Dental Implants

Dental implants are a revolutionary method used to replace one or several missing teeth. A dental implant is as close as we can get to a natural tooth with the current technology. It not only replaces the crown (top portion) of the tooth but also the root of the tooth like our natural teeth.

A dental implant is made up of three parts. First, is the screw that is placed into the jawbone. This is like an artificial root to the tooth however it is made of titanium (similar to a hip or a knee joint replacement), which integrates to your existing bone. and acts like a firm structural foundation on top of which a crown, bridge or even a denture could be securely attached. The second part is connector called Abutment, which act like a small post, made of precious metals or ceramics like Zirconia. The last part is a crown or bridge that connects with the abutment. These materials are generally well tolerated by the human body. Also, titanium has been shown to bond well with the human bone.Dental implants look and feel natural. An implant acts just like a normal tooth which makes these a brilliant treatment option for replacing your teeth.

As there is minor surgery involved meticulous planning is required for the dentist to place the implant in a pre-determined position which is evaluated from initial examination of the gap space, dental Xrays (intraoral as well as CT scan of the Jaw) and computer assisted 3D planning software. The procedure itself could be completed under local anesthetic. Most patients report that they experienced less pain than having a tooth removed and are able to return to work and back to normal life the following day. However, as we believe that your experience with us should be as pleasant and pain-free and comfortable as possible, we do offer Happy gas, Pehtrox sedation as well as Pre-medication for anxious patients.

Once the initial surgery is complete the Implant could be left to heal and allow bone to grow around it and stabilize it for some time. In the next stage the crown is attached to the implant. The end result is a natural appearing and unrecognizable replacement of the missing tooth.

Advantages

Implants are as close as you can get to having a natural tooth. They are a permanently fixed restoration which is strong, durable and pretty much undistinguishable from your remaining teeth. They provide a better tactile sensation and chewing ability as well as reduce the risk of jaw joint problems. One of the major advantages of implants is that it provides a all these benefits without having the need to cut the adjacent vital teeth. Also as it is fixed to the bone, you don’t have to worry about it coming out while chewing or laughing.

Disadvantages

Although implants are the there are a few disadvantages compared to more traditional options of restoring teeth. They involve a minor surgical procedure and as it is housed in bone. Some people with associated medical condition could be at a higher risk of failure. As it’s a surgical procedure more time (up to 3-4months after initial surgery in a 2-stage procedure) is required for the healing process before a permanent restoration is attached on top, which eventually delays the treatment. However we usually do restore the implants with a temporary restoration even in the healing period. Another factor is the price of the treatment. Implants are initially more costly than dentures or crowns/bridges. However these drawbacks are offset by the ease of use in chewing and talking, stability and the long term service that it could provide (in many cases life-long)

Why Is it important to replace missing teeth?

Appearance and aesthetics are not the only driving factors for replacing missing teeth. When teeth are lost the adjacent and opposing teeth can move into the empty space. They could either tip from either side or supra-erupt from the opposing arch. This can in-turn cause problems in biting and chewing as well as food getting stuck under the tipped teeth leading to caries (decay) or gum disease in those teeth.

Dental implants are the ideal tooth replacement solution. They look, feel and function as normal teeth allowing you to talk comfortably, eat all your favourite foods and eliminate gum pain, which is experienced by many people who wear dentures.

Alternative Treatments

The alternatives available for replacing teeth include;  a denture or a bridge, however both of them have their own advantages (mainly cost) however they are also considered less effective and convenient.

A denture is a temporary replacement of teeth. Unlike an implant which is a permanent fixture, dentures must be removed when sleeping and for cleaning purposes. These are generally made from either plastic or cobalt chromium metal alloy, which means they don’t look as natural. The benefits of a denture are cost and the fact that this is a quick fix for a missing tooth.

