Dental Implants

Dental Implants and Sinus Lift Procedure:

Dental implants are titanium screws that act as tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth that are made to match your natural teeth. There are many advantages to dental implants, including:

• Improved appearance.
  Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.
• Improved speech.
  With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your teeth might slip.
• Easier eating.
  Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
• Improved self-esteem.
  Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.
• Improved oral health.
  Dental implants don't require reducing other teeth, the way a tooth-supported bridge would. Since nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving your long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
• Durability.
  Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.

Success rates of dental implants vary, depending on where in the jaw the implants are placed but, in general, dental implants have a success rate of up to 98%. With proper care (see below), implants can last a lifetime.

In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for a dental implant. Patients should have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. They also must be committed to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. Heavy smokers, people suffering from uncontrolled chronic disorders - such as diabetes or heart disease - or patients who have had radiation therapy to the head/neck area need to be evaluated on an individual basis. Bone grafting may be used in conjunction with dental implant placement.

Dental Insurance coverage for dental implants varies greatly by insurance company and individual policy. Our office will be happy to check on your individual coverage.

Sinus Lift Surgery

A sinus lift is surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars. It's sometimes called a sinus augmentation. The bone is added between your jaw and the maxillary sinuses, which are on either side of your nose. To make room for the bone, the sinus membrane has to be moved upward, or "lifted."

A sinus lift is done when there is not enough bone in the upper jaw, or the sinuses are too close to the jaw, for dental implants to be placed. Sinus lifts may be done in conjunction with implant placement or may be done as a separate procedure.

There are several reasons for this:

1. Many people who have lost teeth in their upper jaw — particularly the back teeth, or molars — do not have enough bone for implants to be placed.
2. Because of the anatomy of the skull, the back of the upper jaw has less bone than the lower jaw.
3. Bone may have been lost because of periodontal (gum) disease.
4. Tooth loss may have led to a loss of bone as well. Once teeth are gone, bone begins to be resorbed (absorbed back into the body).
5. If teeth have been missing for a long time, there often is not enough bone left to place implants.
6. The maxillary sinus may be too close to the upper jaw for implants to be placed.
7. The shape and the size of this sinus varies from person to person. The sinus also can get larger as you age.

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Call us if you have any questions or concerns. Make an appointment with us today!