Dental Implants and Bone Grafting

Today’s informed dental patients demand improved function and aesthetics. Most patients are no longer satisfied with removable dentures and bridges as the only alternatives to the replacement of missing teeth. Dental implants provide a viable and successful solution for such patients as they allow replacement of any number of missing teeth with improved function, excellent cosmetics and long term predictable and successful outcomes. Dental Implants are made of surgical grade titanium alloys which allows their surface to become fully integrated or fused within the patient’s jaw bones. After the integration phase is complete the restorative doctor places a final abutment and crown restoration. During the initial implant consultation the surgeon will assess your medical history, the amount of healthy bone available for implant placement, as well as quantity and quality of gingiva. We will work closely with the restorative dentist in order to formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Every implant case is different and thus, deserves special attention. In our facility for most cases we obtain a specialized 3D x-ray called a Cone Beam CT scan. This enables our surgeons to assess the height and width of available bone as well as the location of important anatomical structures such as nerves and sinuses. In cases where there is insufficient bone present, the patient maybe a candidate for a bone graft or a bone regeneration procedure. Bone grafting can be used to augment horizontal and vertical bone defects, as well as to fill extraction site defects. While the patient’s own bone remains the gold standard for grafting, the availability of excellent bone substitute products has greatly diminished the need for harvesting bone from patients. Soft tissue i.e gingival grafting may also need to be performed in order to restore natural gingival contour and insure long term health of peri-implant tissues. In our facility we use the finest quality bone regeneration materials and implants. We also work with excellent restorative doctors to make sure that our patients achieve long lasting cosmetic and functional outcomes.