Dentistinfo - Implants
Implants Before and After Photos
Implants are used to replace a single tooth, many teeth on one side, or used to support an entire fixed or removable bridge replacing all the upper or lower teeth. The most common implant used today is the osseintegrated implant. This implant is placed in a hole which is drilled into the patient's lower or upper jaw. Depending on the number of teeth being replaced, one or more implants are placed in the bone. If necessary a substrucure is fabricated and then a crown, bridge or denture is securely fastened to the substructure or implant.

Implants are useful for patients that have tried but can't wear conventional dentures. Patients that lost a tooth, have two teeth with no or small fillings adjacent to the hole and don't want to cut the teeth down to make a bridge, would also make good candidates. In either case the patient has to commit to good oral hygiene. Implants are usually placed in outpatient settings and have a healing phase of 3 to 9 months, but some can have a temporary crown/denture on immediately.

There is a significant investment involved to place the implants as well as restore them. They can be placed by periodontists, oral surgeons, or trained general dentists. The cost could be $1000 to $2000 per implant placed and $1000 or more per tooth replaced. So make sure to keep the implanted areas healthy, by brushing and flossing daily.

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