Implant Restoration

A dental implant is the best and most predictable replacement option for a missing tooth. Implants have a better success rate and last longer than any other option available when replacing a missing tooth. At Bailey Dental we have a board certified Oral and maxillofacial surgeon on staff to provide you with the quality service you deserve. Dr. Drouin will provide you with the optimal treatment as only a dental specialist can.

Tooth Replacement

Teeth that are replaced by an implant consist of three parts. First, the implant is placed in your jaw by an Oral Surgeon. This procedure is surprisingly comfortable and most of the time results in only minor soreness. The majority of people return to normal activity the following day. The implant is a titanium "screw" which mimics the natural shape of the tooth's root. Once placed, your bone grows in and around the threads and locks the implant in place. After the implant has fully integrated into your jaw, Dr. Bailey will take impressions and the dental laboratory will fabricate a custom abutment and a crown. The custom abutment will serve as a connection between the implant and the crown and is made to the precise specifications needed to maintain healthy gums and give you the most natural looking tooth. Once the custom abutment is in place, a crown is cemented over the top resulting in a new tooth.

Advantages

Implants have many advantages over a dental bridge when replacing one or more missing teeth. Dental implants consist of titanium and porcelain and cannot get decay like a natural tooth. They also maintain your bone level. When you lose a tooth, your jaw bone will actually resorb or shrink away slowly over time. A dental implant will help maintain the bone in your jaw similar to a natural tooth. Implants can be brushed and flossed just like your other teeth. Some people will restore a missing tooth with a bridge. Bridges can trap food underneath which may lead to decay and bad breath. A bridge requires special attention and the use of a bridge threader to clean under the bridge. If this extra step is not completed every day a person will develop a cavity under the bridge, and if a tooth on either side of the bridge fails, the entire bridge fails. Although an implant may cost more money than a bridge initially, an implant will almost always outlast a bridge, and thus is the more affordable option over the course of time.

Implant Retained Dentures

Dental implants can also be used to anchor a denture. There are various options available ranging from two implants with snaps that attach and lock your denture in place, to more deluxe options involving multiple implants connected with a bar that can support your denture and give you an extremely natural look and feel with minimal tissue coverage. Please feel free to schedule an appointment to discuss which option would be best for your specific situation.

Advantages

Implant retained dentures give you the confidence to eat different types of food that would not be possible with a traditional denture. The precision attachments lock the denture into place and stabilize it; this means you do not have to worry about your denture dislodging when you are speaking or eating. You are also less likely to develop sores in your mouth because your implant retained denture is very stable. It is also more comfortable than a traditional denture because you will have less material covering the surfaces of your mouth, allowing you to speak clearer and taste food more efficiently.