The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a daily routine of brushing and flossing to maintain a healthy mouth and body. Proper care of dental implants is just as important as cleaning natural teeth since both depend on healthy surrounding tissues for support.

Plaque collects on implant crowns just like natural teeth, and must be removed on a daily basis at home through brushing and flossing. Without daily cleaning, peri-implantitis can cause inflammation around the implant and lead to bone loss. Because implants attach to surrounding bone and gums differently than natural teeth, peri-implantitis infections can rapidly lead to the loss of the affected implant.

Your dental hygienist also has an important role to play in keeping dental implants infection-free. Since implants are made of materials that are very different from natural teeth, routine professional cleaning is vital. Your hygienist will be able to select the right instruments for removing both soft (plaque or food) or hard (tartar) debris based on the type of surface in your mouth.

Despite special cleaning challenges, implants are highly successful. Studies indicate long-term success rates well over 95%. Proper cleaning and prevention of peri-implant disease is an important part of success.

Dental implants are increasingly the solution of choice for adults of all ages. If you can have routine dental treatment, you are generally a good candidate for dental implants.

If you answer yes to the following questions, implants could improve your quality of life.

Are you currently wearing dentures?
Implants can replace dentures or stabilize and secure the denture to make it more comfortable.

Do you have bone loss?
Bone loss is common in people who have lost teeth or had periodontal disease. Implants can help preserve facial structure and prevent the bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.

Have you been diagnosed with gum disease?
Success rates remain high for implants in patients who have lost their teeth due to periodontal disease.

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you should schedule a complimentary consultation with a periodontist to discuss your treatment options.

Do you have existing medical conditions including chronic diseases like diabetes or high blood pressure?
Although precautions must be taken for certain conditions, chronic disease does not automatically make you ineligible for dental implants.

Do you smoke?
Although smoking lowers the success rate of implants, it doesn’t eliminate the possibility.

Are you a child?
Generally children are not eligible for dental implants until their jaw growth is complete. However, in some cases a dental implant may be part of a child’s orthodontic treatment plan.

When considering a dental implant, it is important to consult a specialist to determine if you are a candidate. Periodontists have additional training to help them understand the implications of both anatomy and medical history on implant success rate.  

Whether you have lost a tooth (or several) as the result of an injury or periodontal disease, missing teeth can be both embarrassing and inconvenient. Dental implants provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth.

If you are missing teeth and your gums and jaw are healthy, you may benefit from dental implants. Composed of titanium metal that “fuses” with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, implants are surgically placed into the jawbone then topped with natural white crowns. Two or more implants can easily serve as a base of support for several replacement teeth. 

Because the dental implant fuses with the jawbone, the procedure actually helps prevent gum and bone deterioration, jawbone recession, and facial collapse. Better yet, dental implants can last for 20 years or more with proper oral hygiene. 

Though implants cost more upfront and may not be covered by insurance, patients avoid the cost of possibly having to replace a prothetic device like dentures or a bridge once, twice or more over the course of a lifetime. In addition, patients may avoid both the pain and cost of future dental work on adjacent teeth. Studies show a failure rate of up to 30% in teeth located next to a fixed bridge or removable partial denture within five to seven years of treatment.

With nearly 50 years of clinical research an overall success rate around 98%, dental implants are frequently the best treatment option for replacing missing teeth. They are changing the way people live by helping them rediscover the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life. 

Have you lost a permanent tooth? If so, you are in good company. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69% of Americans aged 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, tooth decay, gum disease or a failed root canal.

If you have lost one or more teeth as the result of an injury or periodontal disease, you may feel self-conscious about your smile. With modern technology there is no need to avoid smiling or cover your mouth when laughing. Today dental implants and fixed bridges are two of the most common treatment options for replacing missing teeth.

A fixed dental bridge is a non-removable prosthesis attached to remaining natural teeth. The false tooth or teeth literally bridge the gap between natural teeth. Bridges can improve chewing ability, pronunciation, aesthetics, and boost self-esteem. For a long time, fixed bridges were the best option for people who had lost teeth.

Unfortunately, bridges can also present some problems because the natural teeth that lie on either side of the bridge are filed down to accept the prosthetic. This step of the solution may make surrounding teeth prone to bacterial plaque accumulations, decay, periodontal disease, and the possibility of future root canals. Bridge-wearers must be careful to clean well under the appliance to avoid such complications. Recurrent decay, gum disease and wear and tear often doom fixed bridgework to early failure. For these reasons, fixed bridges usually need to be replaced every seven to 15 years.

If you are missing teeth and your gums and jaw are healthy, you may benefit from dental implants. Composed of titanium metal that “fuses” with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, implants are surgically placed into the jawbone then topped with a natural white crown—so they look and feel like your real teeth. Two or more implants can easily serve as a base of support for several replacement teeth. 

Because the dental implant fuses with the jawbone, the procedure actually helps prevent gum and bone deterioration, jawbone recession, and facial collapse. Better yet, dental implants can last for 20 years or more with proper oral hygiene.

In short, dental implants are revolutionizing lives by helping people rediscover the confidence to eat, speak, and laugh. Though implants cost a little more than bridges in the short run, people who opt for dental implants generally feel better, look better and live better in the long run.

Whether you and your health care provider decide on a fixed bridge or dental implants, rest assured there’s no need to go through life with missing teeth.

Have you lost a permanent tooth? If so, you are in good company.

According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69% of Americans aged 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, tooth decay, gum disease or a  failed root canal. Today dental implants and dentures are two of the most common treatment options for replacing missing teeth.

Removable dentures, commonly called false teeth, are prosthetic devices that simply rest on the gum line supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Dentures can improve chewing ability, pronunciation, aesthetics, and boost self-esteem. As a non-invasive solution, they are a great option for people whose gums and jaw are weak or unhealthy.

