Common Treatment Options Offered by an Implant Dentist

Oral health plays a vital role in your overall well-being. Dental advancements have revolutionized dentistry and can replace missing or damaged teeth and restore smiles. Implant dentists provide patients with effective and long-lasting solutions for missing teeth. This blog post will discuss common treatment options offered by implant dentists.

Common treatment options offered by an implant dentist

Dental implants

Dental implants are small titanium posts that implant dentists surgically place into the jawbone. They serve as artificial tooth roots and prevent the bone loss that typically occurs after people lose teeth. Once the implants fuse with the bone through a process called osseointegration, they provide a sturdy foundation for prosthetic teeth, such as crowns or dentures. The implant dentist also carefully assesses the condition of a patient's mouth and develops a customized treatment plan to ensure successful implant placement and integration to meet the patient's treatment goals.

Implant-supported crowns and bridges

Implant dentists can restore single missing teeth or multiple adjacent teeth with implant-supported crowns and bridges. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cap that covers an implant, while a dental bridge replaces several missing teeth with multiple crowns fused together. Implant-supported crowns and bridges restore functionality, provide a natural-looking appearance, and enhance the overall smile.

Implant-supported dentures

Traditional, removable dentures can be uncomfortable and prone to slipping. This can lead to adversely affecting speech and chewing ability. Implant-supported dentures offer a more stable and secure solution. When an implant dentist places dental implants in the jawbone, they can anchor dentures, preventing them from shifting or moving during daily activities. In addition, having a fixed denture ensures that the patient has greater confidence, improved oral function, and reduced bone loss in their jaw.

All-on-4 and All-on-6 implant dentures

Individuals missing most or all of their teeth can benefit from an All-on-4 or All-on-6 dental implant. Dental implant dentists strategically place four or six implants per arch to support a full set of prosthetic teeth. This approach offers exceptional stability, functionality, and aesthetics. It also minimizes the need for extensive surgical procedures or bone grafting.

Bone grafting and sinus lifts

In some cases, patients may have insufficient jawbone density or height to support dental implants. Implant dentists can address this issue through bone grafting and sinus lifts. Bone grafting is a procedure where the dentist adds synthetic or natural bone material to the jawbone, promoting new bone growth and creating a stable foundation for implants.

In contrast, a sinus lift, also known as sinus augmentation or elevation, is another surgical procedure that adds bone mass to the upper jawbone, specifically the maxillary sinus. During the procedure, the implant dentist carefully lifts the sinus membrane and adds bone graft material to the space between the sinus and jaw. This process creates a thicker bone layer in the upper jaw, providing a stable base for future dental implant placement.