Dental Implants

Today's modern dental techniques help those who have experienced tooth loss to smile again with pride. Restoring more than just a youthful and bright appearance, implants are the ideal long-term solution to bring back function, jaw health and guard against bone loss. Implants can replace a single tooth or several teeth, which may have suffered from tooth decay, gum disease, or injury.

Replacing a tooth is vital to preventing loss of other teeth, shifting teeth, bite disorders, worn teeth, and other serious oral health concerns. One of the major benefits of an implant is that it does not involve potentially unnecessary treatment to adjacent teeth. For residents of Fort Lauderdale who are missing one or more teeth, dental implants at our practice can restore the ability to chew and smile with confidence.


Why Are Dental Implants Helpful?

The loss of even one tooth can seriously impact both the function of your bite and your confidence in your appearance. Adjacent teeth can be compromised by the gap left by a missing tooth, shifting position or becoming more vulnerable to chips and cracking.

For our patients, dental implants offer a permanent and proven solution to missing teeth. The implant process involves attaching a custom-made, artificial tooth to an anchor post surgically implanted in the jawbone. This post integrates into the bone, providing a firm anchor on which natural-looking, custom-made restorations can be placed.

Dental implants can be used to:

• Replace a missing tooth or teeth
• Support dental bridges
• Secure dentures (either removable or full and fixed)

Advantages of Dental Implants

Of all dental restoration solutions, dental implants have the highest rate of success. They look, feel, and function just like real teeth, and can last a lifetime with proper care.
Dental implants have other advantages, too:

• Dental implant restorations never decay.
• Dental implants prevent the side effects of tooth loss - gum recession, bone loss, and speech difficulties.
• Dental implants restore proper chewing and the full strength of your bite.
• Dental implants are comfortable and convenient.
• Unlike other dental restorations such as bridges, dental implants do not require the grinding down of the teeth on each side of the gap.
• Dental implants can make dentures secure and reliable - say goodbye to messy adhesives and slipping, uncomfortable dentures!
• Because dental implants prevent bone loss, they preserve the appearance of your face and prevent sunken cheeks.

The Dental Implants Process

Determining whether or not dental implants are appropriate for you is highly dependent upon your needs and the condition of your jawbone. Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants because some people don't have adequate bone structure to support the implants. However, bone grafting allows more patients to enjoy the convenience and strength of these dental restorations.

The tooth structure has two main sections, the root and the crown. The root is the section of the tooth that is below the gumline. A dental implant acts as the restorative for this section of the tooth. The metal implant acts as an anchor in the jawbone. The first step of the procedure is surgical placement of the implant. Under general dental anesthetic, the gum tissue is opened and the dentist places the implant into the jawbone. The tissue is then sutured closed. There is not often significant discomfort with this procedure. This process can take from 1-3 hours depending on the number of implants being placed.

This implant will be left untreated for a period of 3-6 months. During this time, the bone will grow around the implant in a process called osseointegration. A removable crown may be utilized during this time period to allow for chewing and to preserve the cosmetic appearance.

The next step in the process is to attach an abutment to the tooth. This is achieved by exposing the top of the implant and placing the abutment. This is the part of the implant that will support the final crown.

Finally, an impression is taken of the implant and a final restoration is crafted. This restoration will be comfortable and cosmetically pleasing. Your completed implant will be fully functional, allowing you to resume normal activities.


Dental Implants at Dr McConnell

If you live near Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise or surrounding areas and think dental implants placed by our expert implant dentist might be right for you, we encourage you to contact Dr McConnell to schedule an initial consultation.