Expert in Dental Implants

Dr. Parmley is an expert in the placement of dental implants.

He and his staff use advanced imaging techniques, and coordinate closely with your general dentist to ensure the greatest outcome for your dental implant procedure.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a way to replace one or more missing teeth. They are also a way to reduce or eliminate many worries that dentures and bridges may cause.

Dental implants are made of titanium and consist of two parts. The first part replaces the tooth root. Placement of this root portion requires a surgical procedure and is placed in the jawbone, as a tooth would be.

Over a few weeks, your bone will grow around and anchor the implant. This bone growth occurs without discomfort. The second part of the implant is an abutment, which is anchored to the top of the root portion. Occasionally, a minor second surgical procedure may be necessary, to uncover the top of the implant root in order to attach the abutment.

Dr. Parmley does the surgical procedures with conscious sedation and local anesthesia. After the abutment is placed, your dentist will have a replacement tooth fabricated and placed over the abutment.

These procedures, from implant placement to placing of the tooth crown, usually take eight to twelve weeks to complete. Sometimes, bone grafting is necessary before placing the implants. This may take an additional four to six months. This investment of your time will give you the closest thing possible to your original tooth.

Replacing a Missing Tooth A natural tooth is anchored into the jawbone by its tooth root. Tooth roots attach firmly to the jawbone and keep your teeth stable when chewing solid foods. Traditionally, if you were missing a tooth or if one needed to be extracted, the healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth would be ground down. The missing tooth is replaced with a three-crown bridge. Dental implants are the modern alternative. Instead of cutting down two perfectly healthy teeth, the periodontist inserts a dental post (dental implant) into the jawbone to replace your missing tooth root. This post becomes solidly fixed into your jaw (like a natural tooth root). Your general dentist then places a crown onto this artificial tooth root that looks, feels, and functions like your natural teeth. Quite simply, dental implants are the most natural replacement for missing teeth.

Replacing Several Missing Teeth

Traditionally, several missing teeth would have been replaced with a removable partial or full denture.

Dentures have to be taken out and soaked at night. During the day, they can also look unnatural and rub painfully. Dentures and partials make it difficult or impossible to eat certain foods.

Dental implants can now be used to anchor partial and full dentures. This prevents the slipping, irritation, and pain associated with floating partials and dentures. It also prevents the tedious removal of dentures for overnight soaking and cleaning. Dental implants also eliminate the need for dental adhesives. This allows you to enjoy eating the foods you previously avoided . With dental implants, your partials or dentures are firmly anchored to the jawbone, causing them to feel much more like natural teeth.

Natural tooth roots and dental implant posts are fixed firmly in your jawbone. When you chew, these tooth roots and posts stimulate the jawbone and prevent it from shrinking. You may have seen a person who looked prematurely old because their jawbone had shrunk after wearing floating dentures. Dental implants help preserve your jawbone and appearance.

The Success Rate of Dental Implants

After their healing period, the success rate of dental implants is between 94% and 98%. If you are a non-smoker with good oral hygiene, the percentage is closer to 98%.

Does the Procedure Hurt?

The discomfort involved with receiving a dental implant is similar to having a routine tooth extraction. This is accomplished with the use of local anesthesia. Most of our patients experience little to no pain. Our patients routinely use one to two doses of their prescribed pain medication and are fine to return to their normal activities the following day.

How Long Will Dental Implants Last?

Dental implants become fixed to the jawbone. Though the life span of a dental implant will vary with each patient, many have lasted for over 30 years. With good oral hygiene and regular cleanings, dental implants should last a lifetime. In contrast, the average life span of a traditional fixed bridge is between 10-15 years.

Bone Regeneration

A critical question in determining whether an implant can be placed is, "Is there enough bone to support the implant?" Fortunately, advanced bone regeneration techniques now make it possible to place many more implants than just 10 years ago.

Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Dental implant treatment begins with an evaluation by your general dentist who will determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure. If he feels dental implants might be possible, he will send you to a periodontist for an evaluation.

For More Information

The following sites will provide you with more information on dental implants:

• Straumann Dental Implants Patient Information.
• American Academy of Periodontology Article:
  Dental Implants: Teeth That Look and Feel Like Your Own
• NobelSmile - Patient Education from NobelBioCare.