Dental implants offer the most naturally functioning, stable way of restoring missing teeth. The implant body is surgically placed into the upper or lower jaw bone by an oral surgeon or periodontist, whom Dr. Ramdath will work closely with to coordinate your care.
It requires a few months for the implant body to heal and fuse with your bone, then, Dr. Ramdath will expertly fabricate an abutment and crown to complete your implant, so that it looks and functions like a natural tooth.
Dental implants have several advantages over dentures, such as improved appearance and speech, better chewing, and prevention of jaw bone loss, which can make your face look sunken. Dentures can sometimes slip, causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without worrying about your dentures slipping. They are also more comfortable as they feel less “foreign” in your mouth. You can enjoy all of your favorite foods without worry or fear!
Implants replace damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and function much like real ones. It is a surgically-involved process that requires a few months for healing and completion.
Your dental implant surgery is done in stages, on an outpatient basis. If there are damaged teeth remaining, they are removed. You would then wait a short time for the jaw bone to heal before the implant is placed. Oral surgeons and periodontists are both specialists in placing dental implants, and there are several in the area with whom we work closely with to ensure that you receive the most expert care.
The oral surgeon or periodontist places the dental implant body, which looks like a metal post, in your jawbone. You go through a healing period that may last several months so that the implant body may fuse completely with your bone.
After you have healed from the implant surgery, Dr. Ramdath will take impressions to fabricate an abutment and crown. The abutment attaches to the implant body in the bone below the gum, and extends up above the gum. The crown is what looks and functions like a tooth. The entire process can take a few months, but once completed will look, feel and function like your own teeth.
An implant-retained or implant-supported denture is used when a person does not have any remaining teeth, but has enough bone in the jaw to support implants. Implant-retained dentures have special attachments that snap onto the implants, similar to a lock-and-key mechanism. They can be removed for cleaning and snapped right back on.
Usually, implant-retained dentures are made for the lower jaw for extra stability. A regular denture can be used on the upper jaw because it generally does not need the extra support provided by implants, however there are times where an implant-retained denture on the upper jaw is recommended. An oral surgeon or periodontist will place the implants at strategic positions in your jaw bone, then Dr. Ramdath will skillfully fabricate your implant-retained dentures.
This type of denture is ideal for stimulating the bones in your jaw to keep them strong so they continue to support the muscles and skin of your face, which can begin to sag and wrinkle without a strong framework. The implants provide stability so that there will be no movement of your denture while talking or eating.
