Patient is in her mid-fifties with severe gum disease. Dr. Lottier removed all of her failing teeth and placed 20 implants for a series of fixed implant bridges.  Her smile is restored beautifully and she is able to eat and smile with confidence.

What is a dental implant?

We currently place titanium root form implants in the jaw to serve as a root substitute, preserve the jaw bone, and to place a prosthesis (crown) or (over-denture abutment).  

Why do I need a dental implant? 

If you are missing a tooth, a dental implant is the best way to replace the missing tooth.  Your treatment options are: 1 a bridge; or 2, a removable partial denture.  A dental implant will save the bone around the missing tooth and prevent the surrounding teeth from having to be cut and prepared for a bridge, and prevent the bulkiness of a removable partial denture.

Do dental implants hurt?

Most of our patients do not have any discomfort from the procedure and are pleasantly surprised how by smoothly the procedure goes. 

Why do I need a bone graft?

If you have a tooth extracted a bone graft will fill the extraction socket with viable bone to hold your dental implant.   If no bone graft is placed in an extraction site, the hole will fill in with 70% soft tissue, which will not support an implant and you will suffer bone atrophy (shrinkage) at that site.

Why do I need a sinus lift and bone graft? 
When you lose teeth in your upper jaw, you lose the bone that supports the teeth.  Also, the maxillary sinus will grow downward and destroy, the bone where the roots of your teeth used to be.   The sinus lift is a painless out patient procedure that we do to place new bone to allow you to get dental implants.