Bridges on the other hand are more natural looking than a denture. The negative side to a bridge is that involves work on healthy teeth. The teeth in the surrounding area must be ground down to support the bridge. A bridge is less expensive compared to an implant but the cost benefit for a single tooth implant (compared to a single tooth replacement 3unit bridge) is so low that it might not be worth the biologic cost of cutting good natural teeth. They are however very good option for patients that are not suitable for receiving implants.

Tooth Replacement
Single Tooth
Multiple Tooth
Tooth Replacement

Single Tooth Replacement

Do you have a missing tooth? Then Crescent Dental has the solution for you. We offer dental implant treatments for a single tooth as well as multiple missing teeth. And thus giving you your smile back as well as restoring your bite efficiently and successfully.

Why Would You Need a Dental Implant?

A dental implant can be put into place if you have a missing tooth. A single tooth replacement is the treatment of choice for the following reasons:

  • A missing tooth
  • A loose tooth
  • Badly Broken or cracked teeth
  • A tooth with failed previous treatment like root canal
  • A tooth that is in poor condition and cannot be saved from problems like tooth decay
  • An injury to the tooth from an accident or sporting injury
  • For emergency cases for patients needing a quick tooth replacement

 

Single Tooth Replacement

Single Tooth

Single Tooth Replacement

Do you have a missing tooth? Then Crescent Dental has the solution for you. We offer dental implant treatments for a single tooth as well as multiple missing teeth. And thus giving you your smile back as well as restoring your bite efficiently and successfully.

Why Would You Need a Dental Implant?

A dental implant can be put into place if you have a missing tooth. A single tooth replacement is the treatment of choice for the following reasons:

  • A missing tooth
  • A loose tooth
  • Badly Broken or cracked teeth
  • A tooth with failed previous treatment like root canal
  • A tooth that is in poor condition and cannot be saved from problems like tooth decay
  • An injury to the tooth from an accident or sporting injury
  • For emergency cases for patients needing a quick tooth replacement
Multiple Tooth

Multiple Tooth Replacement

If you have more than one tooth missing and are looking to have the space filled then Crescent Dental has the solution for you. We offer dental implant treatments for a single as well as multiple missing teeth thus giving you your smile back as well as restoring your bite efficiently and successfully.To restore multiple teeth, we can offer a dental implant retained fixed bridge. The use of a bridge is the main difference between the treatments for a single missing tooth and that of multiple ones.The Bridge is designed in a way that implants (rather that natural teeth) will be supporting the prosthesis. This solution involves an implant being inserted into the gaps and then a bridge being attached on top.

Why Would You Need a Dental Implant?

A dental implant can be put into place if you have a missing tooth. A single tooth replacement is the treatment of choice for the following reasons:

  • A missing tooth
  • A loose tooth
  • Badly Broken or cracked teeth
  • A tooth with failed previous treatment like root canal
  • A tooth that is in poor condition and cannot be saved from problems like tooth decay
  • An injury to the tooth from an accident or sporting injury
  • For emergency cases for patients needing a quick tooth replacement

Implant Retained Full Dentures

One of the recurring issues dentists frequently encounter with full dentures, especially lower dentures, is poor retention and constant movement whilst talking or eating.This is due to minimal bone available to support the denture that sits between two very strong and mobile muscles, the lips and tongue, The constant movement of the dentures result in chronic rubbing of the gums leading to pain and sore spots.

If you’ve been experiencing the same problem, dental implants at Crescent Dental can help to stabilise and retain your denture, giving you added support compared to regular dentures.

If you no longer have any teeth in your jaw, but you have enough bone remaining, an implant-supported denture can give you the best of both worlds: keeping your dentures held solidly in place while you’re chewing or talking, while also letting you easily remove them for cleaning. As the dentures attach to the underlying implants they are very stable and make it easy to chew a wide range of food including fruits thus improving your overall nutrition as well as allowing you to talk naturally. Another advantage of implants is that they will preserve jawbone as they act similar to teeth.

