Many thanks to the wonderful staff in this office.It’s been almost a year but my new tooth looks great.My hat’s off to your caring so much for your patients…..Fran

- Francena Parthemore

Dental Implants in Syracuse

Dental Implants have revolutionized the replacement of missing teeth. When a tooth is extracted, the root of the tooth is removed from the jaw bone. Significant bone loss can occur if nothing is done in as little as 3-6 months. Before implants, bridges, and partials were our only options to replace missing teeth, but these options do nothing to combat bone loss. Enter the dental implants in Syracuse.

Now when teeth are extracted, a bone graft can be placed into the void where the root was. In about 3 months, this bone graft turns into solid bone, while preventing bone loss. At this time a dental implant, which is a sterile titanium insert can be placed into the bone to replace the missing root. For another 3 months, the implant undergoes a process called osseointegration. This means that bone grows onto the implant and essentially fuses with the implant. At this time the implant can bear force, so multiple dental restorative options are available to the patient at this time. The most important part of this process is that bone has been preserved and will not be lost over time. Now the dental implant is fully integrated and the bone is preserved.

How Are Dental Implants Used?

Single Teeth: Dental Implants can be used to replace single teeth. They are far superior to bridges because after a post (called an abutment) is screwed into the implant, a crown may be cemented onto the abutment. The result is a tooth that looks and acts like a real tooth. Patients can floss in between the crown and the adjacent teeth, which is not possible with a bridge. And don’t forget, all the bone preserved with an implant would have been lost with a bridge!

Multiple Teeth: When multiple teeth are missing, they can be replaced with one implant per tooth, or 2 implants can be placed to replace 3 teeth. In that case, a 3-tooth implant bridge can be placed on 2 implants. But didn’t you say bridges weren’t as good because teeth that aren’t replaced by implants will lose bone in that area? Yes. This is true. But the preservation of bone is most important so dental implants are an option. A whole upper or lower jaw of dental restorations can be placed on 4 or 5 implants, so not every tooth has to be replaced. This concept belies the importance of thorough treatment planning.

Denture Retention: If you know someone who has dentures, you have probably heard the stories of how they don’t fit well or the patients cannot eat like they used to. If this is the case 3 or 4 implants can be placed in an upper or lower jaw so that the dentures can snap in and out. The dental implants give excellent retention and allow a patient to eat and function like a patient with their teeth.

All on Four: If you don’t like the idea of denture that snaps in and out of the mouth and has to be taken out at night, a hybrid denture can be screwed into the implants and remain in the mouth indefinitely. This further increases the normality to which a patient without teeth can live.

Full Arch Bridgework: If you still don’t like the idea of a hybrid denture in your mouth, traditional bridgework can be permanently cemented onto 5 implants in the upper or lower jaw.

As you can see, dental implants are highly functional, biologically superior and extremely versatile in helping a patient restore their mouth to a level that rivals natural teeth. The best part? All of this work can be performed at our office!