Dental Implants are titanium fixtures that replace the root of your teeth. They can hold crowns (caps), bridges and dentures. Dental implants can provide artificial teeth that look natural and feel secure. Dental implants can also be used to attach full or partial dentures.

Implants for holding dentures:

Implant dentures stay in place 5-10 times better than regular dentures. Therefore, you will chew harder and more efficiently with implant dentures, you will eat things you could not eat before, you will pronounce your words better and you will laugh with confidence, because you know your dentures will stay in place.

What is involved in placing implants?

First, surgery is performed to place the anchor. Surgery can take up to several hours, and up to six months may be required for the bone to grow around the anchor and firmly hold it in place. Some implants require a second surgery in which a post is attached to connect the anchor to the replacement teeth. With other implants, the anchor and post are already attached and are placed at the same time.

After the gums have had several weeks to heal, the next step is begun. The artificial teeth are made and fitted to the post portion of the anchor. Because several fittings may be required, this step can take one to two months to complete.

How do you sterilize the instruments? Can you show me how it's done?

Dental instruments are cleaned and sterilized at very high temperatures after each time they are used on a patient. Recommended sterilization methods include: an autoclave (steam under pressure), a dry heat oven, or chemical vapor (commonly called a chemiclave). The sterilization equipment usually is not in the treatment room, but if you'd like to see how and where it's done, ask the dental staff to show you.

How do you clean and disinfect the examining room, and how often is this done?

Before you enter the examining room, all surfaces, such as the dental chair, dental light, drawer handles and countertops have been cleaned and decontaminated. We cover this equipment with protective covers, which are replaced after each patient. Sharp items and anything contaminated with blood or saliva are disposed of in special containers.