Our goal is to make sure that you are well informed of your implant options for replacement of your missing or failing teeth. In addition, we will do everything possible to ensure that your implant surgery is done painlessly with the latest techniques available. We will work closely with your dentist to obtain ideal results functionally and esthetically.
No replacement, a fixed partial denture (e.g.. a bridge), a removeable partial denture, complete dentures (if you have no teeth) or dental implants.
Remember: healthy teeth and healthy dental implants help
preserve your jaw bones.
What is a Dental Implant?
Your natural teeth are made up of basically two functional parts: the root and the crown. The dental implant replaces the root and will eventually (after fusing to the bone) support the abutment (*) and new crown. The new tooth looks, feels, and performs like your natural teeth. In addition to replacing a single tooth, implants can also be used to anchor bridges or removable and fixed dentures, offering better fit and stability than dentures supported by natural tissue alone. The implant is fabricated from biocompatible titanium which may have a surface coating. Once healing is complete, the final crown, bridge or denture is fabricated and attached by your dentist for a separate fee.
(*) abutment (connects the crown to the implant)
Lifestyle Benefits
Not many years ago, when you lost permanent teeth you had two replacement choices: bridges or dentures. While bridges reside in your mouth 24/7, they can create other problems. Installing bridges usually requires grinding down andcapping adjacent teeth, that exposes otherwise healthy teeth to decay and gum disease – not to mention the extra stress of supporting the replacement tooth. Bridges usually last no more than 7 to 15 years. Overall, dentures fit poorly causing pain and difficulty chewing and speaking. What is more embarrassing than going out to eat with loose dentures that will not stay in place? In addition, there is nothing like waking up to your teeth in a glass of water to make you feel old. Implants have been successfully placed in people from ages 16 to over 100. Overall, they have a spectacular success rate. More than 95% of implants placed 20 years ago are still in place. If the surrounding tissues remain healthy, implants may have a potentially unlimited life span. Implants can improve your appearance, confidence and freedom. Since dental implants look and feel like real teeth, they naturally enhance your appearance. More importantly, the securely attached dental implant(s) gives you the confidence of eating what you like, speaking easily and clearly (freedom from embarrassment). By following a regular routine of careful oral hygiene and regular check-ups, you can ensure the success of your implants for many years to come.
What is the treatment process?
Prior to your operation, you will receive IV
antibiotics (oral antibiotics for one week afterwards). You will also be given local anesthesia so that the involved area will be numb for up to 8-12 hours and beyond. This is part of our pain control system. In addition, you will be given one of the anesthesia techniques previously discussed (local, nitrous, IV sedation or general).
Step One: An implant can be placed wherever adequate bone structure is present. (If necessary, a bone graft will be performed first or simultaneously). An incision is made in the gum tissue and a small hole is drilled into the bone. The proper-sized and shaped implant will be placed in the bone, a small metal healing cap will be attached to the top of the implant which protrudes slightly above the gum line. This may or may not require small dissolvable stitches.
Step Two: After an adequate healing period of 10-12 weeks, you are ready for placement of the prosthetic (replacement) tooth. Its shape, size and shade will be determined by your individual dental structure. Your dentist will take an impression to create a model of your teeth so that the proper prosthetic tooth (crown) can be made. The healing cap that we placed will be removed and replaced with a prosthetic abutment. This abutment will become the support post for the replacement prosthetic tooth. At this time you may have a temporary prosthetic tooth (crown) placed. The temporary crown will be removedand replaced with your permanent implant crown.
What are my implant (tooth replacement) choices?
Single Implant – For a single missing tooth, only one implant is needed. The previously described process would be performed at the site of the missing tooth, and in approximately 12-16 weeks, you will have an artificial, replacement tooth. For patients desiring faster replacement of missing front teeth the Computer Generated Abutment System (described earlier) allows placement of a temporary crown in about 2-4 weeks.
NOTE: There is also the option of placement of an immediate temporary crown using a modified stock abutment if all conditions are ideal and your dentist agrees to this technique.
Multiple Implants – In the case of several missing teeth, multiple implants can be used, one implant for each missing tooth. Placement of all implants can usually be accomplished at the same time, following the same procedure for a single implant.
Fixed Partial Prosthesis (Implant Supported Bridge) – An implant
supported bridge is similar to a traditional bridge, but crowns are attached to implants adjacent to areas of missing teeth where implants will not be placed.
Removable Prosthesis (Implant Supported Denture) – Two to four
implants are placed in the upper or lower jaw and are stand alone (Locator or O-ring attachments) or connected by a bar. A removable denture locks into the specialized attachments or the bar appliance. This implant supported prosthesis is both stable and comfortable but can be easily removed for cleaning.
Bone Loss
Bone grafting can be used to build up the jaw ridge where an implant is to be placed. Gum disease or trauma (an injury) can weaken and cause loss of the jaw bone ridge. It is also possible that you are naturally lacking bone in a specific area. When a tooth is extracted or missing, bone in that area may shrink. Studies have shown that many patients
will lose approximately 40-60% of their volume of bone in an extraction site in 2-3 years.
A Simple Procedure to Prevent Bone Loss
If you plan to have a tooth extracted and replaced by an implant, it is possible that your socket will not fill in with a sufficient volume of bone and that you will need a bone graft. To prevent this problem, grafting of the socket can usually be done at the time of tooth extraction. This is known as site preservation and will help prevent shrinkage of your bone and soft tissues in this area. Usually an implant can be placed within 12-16 weeks.
