Dental Implant and Implant Bridge
Metal Free Dental Implant
CANDIDATE: Patients with metal allergies or follow a holistic approach to dental treatment.
Our surgeons are known by the holistic community for placing ceramic dental implants also known as metal-free dental implants.
An implant crown is the best treatment option for replacing a single tooth, especially the front tooth. Below are the different treatment options and their advantages/ disadvantages.
IMPLANT:
- The implant will help preserve the bone level of the tooth.
- You don't need to compromise the structure of the adjacent teeth, which is a required procedure when opting for bridge work.
- Pricewise, it is more expensive than bridgework, but you don't have to compromise the structure of the adjacent teeth, you preserve the bone level of the extraction site, and it is easier to clean.
3-Unit BRIDGE:
- The two adjacent teeth are trimmed down to act as the posts for the bridge.
- You have to floss underneath using a flosser instead of flossing in between like your other natural teeth.
- You may lose bone on the extraction site.
- Cheaper than an implant crown.
PARTIAL DENTURE
- This is the cheapest option but will compromise the bone level of the extraction site. Please call your dentist for more information regarding this option.
NOTE: Our surgeons will only place the implants, and the restorative portion of the replacement process will be performed and delivered by your dentist.
Titanium Dental Implant
Single Tooth Implant
In this case, a single dental implant crown is the best restorative option.
- Why is a bridge not an option?
Bridges require two posts. Since the tooth being replaced is the very last molar, there's no place for us to place the other post to bridge the pontic (fake tooth).
- Why is a single-tooth flipper or single-tooth partial denture, not an option?
It is an option. A cheaper option, actually, but it comes with many downsides reported by our patients. Please call your dentist to further discuss this option
- What happens if I don't replace the missing tooth?
The upper molar vertical to the missing tooth will migrate down over time due to gravity.
Over time, you will also lose more bone in the area without a tooth. Our bone behaves like barnacles. For barnacles to accumulate, there has to be a supporting structure, in this case, an implant post.
NOTE: Our surgeons will only place the implants, and the restorative portion of the replacement process will be performed and delivered by your dentist.
3-Unit Implant Bridge
CANDIDATE: Patients who are missing three teeth
Treatment Options:
- 3-Unit IMPLANT Bridge, as shown
- 3 Individual Implants (3 implant crowns)
- 5-Unit Bridge (no implants) - Not done in our office
- Partial Denture - (no implants) - Not done in our office
OPTION 1: 3-Unit IMPLANT Bridge
- Two implants will be used as posts.
- A cheaper option than the three single implant crown option
PROCEDURE:
- A CT-scan will be taken to evaluate the bone level.
- If there's enough bone, the surgeon will proceed with the implant placement of 2 implants. Healing time: 3-6 months
- If there's insufficient bone level, bone grafting will be performed (3-6 months healing time). Once the desired bone level is obtained, the surgeon will proceed with the implant placement of 2 implants.
- Once the implants are fully integrated, you will be released from our care and referred back to your dentist for the final restoration of the 3-unit implant bridge.
OPTION 2:
- More expensive than the 3-Unit Implant Bridge
- Three single implants will be placed.
- ADVANTAGE: You can floss in between your teeth like your natural teeth. With the implant bridge (option 1), you will need to use a tool to help you floss under the bridge.
- PROCEDURE: The same as the 3-Unit implant bridge procedure.
**OPTIONS 3 & 4 are done by your dentists, not in our office
OPTION 3: 5-Unit Bridge (No implants) Please call your dentist to discuss this option.
This is the least recommended route due to the long span of missing teeth. The same considerations are taken as building a regular bridge (span, middle support for the load, etc.).
- Cheaper than the other two options above
- The adjacent teeth will be used as posts for the bridge. This means that the adjacent teeth will be trimmed down to act as posts for the bridge.
- You may continue to lose bone in the edentulous area (toothless area).
OPTION 4: PARTIAL DENTURE Please call your dentist to discuss this option.
The least recommended option but is the least expensive of all the different options listed above.
NOTE: Our surgeons will only place the implants, and the restorative portion of the replacement process will be performed and delivered by your dentist.
Full Arch Implant Bridge
Candidate: Patients with fully edentulous arch. Soft tissue graft may be required to produce an aesthetically pleasing result. ** Performed under sedation.
In this example, six implants were used to support the implant bridge.
The general process for this restorative procedure is as follows:
- One of our surgeons will evaluate the bone & gum tissue levels. If there are enough bone & gum tissue levels to support the implants, the surgeon will proceed with the implant placement.
- What if I have insufficient bone & gum tissue levels? Our surgeon will perform a bone grafting & soft tissue graft procedure to obtain the optimal bone level to support the implants. Soft tissue (gum) is required to get an aesthetically pleasing result (healing time is ~3-6 months).
- If there's enough bone level, our surgeons can proceed with the implant placement procedure(healing time is ~3-6 months).
- After confirmation of the structural integrity of the implants, our surgeon will release you from our care and refer you back to your dentist to install the implant bridge.
- Your dentist will also provide you with helpful tips on how to care for your implant bridge.
****HEALING TIME: Please note that healing time is patient dependent due to each individual's unique physiology, age, health history, etc.
NOTE: Our surgeons will only place the implants, and the restorative portion of the replacement process will be performed and delivered by your dentist.
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Anterior Titanium Implant
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Implant Crown - Premolar
