Dental Implants & Bone Grafts
Dr. Bhende attended New York University for further training in Implant Dentistry. He also received a fellowship from the ICOI (International Congress of Oral Implantologists) in 2003. He can do the surgical placement as well as the prosthetic restoration (fabricating crown or denture) for patients requiring implant therapy.
Schedule your dental implant complimentary consultation.
Dental Implants & Bone Grafts
A dental implant is a device that is used to replace the root portion of a missing tooth or missing teeth. Dental implants are used to support natural-looking teeth when disease or an accident ends in tooth loss, it’s good to know that there are options for restoring your smile.
Implants are constructed from materials that are compatible with the tissues of the body. The most common type of dental implant that is placed into the jaw bone is the threaded titanium cylinder. The type of implant used is decided upon by the surgeon and depends on the location in the jaw that the implant is needed, and the forces that the implant will encounter.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Natural look
Secure and Comfortable fit
Long-Lasting & reliable
Permanent Solution for missing teeth
Improved ability to eat and chew
Improved facial and bone features
Improved quality of life
Many patients choose implants to replace a single tooth, or several teeth or to support a full set of dentures
Replacing One Missing Tooth – If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it
Replacing Several Teeth – If you are missing several teeth, Implant-supported bridges can replace them
Replacing All of Your Teeth – If you are missing all of your teeth, an Implant-supported full bridge or Implant Denture can replace them
If you are missing one or more teeth, there are plenty of reasons to correct the problem:
Bone Loss can occur around the missing tooth.
When a tooth is removed, the biting force on the remaining teeth begins to change. If a missing tooth is not replaced the surrounding or the opposing teeth can shift.
A large space between your teeth, if obvious when you smile or speak, is a cosmetic concern.
Missing a molar might not be noticeable when you talk or smile but its absence can affect chewing
Missing teeth may affect how you speak
Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease. If your bone is too thin or soft and unable to support an implant, you may require a bone graft. Or if there is not enough bone height in the upper jaw or the sinuses are too close to the jaw, you may require a sinus lift.
Bone Grafts
Bone Grafting or Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) procedures usually try to re-establish bone dimension, which was lost due to resorption. A bone graft normally takes at least four to six months to heal, before a dental implant can be placed into it. There are times also when multiple grafts may be needed to produce the amount of bone needed. This is dependent on a person’s health and the amount of bone being grafted. In certain cases, the surgeon may need to do a bone graft at the time of Implant placement.
Replacing missing bone or adding to existing bone is very often essential to the success of a dental implant and the ensuing restoration.
The success of a dental implant, and its ability to support a dental restoration, is very much dependent upon how much bone is available in the site where the implant is placed. There are lots of things that affect the bone volume including things like periodontal disease, trauma, and infections, and in some cases the sinuses may expand into available space thus decreasing the bone volume.
However, modern dental techniques assure that the success rate is quite high in patients who are basically healthy.
As you know, your own teeth require conscientious at-home oral care and regular dental visits. Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing still apply!
For further information on implants and bone grafts, you can schedule a visit at our dental office. Our office is located in Hickory and is a short distance from nearby Catawba County, Burke County, Alexander County, and Caldwell County.