Questions & Answers
Am I too old to consider having implant treatment to replace my missing or damaged natural teeth?
I treated a lady some 15 years ago who was 87 years old at the time. She had worn and upper denture for some 67 years. She wanted teeth she could eat with. I placed five implants in her upper jaw, and she waited six months for her bone to grow to the implant surfaces (she wore her dentures during this time of course). I then made a 14 tooth bridge for her that she could not remove. I could remove it passively, if necessary, but she couldn't. She passed on at the age of 97. She enjoyed it ten years, eating as she had always wanted.
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What is an implant?
An implant is a facsimile for a tooth root (replacement). The root shape provides the basis for support of a crown (cap), which is the visible portion of the tooth.
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What does an implant do?
An implant provides support in the bone for a crown (cap) or a bridge (several teeth, linked together), which may not be able to be removed from the mouth by the patient.
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What is an implant made out of?
An implant, at this point in time is typically made of surgical grade Titanium. This is a metal.
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How is it put into my mouth?
It is surgically placed by a dentist into your jaw bone. Very precise equipment is used under sterile techniques to prepare a site (osteotomy) for the implant to reside in.
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What if I don't have enough bone for an implant?
There are many osseous (bone) graft procedures available today. Success is very high. The bone can be the patient's own bone or bone which has been processed and supplied through a bone bank to provide the basis for the bone graft. Many doctors use combinations of these graft materials including preparation from the patient's own blood called PRP. PRP is an acronym for platelet rich plasma. It gives a kick start or boost to the healing process of a bone graft by initiating new blood supply to the graft, the basis of all healing.
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How long does it take for me to get a tooth (teeth)?
There are many essential criteria involved in determining the length of healing time required before a tooth (teeth) can be attached to the implant(s) and loaded with chewing forces. The accepted protocol for twenty years has been from three to six month healing time, depending on the location of the implant(s) and the bone quality surrounding the implants(s). Currently, options exist whereby more than the essential number of implants are placed to successfully treat the patient. In this way certain implants can be immediately loaded the same day as the surgery. The risk factors are mitigated by having installed implants which are nonessential to the success. In a large number of cases, all the implants will succeed. This is obviously more expensive than the standard protocol which utilizes a minimum number of implants to accomplish the prosthetic requirements.
These techniques are varied and require consultation with one's doctor to determine what is a particular patient's best interest.
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What do I wear while my implant is healing?
You will be wearing a provisional (temporary) appliance. This could be your old prosthesis (bridge, denture, partial, etc.) or a new one that your doctor fabricates for you. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE WITHOUT TEETH WHILE WAITING FOR YOUR IMPLANTS TO HEAL.
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