Concourse Dental Group
Dental Implants
Dental Implants
Tooth loss affects your ability to eat and in the long term can significantly impact your overall health. It can also alter the appearance of your face. Even the loss of a few teeth can cause sagging and give the appearance of advanced age. Dental implants can be an important treatment in these situations and can restore your ability to eat properly, improve your smile, and enhance your profile.
what are Dental implants?
Dental implants are a combination of a titanium post and a crown. Improvements in implant technology have made them extremely reliable. They are one of the most important advances in dentistry, allowing patients with missing or extremely damaged teeth to enjoy a fully functional bite.
What is the procedure for an implant?
Placing a tooth implant involves several visits to your dentist and a dental specialist.
First, it is necessary to ensure that you are a viable candidate for the procedure. We begin by doing a thorough examination of your mouth, teeth, and gums. X-rays are taken to evaluate the condition of your bone and teeth.
Once the above assessment has confirmed that you will benefit from an implant, you will be referred to a specialist for further evaluation. That specialist will place the titanium post in the bone where it will act as an anchor for the crown. The post will heal in approximately four months, giving the surrounding bone time to form a strong bond with the post.
Patients are sometimes fitted with a temporary crown or denture while healing to facilitate eating and smiling.
Once the post has completely healed, impressions of the post, teeth, and gums are sent to the laboratory where a permanent crown will be made. Your dentist will then attach the permanent crown to the post.
First, it is necessary to ensure that you are a viable candidate for the procedure. We begin by doing a thorough examination of your mouth, teeth, and gums. X-rays are taken to evaluate the condition of your bone and teeth.
Once the above assessment has confirmed that you will benefit from an implant, you will be referred to a specialist for further evaluation. That specialist will place the titanium post in the bone where it will act as an anchor for the crown. The post will heal in approximately four months, giving the surrounding bone time to form a strong bond with the post.
Patients are sometimes fitted with a temporary crown or denture while healing to facilitate eating and smiling.
Once the post has completely healed, impressions of the post, teeth, and gums are sent to the laboratory where a permanent crown will be made. Your dentist will then attach the permanent crown to the post.
How do I take care of my dental implant and crown
The lifespan of a dental crown and implant is dependent upon good dental oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and good oral care (including regular visits to the dentist). Even though a cavity cannot develop here because there is no natural tooth present, the gums and bone that support the implant and crown need to be maintained as much as possible in order to minimise the risk of loss of the implant due to gum inflammation or bone loss. Detrimental oral habits such as tooth grinding, clenching or chewing on sticky foods, hard foods or ice can break or loosen an implant crown or place undue stress on the implant. A dental ‘nightguard’ is an appliance that can be worn at night to minimise any stresses caused by clenching or grinding.
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Concourse Dental Group Dr. Samira Jaffer 65 Queen Street West Concourse Level, Suite BG1060 Toronto, Ontario M5H 2M5 Phone 416-368-7959 Fax 416-368-5697 [email protected] |