Although quality has improved greatly since the Etruscans in northern Italy first made dentures out of human and animal teeth around 500 BC, conventional dentures still present many challenges. Since they are typically held in place with a (sometimes unpleasant) fixative, dentures can slip out of place, causing discomfort and embarrassing clicking sounds while eating and speaking. Lower teeth are particularly prone to slippage which can lead to gum irritation and sores. Furthermore dentures can cause bone loss, and improperly fitted partial dentures can promote infection and decay in adjoining teeth. Dentures are a high maintenance solution that require daily cleaning and replacement every seven to 15 years.

If you are missing teeth and your gums and jaw are healthy, you may benefit from dental implants. Composed of titanium metal that “fuses” with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, implants are surgically placed into the jawbone then topped with a natural white crown—so they look and feel like your real teeth.

In contrast to dentures, implants never slip, make embarrassing noises, or decay. Because the dental implant fuses with the jawbone, the procedure actually helps prevent gum and bone deterioration, jawbone recession, and facial collapse. Patients enjoy a diet without restrictions and report that implants eliminate the day-to-day frustrations of ill-fitting dentures. Better yet,  dental implants can last for 20 years or more with proper oral hygiene. 

In short, dental implants are revolutionizing lives by helping people rediscover the confidence to eat, speak, and laugh. Whether you have lost a tooth (or multiple teeth) as the result of an injury or periodontal disease, dental implants provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth. Though implants cost a little more than dentures in the short run, people who opt for dental implants generally feel better, look better and live better in the long run.

Whether you and your health care provider decide on traditional dentures or dental implants, rest assured there’s no need to go through life with missing teeth!

Believe it or not, implantable fixtures to replace teeth are not a new concept. Archeologists have uncovered evidence of dental implants in many advanced ancient cultures including the Mayans (shells), Chinese (bamboo), Egyptians (gold wire), and Romans (cast-iron). Other materials used for ancient implants include rubber, ivory, copper, and semi-precious stones.

However, it is titanium that makes previous treatment options like dentures and bridges ancient history. Used in surgery since the 1940s, titaniums biocompatibility makes it the metal of choice for both doctors and dentists alike. It is the same material used for tried-and-true medical procedures like hip/knee replacements and pacemakers.

Dental implants consist of tiny titanium posts surgically implanted into the jawbone and topped with a natural white crown. If you consider the implants and bone the foundation, then the crowns and prosthetics would be houses. 

Modern implants rely on osseointegration, the biologic process where bone fuses tightly to the surface of specific materials such as titanium and some ceramics. Unlike prosthetic devises like dentures and fixed bridges, this strong foundation can support physical loads for decades without failure.

While titanium may seem like a material best suited for spacecraft, it is in fact safe and effective in the human body as well.

Since tooth loss is nothing new to man, it should come as no surprise that humans have been searching for replacement solutions since the stone age. Although ancient cultures didn’t have access to state-of-the-art treatments available at modern periodontal offices, they tried their best with the materials on hand.

The first known dental implant is attributed to the Mayans around 600 AD. In 1931, an archeologist in Honduras discovered the mandible of a Mayan woman in her twenties. Surprisingly, three of her teeth were made from pieces of shell as opposed to bone. For decades scientists believed that the shells were inserted after death in preparation for the afterlife, but in 1970 radiographic studies by dental scholar Amadeo Bobbeo confirmed the pieces of shell had melded with Mayan’s jawbone. This fusion, known as osseointegration, can only occur in living beings.

Archeologists have also uncovered evidence of dental implants in other advanced ancient cultures including the Chinese (bamboo), Egyptians (gold wire), and Romans (cast-iron). Other materials used for ancient implants include rubber, ivory, copper, and semi-precious stones.

Modern implants were born as the result of groundbreaking research at Cambridge University in the 1950s. Swedish orthopedic surgeon Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered that titanium fused to the soft tissue of rabbit ears. Dr. Brånemark realized that similar conditions exist in the human mouth and performed the first modern dental implant in 1965.

Today implants have a success rate of about 98% with proper homecare — a statistic that our ancestors would truly envy.

Let’s face it. Loosing a tooth, no matter what the cause can be embarrassing, make chewing difficult and affect your self-esteem. Dental implants simply provide a foundation for replacement teeth and are revolutionizing how dental professionals restore teeth that look and function like natural teeth. Implants are changing the way our patients live by giving them the confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life in comfort.

Since the implant is the root of the tooth, let’s take a look at the three components that make up the finished product: 

1. Implant — a tiny titanium post that is surgically implanted into the jawbone
2. Abutment — a conical shaped device that is the connective element between the implant and the crown
3. Crown — an artificial tooth that is customized for the patient to provide a natural appearance

Every patient is unique, and implants are needed for a variety of reasons. Appearance, structure and support for surrounding teeth, and overall facial structure are three of the most common reasons. Once you have lost a tooth, you may experience further bone loss and surrounding teeth can begin to move. If you are experiencing bone loss, you may need a bone graft or ridge augmentation. Once that process is complete an implant can be placed.  

If you fear the dentist, let me reassure you that placement of an implant is an easy process for the patient with a very short recovery time. After placement of the implant, we look for a process called osseointegration to occur. This is the fusion with the jawbone that makes dental implants a lasting solution and strong support mechanism for replacement teeth. Unlike dentures that rest on the gum line, implants never slip or make embarrassing noises that advertise the fact that a person has “false teeth.”

Most adults missing teeth find dental implants to be the best solution since they allow replacement teeth to blend seamlessly with surrounding teeth and they help preserve the structure of the patients mouth. As long as a patient is not medically compromised, proper homecare is conducted and implant maintenance procedures are followed, there is a success rate of about 98%.