Dental Implants

A dental implant is an artificial replacement for a missing natural tooth or an anchor to help support crowns, bridges, even dentures securely in place. When a tooth is extracted, and that area of the jaw has nothing to support, the level of bone at that site will decrease or shrink, but as a result of placing a titanium dental implant you are less likely to lose bone levels.

Implants have become the standard of care to replace lost teeth. With a success rate of 90% or greater. In most cases, the implants will restore the dentition to as close to natural teeth as possible. Implant placement can prevent unnecessary weakening of neighbouring teeth, as well as, less stress and strain on the remaining teeth in the mouth.

At Dunsmuir Dental, we are elated to offer to our patient’s in-office implant dental restorations. Beginning with treatment planning, and discussing various treatment options, to fabricating an end result prior to treatment to allow the patient a visualization of their final result.

Our office is equipped to comfortably accommodate all needed procedures for your treatment. From grafting to allow for optimal bone levels, to placing of the implant using several different systems, and finally the placement of the final restoration from a single tooth to the full mouth.

Getting Started

The dental implant process has a number of stages that patient will go through:

Step 1: Treatment Planning

Prior to an implant is placed, a 3D imaging of the upper and lower arches or both are done to determine the volume of bone remaining in the area. If the bone levels are too low to support the implant, a Bone Graft (this procedure involves placing either real or synthetic bone material at the repair site that helps to stimulate bone formation) will be done to increase the height and the width of the bone.

Once deemed adequate, impression of patient’s teeth will be taken for us to plan out the placement of the implant digitally.

Step 2: Implant Placement

At the surgical appointment, the dentist will insert the implant into your jaw bone and let things heal. It usually takes approximately 4-6 months for the implant to to allow time for your bone to integrate (fuse) around the implant.

Step 3: Impression

Once the healing time has passed, an impression of the implant will be taken for the final restoration to be placed on top of the implant.

Step 4: Restoration

Crown and abutment will be made at the lab. Abutment is either titanium or porcelain structure that will be connected to the implant. The crown will then be cemented to the abutment and will remain in place permanently.

Caring for a dental implant is the same as caring for your own natural teeth. Plaque can build up around the implants so it is important to maintain a regular hygiene schedule.