Advantages

  • Stability during eating/talking
  • Increased preservation of bone as they are very similar to natural tooth roots.
  • Decreased gum tissue shrinkage
  • Less food seepage under the denture
  • Superior aesthetics
  • Social interactions accomplished with confidence
  • A feeling close to that of your natural teeth
  • Dietary nutritional benefits

Disadvantages

  • A lot of factors determine the suitability of a person to receive implants, this includes medical health status, remaining bone height + width and therefore an initial consultation for proper evaluation is very important in which we will discuss with you the treatment procdure that implants entaila s well as treatment alternatives if you were not able to receive implants.
  • The procedure may take longer duration to complete.
  • More costlier than dentures only but if you factor in the replacement costs of the denture over a period of time (which is not necessary with implant retained dentures) the costing is actually less then dentures in that case.

Implant Retained Full Dentures

GRAFTING & AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE
Bone Grafting
Soft Tissue Grafts
Socket Preservation
GRAFTING & AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE

GRAFTING AND AUGMENTATION PROCEDURE

For Implants to be stable and successful they need to be embeded in bone, however in some cases this is not possible as there is not enough jaw bone for the implant. This could be due to a number of reasons; e.g missing tooth for a long time which resorbs/shrinks the bone, or due to gum/jaw bone. However this does not mean that an implant couldn’t be done at a site. Newer techniques and advancements in dental implant surgery have made available dental grafting treatment, in which bone can be added fixed to allow implants to be put in place.

Bone Grafting

Bone Grafting

For Implants to be stable and successful they need to be embeded in bone, however in some cases this is not possible as there is not enough jaw bone for the implant. This could be due to a number of reasons; e.g missing tooth for a long time which resorbs/shrinks the bone, or due to gum/jaw bone. However this does not mean that an implant couldn’t be done at a site. Newer techniques and advancements in dental implant surgery have made available dental grafting treatment, in which bone can be added fixed to allow implants to be put in place.

What is bone grafting and augmentation?

Bone grafting is a procedure in which the bone quantity could be increased if there is not enough jawbone to secure a dental implant. There are many ways in which this could be achieved. We could harvest bone from another part of the mouth or by using an artificial material to build up the jawbone. This new graft will fuse with your own jawbone and will thus generate new bone, which can support the implant which is usually placed few months later.

Where is the bone taken from?

For bulking up bone we can either harvestnatural bone which can be taken from the body or we can use synthetic materials. If your own bone is chosen for the graft it can be taken from either the chin area or from the back part of your lower jaw (ramus). This is called Autograft. If there is not enough bone in these areas bone from other areas of the body could be utilized. The advantage of using bone from your body is that there is no risk of rejection of the graft as this is part of your own body.

For some patients, a their own bone graft isn’t the best option. In this case we can use synthetic materials to encourage your jaw bone to grow into these materials. These substances could either be Allografts or Xenografts. This procedure stimulates the body cells in that area to grow new bone without the need for harvesting bone from a donor site. We can discuss all these options with you after initial assessment and X-ray examination.

We can prescribe antibiotics, pain medication and antibacterial mouthwash to increase the success rate. We also recommend a soft diet after the surgery for 2-3days, and to avoidmouthwash putting pressure on the area while it heals.

Success Rate

Bone grafts are usually very successful treatment option, which can bulk up the bone and make it possible for us to do Implants at a site that would otherwise be deemed suitable for a denture or a bridge. However as with any surgical condition there is a small risk of failure. This could be due to a medical condition e.g uncontrolled Diabetes or not taking the precautions prescribed by the surgeon after the graft procedure. Another leading risk for failure is smoking.

At Crescent Dental we endeavour to provide you the best possible care andthus undertake bone grafting and augmentation treatments for our patients that have reduced jawbone and will help you on the road to a perfect smile.

