Dental Implants
For dental implants near Chapel Hill, Durham, and surrounding areas, trust Dr. Jelic! Statistics have shown that 70% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth. Furthermore, by age 74, 26% of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth. There is no doubt, the gold-standard for tooth replacement is the dental implant.
A dental implant is a titanium metal post that roughly simulates the form of a tooth root. The implant may be placed into the bone immediately upon extraction of a tooth, or it can be placed years after the loss of a tooth. Dental Implants can be used to replace a single lost tooth, or can be linked together with additional implants to support fixed (non-removable) bridges.
In addition to restoring functional and aesthetic benefits of teeth, implants help preserve the jaw bone and reduce stress on adjacent teeth and restorations. For people with removable dentures, implants are a fantastic way to improve biting force and stabilize retention. For more information about dental implants please click to start our movie below. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed in the presentation.
Immediate Dental Implants
Tooth extraction immediately creates multiple problems for patients. Of course a hole in your smile and alterations in chewing and the kinds of food one can eat are obvious. The frustration of trying to eat and speak with a retainer or temporary removable partial denture will soon become apparent. Being self-conscious and anxious in public, during a business meeting, or romantic date may also become memorable.
On the other hand, oral surgeons understand that the shape and quality of the bone and gum tissue immediately starts to become compromised the moment a tooth is extracted. The longer the root and crown are missing, the harder and harder it becomes to restore to a natural appearance.
The remedy to the concerns of both patient and surgeon alike, is to immediately place a dental implant into the tooth extraction socket and immediately place a provisional temporary crown onto the immediate implant. The hard and soft tissue will be supported in their natural appearance until healing is completed and your dentist can place the final restoration. Not all teeth are amenable to this solution, but Dr. Jelic will advise you of the ideal solution during your consultation.
Bone Grafting for Dental Implants
Why is a bone graft necessary with dental implants?
Bone grafting is not always required before receiving a dental implant. If Dr. Jelic can place your dental implant in a position that has at least 1-1.5 mm of healthy bone surrounding it, you will not need a graft. The longer a tooth has been missing, the greater the chance you will need a bone graft.
Alveolar bone is the bone that surrounds and supports the root portion of your teeth. In fact, the only purpose for alveolar bone is to support the dental units within it. When a tooth is lost, there is no more purpose for this bone and your body will scavenge the bone minerals (also called bone resorption) to put to good use elsewhere in your body. Bone resorption creates a depression or divot in the jaw bone and there will not be enough bone to support a dental implant. Bone resorption will occur at a high rate initially after tooth loss, but will continue at a slower pace for years.
So what if I lose a little bone in my jaw?
In many cases, long term tooth loss will create bone loss that makes dentures or other functional restorations unsuccessful. Loss of teeth and surrounding bone increases the stress on adjacent teeth creating mobile or fractured teeth and additional tooth loss. This in turn, can lead to undesirable cosmetic consequences and social compromises. One of the major advantages of placing a dental implant soon after an extraction, is to prevent this type of bone resorption from occurring to your jaw.
Finally, the adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, pertains to bone grafting after tooth loss. It is much easier, less expensive, and with less risk, to do a small graft after a tooth has been removed, than to wait and try to repair a much more complex defect in the future.
Dental Implant Costs
- Implant costs differ based on each person’s situation. Replacing a single tooth or multiple teeth; whether conditions are ideal or if secondary procedures like bone grafting are necessary – all factors that must be considered individually and case-by-case.
- At Jelic Center, quoted cost for a dental implant is all inclusive and includes all adjunctive procedures, post-operative visits, and follow up examinations.
- Please visit our Payment Options page for more detailed information.
Length of Surgery
- 20 minutes or more – depending on the number of implants and the need for hard or soft tissue grafting
Anesthesia
- Office procedure under local anesthesia
- Local anesthesia with additional sedation is often preferred
Recovery Time
- Back to work the same day unless extensive secondary procedures such as bone grafting are required
- Full functioning capacity for your implant depends on surgical factors as well as input from your restorative dentist. On average, full chewing force is returned 3 months after placement.
Duration of Results
- Very dependent upon patient behavior and oral hygiene practices but with proper care, will last decades to a life time.