What are the Basics of Bone Grafting?
If you do not have enough healthy jaw bone, a bone graft may be required before implants can be placed. Grafting is the process of regrowing bone in a deficient area by using prepared materials. The graft added to the deficient area may be particulate or in block form.
The materials may consist of a self-donated (autograft) bone, cadaver (human) bone, bovine (cow) bone, red algae (plant source) hydroxlyapatite, or synthetic bone substitute.
Block Grafting
If your tooth was lost many years ago and your jaw bone ridge is very thin, you may require a block graft (a small solid piece of your own bone or donated processed cadaver bone) to reconstruct the area for an implant(s). This graft is usually held in place with two metal screws and covered with a guided bone regeneration membrane before closure with your gum tissue. After approximately 20 weeks this area is re-entered to allow removal of the screws and placement of the implant(s). If the previously mentioned computer generated abutment system
(custom support post for the implant crown) system is being used then you will have your temporary crown placed in approximately 4 weeks. Your final implant crown will be placed in approximately 16 weeks by your dentist. If the computer generated abutment system (mostly used for front tooth replacement) is not used then you will be ready for your final implant crown impressions in approximately 12 weeks and crown placement at approximately 16 weeks.
Sinus Grafting
When teeth are lost in the posterior (back) upper jaw, the bone often shrinks (when teeth have been removed many years previously) causing the sinus cavity to enlarge and encroach on the tooth-bearing area. This may result in the need for a sinus graft. By grafting bone under the sinus lining, the bone height of your upper jaw is increased. This graft creates an adequate bone foundation for the implant(s). The materials used to graft the sinus may consist of the previously mentioned materials in this section. The Infuse bone graft (engineered or synthetic human bone morphogenetic protein) has shown excellent results in clinical trials (published reports). Generally, the implant can be placed within 4-6 months and be restored 12- 16 weeks later with the final implant crown.
Most Common Problems after Surgery
DISCOMFORT: May require prescription pain medications. Persistent soreness is often present for several days.
SWELLING: Takes about 2-3 days to reach its peak. Then, subsides over the next week.
DECREASED MOUTH OPENING: The jaw muscles often become stiff and limit the amount of mouth opening for several days. Rarely, the jaw joint itself is affected. Mention it to your surgeon if it is persistent.
BLEEDING: Some mild oozing is normal for up to 24 hours. There may be slight bleeding from the area when you brush your teeth for the first week.
INFECTION: Infections are rare during the first few days after surgery. If an infection does occur, it is more likely 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. Treatment is usually uncomplicated, but you should see your surgeon.
NUMBNESS: Dental implants may be placed in close proximity to the nerves that supply sensation to the teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, chin and lips. Occasionally these nerves are injured when the implant is placed, causing numbness and tingling. If this happens, the nerve usually repairs itself. In very few cases, numbness is permanent. Please notify Dr. Satterfield if you have persistent numbness.
SINUS INJURY: People who lose their upper (back) posterior teeth may have an enlargement of the sinus cavity, the placement of dental implants in this area may cause an opening (hole) in the sinus cavity. The sinus usually heals, but further treatment may be necessary.
When will I be able to go back to normal activities?
Most patients having a single implant may be able to go back to work or school the next day. For multiple implant and bone grafting patients, there may be a 2 or 3 day delay in going back to routine activities. Those involved in sporting or strenuous activities will have to gradually return to peak performance over a period of 7-10 days or so.
Remember: You should not drive a car, operate machinery or sign
a legal document for 24 hours after your anesthesia and surgery.
Dental Implant and Bone Grafting Pre-Op/Post-Op Instructions
Please Read Carefully:
Athens Dental Implant Center would like to take this opportunity to remind you that you are personally responsible for payment of your account regardless of the provisions of your insurance policy or dispute of an insurance claim. Once full payment is made, we will provide you with the forms necessary to receive reimbursement from your insurance company (if applicable).
We will also be happy to provide you with information to submit to your flex spending account or cafeteria plan. These types of accounts require that the patient receives service, pays the bill, and then submits evidence of that payment to their carrier. We are unable to bill flexible spending accounts or cafeteria plans directly.
Athens Dental Implant Center offers no interest and extended payment plans through CareCredit. If you would like to receive details of these plans or have questions regarding fees for dental implants, please contact our office. If you qualify for one of these plans, approval prior to your surgery is required.
Please consider the method of payment you plan to use to take care of your bill: • Cash • VISA
• Check • CareCredit Patient Payment Plans
• MasterCard
PLEASE NOTE: We reserve the right to bill patients for 50% of our scheduled procedure fee when they fail to give us a 48 hour notice of cancellation.
Your natural teeth are made up of basically two functional parts: the root and the crown. The dental implant replaces the root and will eventually (after fusing to the bone) support the abutment (*) and new crown. The new tooth looks, feels, and performs like your natural teeth. In addition to replacing a single tooth, implants can also be used to anchor bridges or removable and fixed dentures, offering better fit and stability than dentures supported by natural tissue alone. The implant is fabricated from biocompatible titanium which may have a surface coating. Once healing is complete, the final crown, bridge or denture is fabricated and attached by your dentist for a separate fee.
Bone grafting can be used to build up the jaw ridge where an implant is to be placed. Gum disease or trauma (an injury) can weaken and cause loss of the jaw bone ridge. It is also possible that you are naturally lacking bone in a specific area. When a tooth is extracted or missing, bone in that area may shrink. Studies have shown that many patients