An implant is a small, screw like titanium post that acts as a root substitute. It is a tooth replacement option that will give you a longer lasting result. Implants also preserve tooth supporting bone that naturally deteriorates when a tooth is lost. Loss of bone is one of the major hidden consequences of losing teeth.

Replace One Tooth – When you have one tooth missing, a single implant is inserted into the bone to replace the root part of that tooth; a crown then goes on top to simulate an actual tooth. This treatment choice has the highest success rate, making it the best long-term investment for replacing a single missing tooth.

Replace Multiple Teeth – when you have more than one tooth missing, implants provide an ideal replacement mechanism. You don’t even need one implant for every missing tooth. Instead, implant teeth can act as supports for fixed bridge work. For example, if you are missing three teeth in a row, we can place two implants, one on either side of a gap, and a crown in between that has no implant underneath.

Replace All Teeth Permanently – implants can support an entire arch of upper or lower replacement teeth that are fixed into the mouth and are never removed. Sometimes the new teeth can be supported by as few as four implants.

Support Removable Dentures – implants can even make removable dentures more comfortable and easier to wear. Traditional dentures rest on the gums and put pressure on the bone. This promotes bone loss, the jaw shrinks and the dentures slip, particularly on the bottom. Dentists can attach a removable denture on two implants, and redirecting that pressure into the bone structure rather than to the bone surface. This prevents the dentures from slipping while you eat and speak, and preserves the bone directly beneath them.

Peri-Implantitis

Peri-implantitis is an infectious disease that causes inflammation of the gum and the bone structure around a dental implant.  If the gum tissue is loose around the implants, harmful bacteria can grow below the gums causing bone loss.

Appropriate management of peri-implantitis often requires a referral to a periodontist. In order to control the bacterial infection and reduce the inflammation in the tissues, debridement and bone grafting is necessary.

Signs of peri-implant disease

Signs of peri-implant diseases are similar to symptoms of gum disease : red or tender gums around the implants, or bleeding when brushing. And just like your natural teeth, implants require regular tooth brushing and flossing and regular check-ups from a dental professional. Other risks factors for developing peri-implant disease include previous periodontal disease, poor plaque control, smoking, and diabetes.

It is important to routinely monitor dental implants as part of a comprehensive periodontal exam.