Dental Implants

*According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

What is a Dental Implant?

These small titanium posts are designed to replace tooth roots at the site of a missing tooth. Your doctor will surgically place dental implants in your jawbone, where they will fuse with surrounding tissue. This process creates a strong base upon which a dental crown, bridge, or denture can be affixed.

Who is a Candidate?

During your consultation, our doctors will thoroughly evaluate your medical history and examine the structure of your smile. We may request x-rays and advanced images of your teeth, gums, and jawbone to determine whether you are eligible for surgery. Patients lacking adequate jawbone tissue may require a preliminary bone graft or sinus lift before proceeding with a dental implant procedure. To qualify for dental implants you must have:

• One or more missing teeth
• Healthy gums that are free from periodontal disease
• Enough jawbone tissue to support an implant

Our office is equipped with a cone-beam computed tomography (CT) scanner,  so we can take 3-D images of your smile. This technology enables our team to place your implants with precision, which is vital to their success and your oral health.

Dental implants and implant-supported restorations can also restore your ability to chew comfortably and speak properly, improving your overall quality of life.  

For our patients' convenience, we can perform all aspects of dental implant surgery in-house, so we can ensure the highest quality care throughout treatment. Dr. Dowell is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and stays up to date on the latest dental techniques. Combining dental expertise and advanced technology, we can perform safe, precise dental implant procedures before placing your custom-made restoration.

Treatment Steps

Dental implants are biocompatible titanium posts that are surgically embedded in the jawbone to replace tooth roots. An implant can retain a number of restorations, including dental crowns, bridges, and dentures. The procedure involves several steps, each of which we can perform at our office for your convenience. 

Consultation

Prior to surgery, we will schedule a consultation to evaluate your oral health and smile. Our office is equipped with advanced technology to ensure precise results. We can use our intraoral camera to view detailed images of your teeth and our cone-beam computed tomography (CT) system to take 3-D scans of your smile. These will help your dentist determine if you have sufficient jawbone tissue to support implants. If you are not eligible for treatment, we may recommend a preliminary bone graft procedure to restore candidacy. If you decide to proceed with the implant procedure, our team will design a customized treatment plan to meet your needs.

Placing Dental Implants

To begin, your doctor will create small incisions in the gums and create space for your dental implant. He will then carefully embed the implant post into your jawbone. Next, your doctor may place a healing cap over the implant to ensure optimal results before closing the incision with sutures.

Recovery

Healing can take three to six months. During this recovery period, the implant will fuse with jawbone tissue in a process called osseointegration, creating a strong foundation for your custom restorations.

Abutments and Restorations

Once your implants are fully integrated with your jawbone, you will return to our office for the last stage of surgery. During this procedure, our team will reopen your incisions, remove the healing cap, and attach an abutment to the top of each implant. The abutment is a connector device that will join your implant to your restoration. We will then close the incisions around the abutment. After approximately two more weeks of recovery, you will be ready to receive your custom-made restorations.

For our patients' convenience, we can perform all aspects of dental implant surgery in-house, so we can ensure the highest quality care throughout treatment. 

During your next appointment, our team will take impressions of your teeth, which will be used to manufacture your restoration. Once your prosthetic is ready, we can attach it to the abutment, revealing a new, enhanced smile.