implant is custom made, and it is attached directly to the jawbone.  It sits on top of the bone, but underneath the gums. An impression is taken of the jaw first, before the procedure. This happens either during the oral surgery, or via a CAT scan. The implant is created custom to the shape of the impression, then it is implanted onto the jawbone. As with the other types of implants, healing is about 3 to 6 months, after which the replacement teeth can be attached.