How can I be evaluated for dental implants?

Are you missing one or more teeth? Have you been told by a dentist that you need a dental implant?  Do you have a friend who has told you that a dental implant is a solution you should look into? An evaluation appointment, or initial examination, with Dr. Craddock or Dr. Godat is the first place to start. Before dental implant placement, they will evaluate your individual oral health and determine if your bone density and quantity is enough to support a dental implant. If your bone has deteriorated, become diseased, or simply dissolved away due to missing teeth or aging, they may be able to perform bone regeneration or bone grafting to make dental implants possible.

If you have gum disease, or periodontitis, periodontal treatment to remove diseased gum tissue and rid your mouth of bacteria will be completed before dental implants are placed. Placing implants into diseased tissue contributes to implant failure.

For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves several surgical procedures. We try to perform as many steps as possible during each appointment, to cut down on the number of visits you require and to speed healing time.

What is the success rate of Dental Implants?

Dr. Craddock and Dr. Godat have decades of experience and have collectively placed over 23,000 implants. Dental implant placement performed by our Memphis periodontists have a success rate of up to 95% or higher, and the implant, once placed, can last 20-30 years or even for the rest of your lifetime.

What are the steps involved in getting a Dental Implant?

Step 1

Once the ideal positioning for your implant is determined, the titanium screw will be placed in the jawbone and covered by the gum. While in some cases the abutment and a temporary restoration may be placed immediately, in most cases there will be a two to four month healing period before the next step. This allows for osseointegration, which is the process of the bone bonding firmly to the implant and ensuring it is stable and secure.

Step 2                      

Once healing from the first step is complete, the implant is uncovered. An abutment is secured to the base of the implant and a healing collar is fitted to prepare the gum for the final restoration. The abutment is a small post that extends up through the gum and allows for the placement of the restoration. Another healing period usually follows the placement of the abutment.

Step 3

The final step in the dental implant process is the placement of the restoration, which can be a single “tooth”, a bridge, or a partial or full denture that connects to the implant. Your Memphis periodontist will monitor you throughout the implant process to ensure the implant is stable and well-integrated and that your restoration is customized for a perfect fit.

What are the success rates of dental implants?

The success rate for dental implants placed in a healthy mouth are extremely high. On the rare occasion that a dental implant begins to fail, there are remedial treatments, such as LAPIP, which can help save the implant and resolve the issue. Your dental implants will look, feel, and function like real teeth, and can be cared for in the same way, with regular visits to your periodontist advised to ensure ongoing health and functionality.

Contact us today for a consultation and find out if dental implants are right for you.

Tooth Replacement With Dental Implants Can Be Fixed Or Removable

Fixed Options Anchored with Dental Implants – remain in the mouth and are not removable (examples: bridge, crown, fixed hybrid denture). People commonly use the word “Permanent” to mean fixed.

Removable Options Anchored with Dental Implants – can be taken in and out of the mouth and are easier to clean (example: denture, partial, “flipper”, “spit plate”).

SINGLE TOOTH IMPLANT REPLACEMENT

What Options Are Available To Replace One Missing Tooth?

• Single Tooth Implant vs Other Tooth Replacement Options
  Dental implants are a unique way to replace missing teeth as they function as an independent system and do not rely on adjacent teeth for support of replacement teeth. This helps to save adjacent teeth.

Does Not Rely on Adjacent Teeth for Support Does Not Cut Down Adjacent Teeth 95 to 98 % Successful at 18 years	Relies on Adjacent Teeth for Support Requires Teeth to be Cut Down (Prepped) 65 to 75% Successful at 7 years
Bonds to Adjacent Teeth (Bond can break) Metal Backing Can be Ugly 40 % Successful at 5 years Works Well as Temporary to Maintain Space	Is Removable and Can Move Around Covers Roof of Mouth 50 % Successful at 5 years Works Well as a Temporary

• Single Front Tooth Implant Replacement
  

  Tooth Supported Bridge	Single Tooth Implant

• Single Back Tooth Implant Replacement

Tooth Supported Bridge	Single Tooth Implant

MULTIPLE TOOTH IMPLANT REPLACEMENT

What Options Are Available To Replace Multiple Missing Teeth Or All Of My Teeth?

• Fixed Options – remain in the mouth and are not removable (example: bridge, crown, fixed hybrid denture). People commonly use the word “Permanent” to mean fixed.
  • Dental Implant Crowns or Bridge
  • Fixed Hybrid Denture (Denture on Stilts)

• Removable Options Anchored with Dental Implants – can be taken in and out of the mouth and are easier to clean (examples: denture, partial)

(1) Partials (“Flipper”)

In some cases, a patient can have more implants placed and switch to a non-removable option such as crowns and/ or bridges.

(2) Dentures “Spit Plate” Or “Plate”

Find out if you are a contact for Dental Implants TODAY!

The success rate for dental implants placed in a healthy mouth are extremely high.  Contact us today for a consultation and find out if dental implants are right for you.