Dental Implants Near You in SE Calgary
Are you searching for dental implants near you? At South Trail Crossing Dental, we offer this restorative procedure to help our patients achieve optimal oral health. Dental implants are used to restore one’s smile. They are natural-looking and feel and function like your real teeth. They consist of titanium implant posts which are inserted into the jawbone where the teeth are missing. The jawbone fuses with the titanium posts through a process called osseointegration. The implants provide a foundation for replacement teeth which preserve facial structure and prevent the deterioration of bone.
Why Should You Consider Dental Implants?
Dental implants can be life changing. Here are some of the main reasons to consider dental implants:
- Durability- while there are faster ways to restore a tooth, dental implants are the strongest and longest-lasting option. With the right care, dental implants can last for decades.
- Comfort- since dental implants fuse with your anatomy, they feel very comfortable and natural in your mouth. They are also firmly anchored in your mouth, so you won’t have to worry about them shifting like you would with dentures.
- Jawbone preservation- without the stimulation from your natural tooth root, your jawbone will slowly begin to deteriorate. An implant will preserve your jawbone by mimicking the function of a natural tooth root.
- Easy eating- compared to other dental restorations, dental implants are much more durable. This means that you can continue to eat all your favourite meals without worrying about damaging your implants.
- Maintenance- once healed, dental implants act and look almost exactly like natural teeth. This also means that they require no special maintenance past a regular oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing.
The Anatomy of a Dental Implant
Most dental implants have three main parts:
- Implant post-the post is made of biocompatible titanium and serves as a replacement for the tooth root. Titanium is tolerated very well by the body and fuses with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration.
- Abutment- this is a metal piece that attaches to the top of the implant post and secures the crown and post together.
- Dental crown- this is the visible portion of the replacement tooth and is fitted on top of the abutment. Typically made from porcelain, it is custom-made to look and feel like your natural teeth.
The Dental Implant Consultation
Interested in dental implants near you? South Trail Crossing Dental offers dental implants in SE Calgary, Mckenzie Towne, Calgary, AB, T2Z 3V8. Schedule a consultation with our team if you are interested in implant dentistry. During your consultation, you will undergo a dental and radiographic examination. Your health history and specific needs will be addressed, as well as all your questions and concerns. Your dentist will also check to see if you have enough bone density to support the implant. If you lack bone density, your dentist will recommend a bone graft. It may take some months for the bone graft to increasedentisityenough to support the implant but once the density is there, you are ready for the placement of a dental implant.
Bone Grafting and Socket Preservation
If your tooth or teeth have not fallen out on their own, then your dentist will need to perform an extraction and prepare your mouth for the implants.
Once a tooth is extracted, degeneration of the bone that supports it occurs. It begins to melt away through two different processes. The first process is horizontal width loss which occurs when the tooth is extracted and the bone around its socket collapses without the support of the tooth. The second is vertical height loss, and it’s even quicker and more obvious when a patient wears dentures.
Saving this bone is vital when you no longer have a tooth in that area. This is because you will need to replace your missing teeth to maintain optimal oral health. Bone support is necessary to properly hold up your replacement teeth in their sockets.
What is Socket Preservation?
Fortunately, there are many bone grafting techniques available to preserve your sockets and allow you to get dental implants. The technique that works best for you is determined based on your oral health and personal desires.
During most bone-grafting procedures, the socket of your missing tooth will be packed with a bone-like material, and then covered with absorbable suture or plug. Whatever material is used for your bone grafting treatment is also used to support the tissue surrounding your tooth’s socket. As the new bone grows in, it starts to replace the bone graft and works to fully support your replacement teeth.
When is Bone Grafting Required?
If you have had a missing tooth or teeth for a while, and your jawbone isn’t strong enough, you may need to undergo bone grafting before you can have dental implant surgery. A bone graft will create a solid base for the dental implant to use as an anchor.
It may take several months for the transplanted bone to stimulate enough new bone growth to support a dental implant. In some cases, you may only require a minor bone graft, which can be performed at the same time as your implant surgery. Your dentist will be able to let you know how best to proceed.
Dental Implant Procedure
Dental implants serve as tooth root substitutes comprised of titanium metal anchors. Your dentist will surgically place the implant into your jawbone. Next, small posts called abutments are attached to the implant. The posts protrude through your gums and provide stable anchors for replacement teeth (crowns).
Placing dental implants will require two surgical procedures. During the first surgical procedure, your dentist will place the implants in your jawbone. The implants are underneath the surface of the gums, during the first three to six months’ post-surgery. The implants fuse with your jawbone progressively. You will wear temporary crowns or dentures and follow a soft diet during this stage.
Once the implant has integrated with your jawbone and has healed, the second phase of the procedure begins. Your dentist will make a new incision to reveal the dental implant and then attach the abutment to the implant. Your dentist will also take impressions of your teeth to createa tooth that matches your bite. Lastly, your dentist will attach the replacement tooth (crown) to the abutment.
Dental Implant Guided Surgery
There are two ways to perform implant placement surgery; these are freehand and guided surgery. According to studies comparing the outcome of freehand versus computer-guided implant placement, patients experienced higher pain and swelling at sites treated by freehand surgery with flap evaluations. Less marginal bone loss was observed for patients who underwent computer guided surgery. South Trail Crossing Dental uses guided surgery with surgical guides for implant placement surgery. When performed correctly with proper images, guided implant surgery may provide a high level of precision and control. Despite the free-hand method being more cost-effective, we believe that the advantages of guided implant surgery far out-weight the extra cost associated with it.
Guided Implant Surgery Advantages:
- Precise, safe and predictable
- Shorter surgery time
- Generally carried out as a flapless surgery–shorter recovery time for patients
- Less invasion, blood, and pain
- Minimization of bone grafts
- Improved position for the final crown restoration
If you are interested in learning more about dental implants near you, contact our dental clinic to find out how dental implants can improve your oral health.
Guided Implant Placement Surgery Process
The surgery begins with a computed tomography (CT) image of your dental arch and iTero is used to get digital scans of the soft tissue and gums. The technology then creates an overlay which includes the new dental implants. This allows your dentist to visualize and manipulate images of your jawbone and surrounding tissues to place the implants in their exact locations. Ultimately, computer-guided surgery enables your dentist to plan the most accurate treatment approach. You can experience fewer complications, faster recovery times, and a fantastic smile.
South Trail Crossing Dental in SE Calgary, McKenzie Towne, offers dental implants near you. Schedule your consultation today!