Dental Implant Restoration

Services . Dental Implant Restoration

Maple Grove Dentistry

Restorations For Dental Implants

Restorations For Dental Implants

At Maple Grove Dentistry, we work with a lot of patients who have lost one or more teeth. These patients may have lost their teeth due to advanced tooth decay, facial trauma or injury, or as a result of periodontal disease. In these cases, Dr. Russell Jensen recommends dental implants to our patients.

The doctor places dental implants, tiny posts made of titanium, into the patient’s jaw to replace the roots of missing teeth. As the implants heal, they fuse with the bone in the jaw. This provides stimulation to the jawbone and prevents it from shrinking.

This fusion between implant and bone, known as osseointegration, also serves to provide a sturdy anchor for several types of dental restorations. Implant-supported restorations provide patients with the confidence and self-esteem to go through life smiling, without worrying about the restoration falling out of place.

To learn more about implant-supported restorations and how they can improve your quality of life, call our Boise, ID, dental office today at (208) 853-2221 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Jensen.

Placing Dental Implants

The placement of dental implants typically requires two surgeries. After consulting with Dr. Jensen and meeting the requirements for having implants placed, the doctor will create a custom treatment plan for you, covering everything from anesthesia to recovery. He will take impressions of your mouth, which he will use to design your new restoration, then perform any necessary extractions and set a date for your first surgery.

When you arrive for your surgery, we will begin administering anesthesia. Dr. Jensen will then surgically place the implants into your jawbone. Depending on the number of teeth you need replaced you may receive anywhere from one to six implants.

When the doctor finishes placing the implants, he will provide you with a temporary restoration to wear for the next three to six months as the implants heal, and send you home. While you heal, the doctor will use the impressions taken of your mouth to design your permanent restoration. He will forward the design to a U.S. based dental lab, where technicians will fabricate your new restoration.

When the implants have healed, you will return to our office for a second surgery. The doctor will expose the implants from under the gums and attach connectors called abutments to the head of each one. He will place your new restoration and check it for proper fit and occlusion. After making any necessary adjustments for an optimal fit, he will send you on your way to show off your newly restored grin.

Restorations In One Visit

While traditional dental implants typically required two surgeries, Dr. Jensen can occasionally provide immediate load dental implants. The doctor will take x-rays and perform an examination to ensure that you have the bone density and gum tissue necessary to support these implants.

The immediate load implant procedure requires just one surgery, during which the doctor places the implants, then restores it. If the patient is replacing a single tooth requiring a dental crown, the doctor will typically place a temporary crown.

He will carefully design this temporary restoration to avoid contact with any opposing teeth. The doctor does this to prevent any movement of the implant, because even the slightest microscopic movement can adversely affect the osseointegration process, leading to the failure of the implant.

If the patient is replacing multiple teeth and requires an implant-supported denture, the doctor will typically place the permanent restoration during the surgery rather than placing a temporary denture. The doctor does this because, unlike with a crown or bridge, any bite force placed on an implant-supported denture will distribute among all of the implants, which are locked in place by the restoration.

Types Of Restorations

Dr. Jensen will help you find the right restoration for your particular situation. Whether you need to replace a single missing tooth or an entire arch, the doctor has a solution to restore your gorgeous smile. The restorations Dr. Jensen uses include:

Implant-Supported Dental Crowns

A patient who has lost a single tooth, or several teeth, can choose to have his implants restored with dental crowns. Once the implants have fused with the jawbone, Dr. Jensen takes an impression of the patient’s mouth and sends it to an offsite dental lab, where technicians design and fabricate the restoration. The doctor provides the patient with a temporary crown to wear during this time.

When the permanent crown arrives in our office, typically in two weeks, the doctor uses a dental adhesive to permanently attach the crown to the implant. The crown will provide a strong, sturdy alternative to the patient’s natural teeth, allowing him to speak and chew with ease.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridges

Patients who have lost more than one tooth in a row may opt for a dental bridge as a restoration. Traditional dental bridges require the preparation of teeth on either side of the gap created by the missing tooth or teeth. These prepared teeth support dental crowns that hold the prosthetic teeth, or pontics, in place. The preparation includes the removal of part of the enamel layer of the healthy teeth so the crowns will fit over them.

Implant-supported dental bridges do not require the removal of any healthy structure from surrounding teeth, as they attach directly to the dental implants. Dr. Jensen uses dental cement to permanently bond the bridge to the implants, and the patient cares for the restoration like he would his natural teeth.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Patients have several choices when it comes to implant-supported dentures. Patients can choose from partial dentures, complete dentures, and All-on-4® dentures. The doctor will generally use a partial denture if the patient still has some healthy teeth remaining in the arch. The restoration will have connectors that allow it to snap on and off of the implants, allowing for easy cleaning.

A full, or complete, set of dentures will replace all of the teeth on an arch. These, too, snap on and off of the implants, allowing patients to clean both the denture and their cheeks and gums. The implants stimulate the bone of the patient’s jaw, preventing it from deteriorating, so unlike traditional dentures, the implant-supported restorations will retain a comfortable, stable fit, without wobbling, clicking, or slipping. This stimulation of the jaw also eliminates the need for re-lining due to changes in the fit of the denture.

Typically, candidates for dental implants need to exhibit good bone density to hold the implants securely in place. With All-on-4® dentures, a relative newcomer to implant dentistry, Dr. Jensen can help patients with lower bone density experience the benefits of implant-supported dentures. Dr. Jensen uses the All-on-4® denture when restoring immediate load implants as well.

For the All-on-4® denture, the doctor places four implants in the front part of the jaw, where the bone naturally grows denser, and permanently attaches the denture to them. Once Dr. Jensen places the denture, only a dentist can remove it. The superior stability of these dentures, coupled with the permanent placement, has led many patients to report that they feel more like natural teeth than any other restoration.

Benefits Of Implant-Supported Restorations

Dental implants support restorations that many consider the next best alternative to natural teeth. They retain the feel, look, and function of the patient’s natural teeth. Implant-supported restorations provide stability and strength, allowing patients to eat the foods they love without the worry of damage or accidental dislodging.

Studies show that implant-supported restorations last longer than conventional options. For instance, a traditional dental bridge has a projected life of seven to ten years with proper care. Implant-supported dental bridges, while needing adjustments periodically, should last the patient’s lifetime with proper care.

Contact Us For More Information

To learn more about implant-supported restorations, and how you can benefit from them, call our Boise, ID, dental office today at (208) 853-2221 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Jensen.