Dental implants are so natural looking and feeling, you may even forget that you ever lost a tooth. The Medical Center Dental Group uses the latest technologies and advancements in dentistry to implant teeth and restore your confidence.

What are dental
implants?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that a dentist places into your bone to hold a replacement tooth bridge or denture. Dental implants are an ideal option for anyone in good health that has lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or decay.

Why would I want an implant instead of
dentures or a bridge?
Every way you look at it, dental implants are a better solution to the problem of missing teeth.

• Aesthetic: Dental implants look and feel just like your natural teeth! They integrate into your bone structure, preventing bone loss and gum recession that often accompanies bridgework and dentures.
• Tooth-saving: Dental implants do not sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your natural teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your overall oral health.
• Confidence: Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence! They are secure and offer freedom from the slipping and clicks associated with dentures. Never again worry about misplaced dentures or messy pastes and glues.

Who is a candidate for dental implants?
If you are in good general health then you are probably healthy enough to have dental implants. The best candidate should have healthy gums that are free of periodontal disease and adequate bone structure to support the implant. The Medical Center Dental Group is highly skilled in implants and can determine whether you are a qualified candidate for implant dentistry.

What can I expect after treatment?
Since dental implants look and feel just like your natural teeth they will enhance your appearance. By following a regular routine of careful oral hygiene and dental visits your new teeth should last for many years to come.

Case Studies
	Single Tooth Replacement			Full Mouth Replacement
	Full Mouth Replacement			Full Mouth Replacement
	Complete Rehabilitation			Roundhouse Upper
	Complete Rehabilitation

Implant information for our patients.
	Pre-operative Instructions for Implant Patients
	Post-operative Care for Implants
	Daily Care of Dental Implants
	General Information About Intravenous Sedation
	Post-sedation Orders

Status of Dental Implants
With the rapid expansion of oral implantology into the mainstream of dentistry, today’s practitioner has a need to become more familiar with this dental service.

Research has shown that, with proper surgical techniques and a variety of types of implants to accommodate the various anatomical situations, stable, long-term restorations can be produced.

The ideal patient candidate for implant dentistry is one who has a strong desire for fixed bridgework rather than removable dentures, realizes that the state of the art is still evolving and much is not known, and is willing to work with their dentist to achieve their goal.

There are very few medical conditions where implants cannot be used if the patient’s general health is adequate to withstand the surgical and restorative procedures. Specific medical conditions that are poor risks for implant success are uncontrolled diabetes, alcoholism, and patients on high doses of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drug therapy.

In general, it is attempted to provide the maximum of implant support anatomically possible. In other words, we try to place as many implants into an area as possible for maximum strength. This approach has been shown to be the most successful over time.

There are some limitations of implant treatment. Implants are subject to the same problems as natural teeth. They might not last a lifetime, and they may require replacement. Bridges built upon implants are designed to be esthetic, but they may have some space between the teeth and the tissue in order to maximize the ability to clean. This is generally not a problem, but it may take some getting used to in terms of maintenance.

Following final reconstruction, the patient enters the maintenance phase of treatment, and he should be seen every 3-4 months for routine dental cleaning. At these appointments, implant attachment mechanisms, gingival health, and occlusal conditions are evaluated and adjusted as necessary.

Home care instructions are reviewed and emphasized at each follow-up visit. Any specific individual needs are addressed. The long-term home care by the patient is extremely important. It has been shown that both for natural teeth and artificial implants, a key to success is how well the patient is cleaning and maintaining the health of their soft tissue.

BETTER HOME CARE = BETTER LONG TERM RESULTS! http://www.sonicare.com/

When indicated, implant treatment has become a predictable alternative to removable partial and complete dentures. If there is good cooperation and understanding between the patients and the dental team, a rewarding experience can be expected by all.

Bio-materials in dental implants
Dental implants are made of Tivalloy i.e 90% titanium 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium. The alloy, being self-passivating, has a layer of titanium oxide which is normally present on commercially pure titanium implants. Implants are configured or designed considering the quality and quantity of the available bone. Different designs of implant are used in different edentulous areas of the mandible and maxilla allowing restorative results that are in harmony with the bone and esthetic desires of the patient. Each implant is designed to maximize the use of available bone.

The unique system that we use was developed by Dr. O. Hilt Tatum Jr. of Florida. It is the result of Dr. Tatum’s clinical and manufacturing experience since 1968. The root form implants were developed in 1969 and manufacturing started from sheets of titanium. In 1970 bone expansion technique originated and with it came the introduction of Fin Implants. The basic post/abutment design and dimensions were perfected in 1974. The design of the implants was modified to utilize conventional restorative procedures. During that time post guides were added to the basic surgical kit to get a blueprint of ultimate prosthesis. The system itself has been used successfully in the U.S. longer than any other two stage (implant and abutment) titanium implant system. Several minor modifications were made depending upon the clinical requirements from time to time to evolve into the present form of the system which is one of the finest titanium root form system in the world.