About: Single-Site Dental Implants
Give meaning to every moment in life with a ONE day dental implant procedure that lasts a lifetime. Because your dental health and your quality of life go hand in hand. If you have compromised teeth, dentures or bridges, you should know that dental implants provide the strongest, most attractive alternative that look, feel and function like natural teeth. Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth and complete arch reconstructions.
Dental implants can and should last a lifetime, unlike alternative treatments such as bridges, partials and dentures that need to be replaced every 5 to 10 years. A primary advantage of dental implants over alternative treatments is that they prevent bone loss from occurring which would otherwise take place with non-implant solutions. Consequently, dental implants help to retain and maintain the natural appearance of the face and smile. With implants, the neighboring teeth remain uncompromised; they are not cut down to place a bridge, or loosened by the hooks on removable partials.
Treatment Overview
The course of a dental implant treatment depends on various factors and should always start with a comprehensive diagnostic consultation. Generally speaking, this is followed by the surgery visit, the recovery and the restoration visit to receive the final implant crown/s. Dental implants provide the opportunity to restore the mouth as closely as possible to its natural state. By replacing the entire tooth, including the root which anchors into the jawbone, it is possible to closely mimic the look, feel and function of naturally beautiful teeth (see "benefits of dental implants" for more information).
The Diagnostic Visit
Are you a candidate for dental implants? Generally speaking, most people are indeed candidates. In order to definitively determine who is an appropriate candidate for this procedure, we utilize 3D CT imaging technologies to evaluate bone quality and quantity. At the first visit, hi-resolution photos, digital x-rays, a 3D CAT scan and a thorough clinical evaluation will take place followed by expert explanation of the case diagnosis and treatment options. During this visit, impressions are taken (to make the replacement tooth or teeth), and a clear financial overview should be presented.
The Surgery Visit
For most patients, this phase involves the extraction/s, bone graft (if necessary) and the surgical placement of the dental implant/s. In the majority of cases, the patient receives an immediate implant-supported crown, immediately following surgery — ONE-visit! Patients typically resume a full schedule of activities within 24 to 72 hours. Generally speaking, follow-up visits are 1, 4 and 12 weeks after surgery. Specific post operative instructions will vary on a case by case basis (see "the surgery phase" for more information about the surgical placement of dental implants).
The Restorative Visit
When the implant/s have fully integrated with the jawbone (4 weeks to 4 months later), the “final” implant crown/s are secured (see "restorative phase" for more information about restoring the dental implant).