Soft Tissue Grafts

Soft Tissue Grafts

Gums can recede due to a number of reasons. It could occur due to untreated gum disease, improper tooth brushing technique, or due to removal of neighbouring teeth all of which will cause the gum line to recede. As a result the tooth root is visible and the teeth appear longer. The root also has open dentinal tubules (nerve endings) which if exposed will cause hypersensitivity and also makes the tooth vulnerable to infection. Also during Implant therapy sometimes there is sufficient bone but there may not be enough gum and soft tissue. A Soft tissue graft will correct all these problems as well as prevent any further recession.

Why Are My Gums Receding?

Your gums can start to recede because of the following reasons:

  • Gum Disease – Infections in the gum will affect the tissue and bone that holds your teeth in their place. Gum disease is the main reason why gums recede.
  • Incorrect Tooth Brushing – If your brushing technique is incorrectly or you brush your teeth too hard you can cause trauma to the gum and as a result they can recede. Incorrect brushing will also wear your teeth and expose root surfaces.
  • Poor Dental Hygiene – If Oral hygiene practices like proper brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash are not adhered to then this can lead to accumulation of plaque (which mainly consists of bacteria) which in turn can also lead to gum recession.
  • Hormonal Changes – During pregnancy, there is an increased risk of gum inflammation and thus pregnant women are at a higher risk of gum loss and sensitivity.

At Crescent Dental we offer multiple types of soft tissue grafts including free Gingival Grafts / Connective Tissue Grafts / Pedicle Grafts, Guided Tissue Regeneration, Gingivectomy and Gingivoplasty and a Frenectomy.

Free Gingival Graft/Connective Tissue Graft/Pedicle Graft

These types of grafts involve taking of soft tissue either from another part of the mouth (usually the palate) or from an in vitro (out side the body) collagen source, which is stitched either on the exposed roots or under the existing gums at the site of recession. This increases the thickness of the gum tissue. It also protects exposed tooth roots. The donor site is also stitched back and allowed to heal. A pedicle graft on the other hand involves gum tissue to be harvested from the adjacent tooth. A flap from the adjacent tooth is slightly moved to the site of the recession to cover the exposed root and is stichted there. Both the sites are left to heal then.

Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR)

In this procedure we use a collagen membrane along with the use of a special get matrix to encourage new gum tussue regeneration. Tooth roots effected by recession or periodontal disease need to be made disease free by extensive cleaning. Then the gel is applied to the problem tooth root that will stimulate the growth of tissue and bone matter. This makes your body think a new tooth is growing. Another treatment involves your dentist surgically inserting compatible material in-between the tooth and bone. This promotes bone growth.

 

Gingivectomy and Gingivoplasty

This procedure is used to reshape gum tissue. Sometimes gums can overgrow making the teeth look smaller that they are. With gingivectomy and gingivoplasty, the gums are recontoured to restore the appropriate proportions of tooth and gums.

 

 

Socket Preservation

Socket Preservation

One of the main complications of an extraction of tooth is loss of bone that supports the tooth.  If this bone loss goes unchecked it can cause gum recession and make it harder for us to place an implant at that site. With socket preservation we can reduce the amount of bone lost after a tooth extraction. At Crescent Dental we offer socket preservation that will stop bone loss making the implant process easier to perform in the future.

Socket Preservation Procedure

This procedure takes place after the extraction of a tooth. A bone graft material is placed in the socket of the extracted tooth. The bone graft is either made of Human bone, animal bone such as cow or synthetic material. After the grafting procedure the dentist covers the area with a membrane which is stitched to the gums. The graft serves as extra bone as well as a a scaffold for new your own new bone to grow into the site. This will preserve the  socketarea for a long term.

If Implant placement at an extraction site is not planned to be undertaken relatively sooner (3-4months after Extraction), preserving the site and preventing any untoward effects of bone resorption with the help of socket preservation technique is the next best option.

If a tooth was lost without preserving the site, you still don’t need to worry as there are other solutions (hard and soft tissue graft) to get the jawbone back to the way it should be. We are more than happy to discuss any concerns with you.

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