Dental Implants At McDowell Dental Group In Abington PA
During the last 20 years, dental implants have become a desirable alternative to other methods of replacing missing teeth such as dentures. Excellent success rates and a range of available options give dentists a variety of new ways to treat and replace lost teeth. Missing teeth not only make people self-conscious about their smile, but can cause difficulty eating/chewing their favorite foods. Dental implants provide people with the strength and stability to eat the foods they desire with ease. Replacing lost teeth with implants can restore confidence and change one’s life.
The doctors at McDowell Dental Group, in Abington and Jenkintown, PA, use the state-of-the-art Galileos CT Cone Beam Scanner to analyze a patient’s bone structure and quality to evaluate them for treatment with dental implants. The Sirona system provides a digital 3D image of the patient on the computer screen and the surgery is performed virtually for the patient to review. Then, at the time of treatment, a customized guide specific to the patient and the case assist with accurate tooth implant placement. This allows for faster, more comfortable surgery with pinpoint accuracy in extremely difficult positions. The intricate pre-treatment planning process is how dental implants can be placed efficiently with virtually no post-op pain.
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that osseointegrate with the bone of your upper or lower jaw. They function to stimulate and maintain the jawbone, preventing bone loss, and maintaining one’s facial structure. Once the healing process has occurred, the doctors at McDowell Dental Group will design a custom crown indistinguishable from the other teeth. If you are interested in dental implants, call today to schedule an appointment.
Benefits Of Dental Implants Include:
- Strength & Durability – Dental implants are directly fused to your jawbone acting as a new tooth root.
- Longevity – With proper oral hygiene and care, dental implants can last decades.
- Prevention of Bone Loss – With dental implants, the normal resorption process that takes place when a tooth is extracted is stopped. This helps maintain the shape and structure of your jaw and helps prevent further tooth loss.
- Functionality – Dental implants allow you to maintain full functionality, eating and chewing normally as they are just as strong as real teeth.
- Appearance – The crown placed on top of the tooth implant is matched in color, shape, and appearance to the rest of your teeth so no one can tell which tooth you had lost.
What Is The Dental Implants Procedure?
The tooth implant procedure involves:
- The tooth implant is placed using an individualized surgical guide fabricated from the CT scan taken at the initial consultation appointment. This assures proper orientation into the ridge of bone.
- After the tooth implant is placed, a period of 3-6 months is given to allow the bone to grow into and around the implant anchoring it to your jaw. (Osseointegration)
- A temporary tooth is provided to fill the space and to be worn over the tooth implant site (if aesthetically appropriate).
- Once the implant is stable, a short appointment is needed to take impressions for the lab to fabricate the crown and abutment.
- The final step is to insert the abutment into the tooth implant screw and cement the crown to the abutment.
Dental Implants FAQs
Good candidates for dental implants are those missing one or more teeth, who have good oral hygiene and are free from any gum disease. It is important to have a good bone that can support the implant and have a balanced, physiologically stable bite. The best candidates are those who don’t smoke and are not on any medications that would affect the bone healing process.
With the use of the advanced technology we have available today, the dental implants procedure can be completed quickly, precisely and virtually pain-free utilizing a guided stent. Using a CT scan to guide the surgery, most patients only require an over the counter analgesic such as ibuprofen post-operative. Once the implant is placed a period of around 3-6 months is given to allow the bone to integrate around the implant. After this osseointegration has occurred, an abutment and crown can be placed on the tooth implant to restore the tooth to its form and function.
With proper care and depending on certain external factors, dental implants can last more than 40 yrs. This makes a tooth implant an excellent choice for long-term tooth replacement. Factors that can cause an implant to fail include the location in the mouth, posterior implants failing more than anterior due to the forces of one’s bite. People with diabetes or other pre-existing medical conditions could have a higher risk of failure. However, with proper oral hygiene and regular dental visits, dental implants can predictably outlast the patient.
For more information about dental implants in Abington, Jenkintown, Horsham, Willow Grove, and Philadelphia, PA call 215.885.0555 or fill out our contact form today!
What Our Abington Patients Are Saying:
"Professional, explains what is being done, state of the art equipment and procedures"
"I am very impressed with McDowell Dental and all their staff. They are up-to-date on all the most current techniques and use the newest equipment. They thoroughly explain the procedures and have resolved my dental issues. They are professional but also so friendly and nice. I highly recommend them and have told several of my friends about them.”"
