A new root for a missing tooth
An implant is a post made of titanium and other materials that are compatible with your body. It is placed in your upper or lower jaw, where it works like the root of a tooth and anchors a replacement tooth, a bridge or a denture.
Implants are an alternative to dentures. A denture rests on your gums and comes out. An implant stays in your jaw, and the teeth it holds restore how your mouth works and how it looks. Implants tend to be a lasting way to replace one tooth, several or all of them.
When a gap stays open, the teeth beside it can shift and change your bite, so ask us about a missing tooth even if it has been gone a while.
Your exam and your options
Implant care starts with an exam. Dr. Guiste practices general, cosmetic and implant dentistry. At that exam, we:
- examine your mouth and take x-rays, which tell us whether an implant will work for you
- check your gums and the bone around the gap, because an implant needs healthy gums and enough bone to hold it
- go through all of your options with you, from an implant to a bridge or a partial or full denture, so you can choose the one that works best for you
We do our best to estimate your costs before treatment begins.
Your general health matters more than your age. Diabetes and some other conditions can slow healing after implant surgery, and so can tobacco use. Tell us about them at your exam.
If another office has already given you a treatment plan for implants, we offer a complimentary second opinion. Bring any x-rays or written plans you have.
Treating gum disease before an implant
An implant depends on healthy gums. If you have gum disease, it needs treatment before an implant goes in. We treat gum disease in our office, including with scaling and root planing, a deeper cleaning below the gumline.
From placement to your new tooth
- The implant is placed in your jawbone.
- The bone heals around it. This bonding usually takes two to six months. You may be able to wear a temporary tooth over the spot in the meantime.
- Your new tooth is fitted. Once the implant is ready, we attach your replacement tooth, bridge or denture and check how it fits.
Some people can have implants and replacement teeth placed in a single visit. Your exam tells us which timeline fits your mouth.
A full arch of teeth on four implants
If you have lost all of your upper or lower teeth, All-on-4 treatment is designed to give you a full arch of replacement teeth on four implants on the day of surgery, so you can use your whole mouth again. The treatment is named for its four implants, though some mouths need more.
The approach is designed to keep treatment simpler, with fewer surgeries and less time overall. The replacement teeth are made from denture teeth and acrylic. Ask us how its cost compares with your other options.
Your implants, checked at every visit
When you receive implants, we show you how to care for them at home. Brush and floss around them as you would your natural teeth.
Each time we see you afterward, we check your gums, the bone around each implant and every part connected to it, and we look for the signs of implant trouble. Daily care and regular checks help prevent gum disease around implants.
If you think something is wrong with an implant you already have, call us and we will set up a time to check it. When an implant needs restoring, we take care of that here.
