Dental Implants

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Benefits of Dental Implants

• It is the longest lasting options for tooth replacement (If the appropriate bone is present)
• It is the most like your own teeth/tooth
• Does not damage neighbouring teeth
• The care and cleaning of the implants is most like your natural teeth/tooth

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is an artificial replacement for a missing natural tooth or an anchor to help support crowns, bridges, even dentures securely in place. When a tooth is extracted, and that area of the jaw has nothing to support, the level of bone at that site will decrease or shrink, but as a result of placing a titanium dental implant you are less likely to lose bone levels.

Implants have become the standard of care to replace lost teeth. With a success rate of 90% or greater. In most cases, the implants will restore the dentition to as close to natural teeth as possible. Implant placement can prevent unnecessary weakening of neighbouring teeth, as well as, less stress and strain on the remaining teeth in the mouth.

Years of Experience

At Heritage Dental Centre we are elated to offer to our patient’s in-office implant dental restorations. Beginning with treatment planning, and discussing various treatment options, to fabricating an end result prior to treatment to allow the patient a visualization of their final result.

Years of successfully placing implant restorations has led to a preferred partnership with Nobel Biocare, one of the world leaders in innovated esthetic solutions. As well, Dr. Germain is a member of the Academy of Osseointegration and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI).

Our office is equipped to comfortably accomodate all needed procedures for your treatment. From grafting to allow for optimal bone levels, to placing of the implant using several different systems, and finally the placement of the final restoration from a single tooth to the full mouth.

Getting Started

Prior to an implant is placed, a CT Scan of both the upper and lower arches is done to determine the volume of bone remaining in the area. If the bone levels are too low to support the implant, a Bone Graft (this procedure involves placing either real or synthetic bone material at the repair site that helps to stimulate bone formation) will be done to increase the height and the width of the bone.

At the first appointment the dentist will insert the implant into your jawbone. Your next appointment will not be for several weeks after the intial placement of the implant, to allow time for your bone to intergrate (fuse) around the implant. Once the healing time has passed, an impression will be done of the implant for the final restoration to be placed on top of the implant.

Caring for a dental implant is the same as caring for your own natural teeth. Plaque can build up around the implants so it is important to maintain a regular hygiene schedule.

Dental Implants Patient Care Packages and Consent Forms

Dental Implant and Surgical Consent (Dr. Joe Germain)
Dental Implant and Denture Consent and Care Package (Dr. Joe Germain)

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants

Implant Supported Crowns
Conventional Implant Supported Bridge
Screw Retained Implant Supported Bridge
Implant Supported Bridge Superstructure with Individually Cemented Crowns
Implant Supported Bridge Cemented to Custom Abutments
Fixed Detachable Hybrid Implant Supported Bridge

What is an Implant Supported Crown?

It is a dental restoration that replaces a missing tooth by inserting an artificial titanium root into the jawbone and attaching an artificial tooth to it. It is cemented in place and cannot easily be taken out.

What material is in Implant Supported Crown?

Crowns are usually made of four types of materials:

1. Porcelain

2. Gold Alloy (commonly gold, platinum, palladium)

3. Porcelain fused to an inner core of gold alloy

4. Zirconia metal oxide

Implants are made of titanium.

What are the benefits of an Implant Supported Crown?

It builds back your smile and helps you to speak and chew properly by restoring the natural size, shape and color of your teeth. It helps maintain tooth, bite and jaw alignment by preventing remaining teeth from shifting out of position.

There is no need to drill down existing teeth in order to replace the missing tooth as occurs with conventional tooth supported bridges

What are the risks of an Implant Supported Crown?

If an implant screw loosens or any repair of the restoration becomes necessary, the restoration may be destroyed during the removal procedure if the cement seal cannot be easily broken.

Cementing restorations onto implants leads to challenges in removal of cement below gumline, possibly leading to tissue inflammation in the area.

There is a minimal risk of the implant not adhering to the jawbone and thus requiring removal and replacement.

Other possible complications may be such things as food entrapment, tissue irritation and challenges in matching adjacent tooth aesthetics.

Chipped porcelain, worn metal or loose implant screws may require maintenance procedures, repair or replacement.

What are the alternatives to an Implant Supported Crown?

1. Replace the missing tooth with an conventional tooth supported bridge

2. Replace the missing tooth with a removable partial denture

3. Leave the space as is

How can an existing bite affect an Implant Supported Crown?

Excessive or uneven bite forces may cause porcelain chipping, metal wear, implant screw loosening, or even gum and bone loss around the implant.

Severe bite issues such as habitual tooth grinding may cause premature failure of the dental prosthesis.

Are there any post treatment limitations once I have an Implant Supported Crown?

Porcelain on the crown may have a good color match with adjacent natural teeth when the crown is placed but less of a match as your natural teeth age.

Food may become lodged around the implant supported crown; gum recession or minor bone loss around the top of the implant over time may make food impaction unavoidable, even with the most ideal crown contour.

Gum recession may also lead to unsightly metallic implant margins becoming visible.

A crown may chip or break if used for abnormal activities (e.g. biting fishing line, sewing thread or finger nails, opening bottles).