Dental Implants
At Classic Smiles Dentistry we understand the importance of renewing your smile, your chewing ability and quite frankly your quality of life. Dental implants are a predictable, long lasting replacement to missing teeth.
What are the components of an Endosteal implant?
The Endosteal implant is a type of implant that can help patients restore their smile after missing one tooth or many. An implant of this type is placed directly into the jawbone. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, the Endosteal implant is the most common implant used in dentistry. The two common types of Endosteal implants are cylinder and blade. The cylinder form consists of a screw, a small cylinder made of titanium, ceramic, or polymeric, and an abutment. The blade form differs in that it may have one or more abutments. In both cylinder and blade types, the prosthetic tooth replacement is fabricated to be placed on the abutment portion of the implant.
What are the steps in placing an Endosteal implant?
After the tooth is removed, the dentist will determine if the patient is a viable candidate for a successful implant. Our staff at Classic Smiles Dentistry will then schedule an appointment with the patient for a consultation to plan for implant placement. Once the patient consents to the implant, he or she schedules for the placement of the screw and cylinder portions of the implant.
After the screw and cylinder portions are placed, it is likely the doctor may allow time for the patient's bone (generally four to six weeks) to grow around the implant so the patient’s body will permanently accept it. This process is called Osseo integration, and refers to the process of the bone and implant bonding for a strong foundation for long-term strength. In this time frame, the patient goes about eating, drinking and speaking normally. After this time passes, the patient returns to the office for placement of the abutment onto the dental implant. Then, a dental crown, denture or bridge can be fabricated to replace the missing tooth.
Success rates of dental implants are usually more than 95%. Need more information? Call Classic Smiles Dentistry at (770) 319-8110 to set up an appointment for a consultation.
