When it comes to replacing missing teeth, dental implants are a great alternative to dentures and bridges. Implants look, feel and act just like your other teeth—in fact, most people would have a hard time telling that they’re artificial. With our up-to-date procedures, they’re also easier than ever to have done if you need them.
If you’re interested in learning about the options to replace one or more missing teeth, we’d be happy to talk to you and provide a recommendation for your unique situation.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a zirconia or titanium post embedded in the jaw that supports an artificial denture. It’s a complete replacement for a missing tooth or teeth.
With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime.
Advantages of dental implants
If it’s an option, many patients choose implants because:
- They look and behave like your own teeth.
- They are a lifelong solution when well maintained.
- They help preserve your jawbone.
- They are much stronger than dentures or bridges.
- In many cases, the surgery can be done in a matter of hours.
Are dental implants right for me?
You might be a good candidate for dental implants if you have good overall health, still have lots of bone in your jaw, and if you have just one tooth or a few teeth to replace.
If a tooth has been missing for a long time, some of the bone that held it in place may become weakened or reabsorbed. If you’ve experienced bone loss at the site of your missing tooth, it may be possible to do a bone graft before we start the implant procedure.
If you smoke, use certain drugs, have a compromised immune system, or have undergone radiation treatment, you may not be a good candidate. If you’re prone to grinding your teeth and would still like an implant, we would need to provide you with an oral appliance to preserve your implant as well as your other teeth.
If implants aren’t right for you, there are other options we can explore.
Why Oceana recommends ceramic zirconia implants
Although many dentists offer titanium implants, Oceana offers ceramic zirconia as a hypoallergenic and metal-free alternative.
Ceramic zirconia implants are newer but clinical studies have shown they provide wonderful results and an array of benefits over titanium:
- They are biocompatible and cause fewer reactions.
- They preserve more bone and gum tissue.
- They are less likely to degrade over time.
- The white colour looks much better in the mouth, especially for people with thin gum tissue. The silvery grey metal of titanium can look dark in the mouth.
- Plaque and bacteria in general don’t stick to ceramic zirconia as well.
Bridge
Dental bridges are single artificial tooth or a row of replacement teeth that are held in place by crowns on either side of the gap. There are several different kinds of bridges that can be used depending on how many teeth are missing.
Bridges don’t last as long as implants, and require that we grind down nearby healthy teeth and cap them with crowns. They also don’t prevent bone loss the way that implants do.
Denture
Dentures are prosthetic teeth and gums, made of resin. They can be full (replacing all of your teeth on your upper or lower jaw) or partial (fitting around your remaining teeth). Some types of dentures can be anchored with implants.
While they also cost less than dental implants or bridges, dentures need to be removed to be cleaned and while you sleep to give your real gums a break.
What’s the dental implant process like?
One of the great things about dentistry is that technological improvements in the last decade or two have allowed us to give our patients better results. With 3D guided dental implant surgery, we can typically give you your implant in a matter of hours.
- We start by doing a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan of your mouth to create a 3D model of your teeth, jawbone, blood vessels and nerve pathways.
- The model allows us to zoom and rotate our view so we get a complete understanding of your mouth. We review the model and plan the steps and locations for the procedure.
- In the software, we perform test surgeries to confirm that our plan will work and that we’ve found the right location for your implant.
- In certain circumstances, we then create a custom drilling template that will fit over your teeth. This will allow us to drill in precisely the best spot for the alignment of your implant, and to avoid damaging nearby tissues.
- Once your implant surgery is done, we place temporary caps on the post until you have healed.