Dental Implant Procedure Explained
At Smile in Style, we know that attractive teeth and gums defy “trends” and seasons. Gorgeous smiles look great on everyone and never go “out of style”. Led by Dr. Terry Rose, our holistic dental practice Smile In Style, located in Moonee Ponds and Sunbury use the latest technologies to restore your missing teeth with dental implants.
As such, we offer the entire dental implant procedure from start to finish. Our technologies assist our team to plan your dental implants with precision. These technologies support the long-term success and satisfaction that patients get from their new, implant-retained teeth.
The implant process in a nutshell
The dental implant is a small, cylindrical-shaped component. It is placed in the jawbone during a straightforward surgical procedure at our practice. The implant is designed to fuse with the surrounding jaw bone following your procedure. Once the bone and implant have fused together, the artificial tooth is placed on top of the implant, usually with a connector piece or “abutment”.
Dental implants can be made out of materials such as Titanium or Zirconia or a combination of both Titanium and Zirconia. Zirconia is a ceramic material and is more biocompatible than titanium. Currently we are finding that Zirconia implants are the most frequently chosen implant by our patients.
Regardless of the material that an implant is made from, a single implant supports a single, artificial tooth. Whereas, several teeth can also be supported by a number of implants that are strategically placed in the jawbone. You don’t need to have an implant placed to replace each missing tooth if you have lost most or all of your teeth in the upper and/or lower jaws.
In turn, dental implants function like tooth roots. They stabilise the artificial tooth, or teeth in a bridge, or denture. These designs facilitate a natural function, feel, and appearance and also ensure that your new teeth are “rooted” securely in the jawbone. Importantly, implants also protect the supportive jawbone and facial bone from bone loss, a process known as “resorption”. Bone loss can occur due to missing teeth and a lack of stimulation for functions such as chewing food. For some people, this can be devastating; as it alters the appearance of the face and aggravates existing problems with speech and eating food.
Benefit from our process
Dental implants have a high rate of success. We use advanced computer-guided techniques that allow us to position your new teeth precisely. As part of our planning, we collect a tremendous amount of information about your mouth. Firstly we take a digital scan of the mouth using our CEREC Omnicam technology. Then we take a three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) X-ray. We then superimpose the digital model onto the data from the CBCT x-ray and make a digital shaped tooth, so that we can align the proposed crown and implant. The CBCT also allows us to see how much bone is there to secure the tooth. The implant planning software helps us to determine the ideal placement of the dental implant(s), avoiding damage to surrounding nerves, roots, sinuses, and other tissues and structures.
During the implant surgery we use a surgical guide that allows the precise placement of the implant(s) with minimal alteration to tissues and trauma at the treatment site. Post surgery to assist with healing and integration of the implant(s), we use low level laser therapy to biostimulate the area and promote healing. We also spend time with our patients discussing their oral hygiene and at home care and assess their implant health at their routine hygiene visits. This can help keep their supportive implant(s) and gums healthy for a lifetime.
Phone Smile in Style today to discuss more about your treatment options and the processes behind them. To schedule an appointment in Moonee Ponds, call 03 8400 4104. If our Sunbury location is more convenient, please phone 03 8001 6021.
