With Dental Implants you no longer have to suffer the embarrassment of missing teeth. Modern dental implants offer the most robust and advanced way to replace missing teeth. So if you are missing one, several or multiple teeth than dental implants can give you the cosmetic results you demand.
Dr. Nugent what are dental implants?
Dental implants are titanium screws that are inserted into the jawbone. These titanium screws serve as the foundation for the replacement teeth. The replacement teeth are fixed (they do not come out after meals or at night)
Dr. Nugent who is a candidate for dental implants?
Anyone missing a tooth, multiple teeth or even all their teeth are candidates for implants. Nothing in dentistry is more advanced or lasts longer in replacing missing teeth than a dental implant. However, you must have enough jaw bone to have the dental implant inserted. Even if you have deficient bone levels you can receive bone grafts to raise the bone levels to accept a dental implant.
Dr. Nugent what about bridges or partial dentures to replace missing teeth?
Bridges are old fashioned and use outdated techniques. Dental bridges require aggressive cutting on adjacent teeth. Then these cut teeth will be crowned and have a fake tooth between the crowns. You cannot floss between the fake teeth and the life span of a bridge is about 10 to 15 years. Then you have a much bigger problem down the road when the teeth supporting the bridge develop decay. Also, the teeth supporting the teeth are more likely to need root canals. The bone underneath the fake tooth will deteriorate and create a large food trap under the bridge. The beauty of a dental implant over a bridge is that no cutting on healthy neighbor teeth is necessary and the dental implant prevents drastic bone loss.
Again partial dentures are an outdated technique for replacing missing teeth. Patients hate the big bulky plastic and metal in their mouth. Patients hate taking partial dentures in and out of their mouths. Partial dentures are ugly with their metal clasps. Furthermore, partial dentures do not stimulate bone so patients will have large areas of bone loss and this will create a “roller coaster” of bone levels. While partial dentures are quick and a less expensive they are not the best long term solution for your overall dental health.
Are Dental Implants Painful?
NO, dental implants are not painful. Dr. Nugent or his Oral Surgeons will place the titanium implant into the jaw bone. The dental implants can be placed using just local anesthesia or with dental sedation. It is a time consuming procedure when having multiple implants placed. Many patients prefer sedation for multiple implants because the patient will be unaware of time while under sedation. Dr. Nugent’s Mother, Father, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law all had their dental implants placed with just local anesthesia. Some patients experience varying degrees of discomfort or pain, which subside in a couple of days. (My Mother, Father and Mother-in-law were fine, while my Father-in-law was sore for a couple of days).
Post surgery pain medication will be prescribed. However, most patients end up only take Advil and not their prescription medication.
How are Dental Implants Attached in Your Mouth?
The dental implants are placed into your bone. The titanium dental implant osteointegrates (fuses to bone). The process of the bone fusing to the dental implant can take from three to six months. During this healing time, the bone grows in and around the dental implant creating a very strong foundation. Once the dental implant is properly anchored into the jaw bone the abutment is inserted on top of the implant. Then a beautiful porcelain crown is put on top of the abutment and the implant now looks, feels and functions just like a natural tooth.
Dr. Nugent what about “teeth in an hour” and “teeth in a day”?
In certain situations and on ideal candidates, implants can be restored immediately with a temporary abutment and temporary crown. However, if you try to push the envelope of established guidelines then you can get implant failures. Dr. Nugent did an immediate implant on his Father because his Father had the ideal conditions for an immediate implant. If it sounds to good to be true on TV or in the newspaper it probably is. If you want to see if you are a candidate for an immediate dental implant then come see Dr. Nugent
I want a dental implant but don’t want a missing tooth space.
If you are a candidate for an immediate same day implant then you can have a temporary tooth while the implant fuses to the bone. If it is better to let the dental implant heal without external forces and pressures then Dr. Nugent can create a “flipper”. A flipper is a false tooth attached to a plastic base. The flipper is contoured to fit around your natural teeth. Flippers are a temporary solution to missing teeth and are frequently used for front teeth.
