Dental Implants
At Wahlers Family Dentistry, we have several options available for replacing missing teeth. One of the most popular treatments, which also happens to have a number of long-term oral health advantages, is dental implants.
Dr. Wahlers has restored dental implants for hundreds of patients over the length of his career. This is one of the best ways to replace a damaged or missing tooth, and we would love to talk with you about your options and find out if an implant is a great choice for you.
What Is a Dental Implant?
Each dental implant consists of three basic parts:
- The implant itself, which is a biocompatible titanium “artificial root” that is placed in your jaw by an oral surgeon or periodontist. Many patients are surprised when they discover this is usually a quick and painless procedure.
- The abutment, or connector, which is used to attach your restoration to your new root.
- The restoration, typically a crown, which takes the place of the missing tooth or teeth.
Dental implants can be restored with crowns to replace a single missing tooth, bridges to replace two or more adjacent teeth, or even dentures, which attach securely to a few strategically placed implants to replace all of your teeth on your upper or lower arch.
The Advantages of Dental Implants
Given the advances in modern dental technology, it’s reasonable to expect that any type of restoration you use to replace missing teeth will look natural and blend in well with your existing dentistry. Dental implants do this as well, but they also have a special advantage that causes them to stand out among other restorations types.
A relationship exists between the roots of your teeth and your dental bone. They work together to keep each other healthy. When you lose a tooth, however, the root no longer stimulates the dental bone to maintain itself. This leads to bone loss.
When you lose dental bone, your other teeth are at risk of tipping, shifting, or becoming loose and falling out. In time, bone loss can even change the shape of your face. Dental implants are special because instead of just replacing the visible part of your tooth that sits above the gumline, they also replace the root. This restores this important relationship and helps to maintain your bone health.
Are Dental Implants Right for You?
At your evaluation, we will take x-rays and other images to assess your current level of health and see if you have enough bone to support a dental implant. Sometimes even if you do not have sufficient bone, a procedure can be performed that can build up your bone so that implants will be an option for you in the future.
If we determine that an implant is right for you and you are ready to proceed, we will refer you to a dental specialist we trust. The oral surgeon or periodontist will place the implants and stay in close contact with us so that we know when it’s the right time to restore the implants.
Then you will come back to our dental office and we will take impressions and images in order to to create your restoration. Once your restoration is ready, we simply attach it to your implant. Your new tooth or teeth will be ready and your smile will be as good as new!
Dental implant options can vary significantly from one patient to another. If you’d like to learn more about dental implants and would like to know if they might be an option for you, please call our office today to schedule a consultation and evaluation with Dr. Christopher Wahlers. We are looking forward to meeting with you and answering any questions you may have!
Frequently Asked Questions
If a tooth needs to be removed or has already been removed, we can choose from three primary methods for replacing it:
Dental implant – Using this method, a custom-crafted dental crown is affixed to a carefully placed titanium post, essentially replacing the missing tooth without affecting any other teeth.
Fixed bridge – An esthetic artificial porcelain tooth is permanently held in place by attachments to the adjacent teeth.
Partial denture – This removable appliance fills in the space left by the missing teeth and is held into place by clips around your other healthy teeth.
Which one of these is right for you? That depends on a number of factors. Each of these methods has its own virtues, and we’d be happy to discuss your options with you. As we help you make your decision, we’ll keep in mind your own personal preferences, your long-term goals, and your financial needs. Thanks to advancements in modern dentistry, each option can blend in beautifully with your existing dentistry.
If you are missing a tooth, please call our East Norriton dental office today so we can schedule an examination and consultation.
When a tooth cannot be saved and needs to be extracted, a dental implant is a great option to replace it. In a few situations, an implant can be placed immediately after the tooth is extracted, and a temporary crown attached to it. This is a great situation for a front tooth, where it is not ideal to have a missing tooth for a period of time. More commonly, however, the implant is placed in the area where the tooth is missing and allowed to heal for a period of a few months. At that time, a permanent crown is then attached to the implant. During this period of healing, a temporary appliance (similar to a retainer) is worn to fill in the space. If the tooth being replaced is a posterior tooth that cannot be seen during smiling or talking, a temporary is often not needed.
Some situations require a bone grafting procedure prior to the placement of a dental implant. This is typically a simple procedure that is often performed at the time the tooth is extracted. It requires the application of a paste, which contains bone-forming minerals, to the extraction socket. This improves the density and quality of the bone as it heals, resulting in better integration (healing) of the implant. It often lengthens the total treatment time by a few months, but improves the final result.
Dental implants are becoming the gold standard when it comes to replacing missing teeth.
A dental implant is a titanium post that heals into your bone and gums to replace the root of a tooth. A crown can then be attached to that implant to provide a new tooth that is as close to a real tooth as modern dentistry can offer.
Crowns are not the only option for restoring a dental implant. Patients who are missing several teeth or who are completely edentulous (missing all their teeth) can also benefit from dental implants. We can use dental implants to hold a fixed bridge in place or even secure a set of dentures so that you never have to worry about them coming loose again.
Even better, because dental implants become a part of your anatomy, they function similarly to your natural roots and help stimulate the jawbone, reducing recession and bone loss. This is a huge advantage of dental implants that can’t be replicated with other tooth replacement options that are designed to sit above the gumline.
Are dental implants right for you? Call and ask for a consultation with Dr. Christopher Wahlers. He will examine your teeth and gums and determine whether you could benefit from a dental implant.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Christopher Wahlers
Dr. Wahlers was born and raised in central New Jersey. He attended Gettysburg College for his undergraduate studies, where he majored in biology, graduating summa cum laude. During his undergraduate volunteer experiences in different medical settings, Christopher decided to pursue a career in dentistry.
During his time at New Jersey Dental School (Rutgers University), Christopher served as president of his class and graduated in 2003 as a member of the OKU National Dental Honor Society. He continued his education with an Advanced Dental Education residency program at Temple University.
Prior to Wahlers ...
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