If you have experienced tooth loss, you are not alone.
According to the American Dental Association, more than 20 million people in the United States are missing all of their natural teeth, and more than 100 million are missing from 11 to 15 teeth. In 1997, dental professionals performed more than 500,000 dental implant procedures worldwide.
Dental Implants offer a permanent solution to missing teeth. For over 30 years, dental implants have brought naturally beautiful, confident smiles to patients. A dental implant is a small titanium screw or cylinder, which is surgically placed in the upper or lower jawbone. The implant replaces the root of the missing tooth, providing an anchor for your new tooth/teeth. Many patients choose dental implants over other procedures, because the result in a natural appearance which is permanent.
 
The implant team usually includes either a periodontist or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who implants the posts into the patient's mouth, and a prosthodontist who designs and fits the replacement teeth or permanent bridge. At the first appointment, we use an X-ray to determine if the jaw bone is adequate to hold the titanium posts. Models of the mouth are often made using a soft, pliable plastic compound. These models show where the gaps are located and provide measurements for a replacement tooth or a bridge. Treatment with dental implants is complicated and takes pains-taking planning for best results.
Today the implants being placed often only require one surgical procedure using a local anesthetic and sedative.
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